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African Grey
The African Grey is the dapper
intellectual of the parrot world. Dressed conservatively in
light-to-dark-grey feathers, the Grey’s are far from being the most
colorful parrot. However, many people believe their gift for gab makes
them the smartest. Greys are capable of clearly enunciating dozens of
human words and phrases--and in context, according to their proud
owners. The best known example is Alex, an African grey trained to
identify common household objects by MIT professor Dr. Irene
Pepperberg. The two species of African Grey’s are the Congo (Psittacus
e. Erithacus) and the Timneh (Psittacus e. Timneh).
Congos are sport bright red tail coverts and a black beak. Timneh’s are
darker grey with lighter-colored abdomens, a horn-colored upper
mandible and a maroon tail. Both species have dark-grey feet, bare
facial areas and pale-yellow irises.
Countries of origin: Congos occur in western Kenya,
northern Angola, southeast Ivory Coast, southern Congo and northwest
Tanzania, and on the nearby islands of Fernando Poo and Princip�. The rarer Timneh can be found in
southern Guinea, Liberia, western Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone.
Size: Medium, 12 to 13 inches long and
from 275 grams up to 650 grams (1.4 pounds). Congos are slightly larger
and heavier than Timnehs.
Personality: Affectionate, but can be shy. Tend
to bond strongly with one person. Relatively quiet voice, although
capable of loud calls. The Congo may be more liable to feather pluck.
Talking ability: Excellent in general, although
some individuals may not speak.
Average lifespan: 50-60 years.
Amazon
The popular Amazon, or "green
parrot," is what many people picture when they think of parrots. As the
nickname suggests, most Amazons are largely green, with red, yellow,
blue or white feathers on the head, wings or tail to differentiate the
27 species. The most unusual Amazon may be the rare Imperial Amazon (Amazona
imperialis), a cockatoo-size bird with purple breast feathers
found only on the small Caribbean island of Dominica. Most Amazon’s,
including the dozen or so species kept as pets, come from South and
Central America. These include the double yellow-headed (Amazona
ochrocephala oratrix), blue-fronted (Amazona aestiva),
yellow-nape (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) and
mealy (Amazona farinosa) Amazons.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grand Cayman Island,
Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Size: Medium to large, with stocky
build, relatively short wings and square tail. Less than 10 inches long
and 200 grams for white-fronted, (Amazona albifrons)
to almost 18 inches and 800 grams, or almost two pounds (Imperial
Amazon).
Personality: Energetic, curious and
affectionate. Can be stubborn and occasionally aggressive. Mealies are
considered the most even tempered. Voice ranges from soft "growls" to
ear-splitting shrieks.
Talking ability: Considered second only to the
African grey. Best bets: double yellow-headed, yellow-nape or
blue-fronted.
Average lifespan: 50-60 years, up to 100.
Bulgarian
The little Budgerigar, or parakeet,
may be the most popular pet bird of all time. Small, inexpensive and
easy to keep, budgies make excellent parrots for children. They're
cheerful, curious little birds full of energy and enthusiasm for their
toys. From the ordinary wild green budgie (Melopisittacus
undulatus), breeders have produced dozens of color mutations
in additional shades of green, blue, grey, lutino and albino; there's
even a rare crested budgie. Budgies don't vary much in size except for
the English show budgie, a bird three times larger than normal with a
broader, more prominent forehead.
Country of origin: Australia.
Size: Small, bullet-shaped bird, 7
inches long and 30-40 grams (less than two ounces).
Personality: Gentle, gregarious, playful.
Chatters and scolds but voice is not loud compared with larger parrots.
Talking ability: Can develop large vocabulary but
high raspy voice may not enunciate well
Average lifespan: 10-15 years.
Caique
Few other small parrots offer as
many broad strokes of color and personality in one package as the
Caique (kye-EEK). This South American psittacine
with the funny-sounding name is not as well known or widely available
as other pet parrots. However, its entertaining quirks and vibrant
patchwork plumage may change that. There are four caique species in
all; however, usually only two types are kept as pets: the black-headed
caique (Pionites melanocephala) and the
white-bellied (Pionites leucogaster). The former
sports a jet-black head and beak, dark-green wings, back and tail; a
burnt-orange neck; and a creamy-white breast and belly. The
white-bellied Caique has an entirely orange head and a horn-colored
beak.
Countries of origin: The black-headed caique occurs
north of the Amazon River and westward to parts of Venezuela, Ecuador
and Peru. The white-bellied caique lives south of the Amazon in
northern Brazil and parts of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru.
Size: Small but relatively heavy, the
black-headed Caique measure 9 inches long and weighs up to 170 grams
(about six ounces). The slightly smaller white-bellied Caique measures
8 inches long and weighs up to 165 grams.
