Seven More Interesting Facts About Parrots

Who wouldn’t want to get a parrot for a pet? They can be taught a number of tricks, can mimic the human voice incredibly well, and they are absolutely gorgeous to look at. Parrots have been domesticated as pets for hundreds of years and they continue to be very popular today.

Here are seven interesting facts about these very interesting birds.

Come Here Little Birdy
The Buff Faced Pygmy Parrot is the smallest parrot in the entire world. It is just over three inches long and usually weighs in at about one third of an ounce.

Bigger Than Most Little Kids
The Hyacinth Macaw, when it reaches full adulthood, can measure in at more than three feet in length. The heaviest parrot known though is the Kakapo which weigh in at around nine pounds.

…And No Pension Plan Either
Larger parrots have lifespans that are very similar to humans with most living to between 60 and 80 years of age. Some Cockatoos, Amazons, and Macaws have been reported to have lived even longer, passing 100 years old.

Don’t Call It A Mohawk
Cockatoos have what is called a mobile crest of feathers, these are the feathers on the tops of their head that they can raise and lower at will. They are the only species of parrot that features this trait.

It Crushes, It Slices, It Dices…
Parrots are hard to capture in the wild. This is one reason they aren’t studied as much as some other species of birds. Another reason is that the typical way of tracking bird movements is by banding them. Parrots seep particularly adept at chewing off or otherwise destroying the bands that are placed on them.

Talk About Your Claymation
While not very appetizing, many species of parrots eat small amounts of clay. There is often small trace amounts of poisons or toxins present in the seeds that these birds eat and the clay absorbs these toxins while they are still in the stomach and haven’t yet been absorbed into the bird itself.

What, Are You Too Good For A Nest?
There are more than 370 species of parrots and only six of those build and sleep in nests. Most parrots either dig or burrow out their own cavity in a tree or cliff wall, or they simply take over a cavity or hole abandoned by another bird or animal.

Here is a link to Part One in this article series: Seven Interesting Facts About Parrots