Personality: Acrobatic and clownish, known both
for the alarming habit of resting with feet in the air and the
delightful behavior of hopping about like a wind-up toy. Enjoys large
cages, lots of toys and plenty of attention. Will fearlessly attack
larger birds. Whistles shrilly but is not as noisy as larger parrots.
Talking ability: Moderate, with high-pitched voice
similar to the budgie's.
Average lifespan: 30 years.
Cockatiel
Parrot Novices often confuse the
cockatiel with the cockatoo because of the similarity in names.
However, aside from crests and a powdery down, the two species have
little in common. While some find the beautiful cockatoo too loud and
demanding to keep, the mild little cockatiel (Nymphicus
hollandicus) is an excellent choice for most people who would
like to own a parrot. In fact, the cockatiel challenges the budgie as
most popular pet parrot in the United States, according to the American
Pet Products Manufacturers Association. The normal cockatiel is mostly
grey, with a few white flight coverts and bright orange-red ear
patches. Mature males have almost completely yellow heads. Attractive
color mutations include pied, cinnamon and lutino.
Country of origin: Australia.
Size: Small and slender with long tail.
Almost twice the size of a budgie at 12.5 inches long, but
only 90 grams (a little over three ounces).
Personality: Even-tempered, affectionate, and
inquisitive but not an acrobatic parrot like some. Crest stands erect
when alarmed or interested. Unlike many parrots, which become nippy or
difficult to handle as they get older, tamed cockatiels remain mellow,
making them an excellent choice for children. The Britney Spears of
parrots, cockatiels possess cheerful, musical voices; however, they can
scream shrilly for attention. Must be protected from larger or more
aggressive parrots.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: 30 years.
Average lifespan: 15-20, up to 30 years.
Cockatoo
The American public fell in love
with the cockatoo in the 1970s when one played Robert Blake's feathered
sidekick on the popular TV show "Baretta". Since then, many people have
wanted their own beautiful pastel-hued "Baretta bird" with a dramatic,
flaring crest. Unfortunately, many would-be enthusiasts discover too
late this intelligent breed's demanding nature. The large Moluccan
cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis) in particular needs a
great deal of attention to prevent neurotic tendencies. There are 17
other cockatoo species, ranging from popular pets such as the Umbrella
Crested (Cacatua alba), Sulphur crested (Cacatua
galerita), Lesser Sulphur Crested (Cacatua sulphurea)
and Goffin’s (Cacatua goffini) to rare birds, such
as the Black Palm (Probosciger a. aterrimus). Most
cockatoos have gleaming-white plumage accented by yellow or
rose-colored crest feathers. Like the cockatiel, a related but much
smaller crested parrot, the cockatoo sheds a fine down some people find
messy.
Countries of origin: Mostly Australia and Indonesia.
Size: Ranges widely, from the pint-size
Goffin's to the Moluccan, one of the largest parrots. A midget among
cockatoos, the Goffin's measures only 12.5 inches long and weighs less
than 380 grams. Also on the small side: the galah (Eolophus r.
roseicapillus), the lesser sulphur-crested (Cacatua
sulphurea) and gang-gang (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
cockatoos. The umbrella crested and greater sulphur-crested are large,
at 18 inches and about 600 grams. But the imposing palm and moluccan
are the true giants of the cockatoo world, at 27 and 20 inches,
respectively, and over 1000 grams, or two pounds.
Personality: Personable, affectionate,
entertaining and highly intelligent. Largest species have especially
powerful beaks and require plenty of hard chewing material. May be
clingy and demanding of owners' attention; prone to feather plucking.
Among the loudest of parrots, capable of high-decible screaming several
times a day.
Talking ability: Moderate to good.
Average lifespan: Up to 70 years or longer.
Conure
There are up to 12 genera of conures, depending on whose reference you
consult, representing almost 60 species, with many additional
subspecies branching off these. Most conures are green with red, yellow
or blue patches on the throat, head, breast or other part of the body.
The most popular types include the blue-crowned (Aratinga
acuticaudata), dusky-headed (Aratinga weddellii),
green-cheeked (Pyrrhura molinae), mitred (Aratinga
mitrata), nanday (Nandayus nenday) and
white-eyed (Aratinga leucophthalma) conures. The sun
conure (Aratinga solstitialis), another popular pet,
is a striking exception to the usual green bird. Its fiery red and
yellow feathers mimick a sunset.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa
Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatamala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru,
Uruguay, Venezuela.
Size: Small to medium with long pointed
tail, ranging from the 8-inch Brazilian white-eared conure to Chile's
18-inch, 400-gram (almost one-pound) greater Patagonian, a large
grey-breasted bird with a startling red stripe up its yellow abdomen.
The average conure is 12 to 14 inches long.
Personality: Highly active, affectionate. Needs
plenty of toys and time with owner. Blue-crowned conures are considered
among the most laid back of a rowdy bunch prone to screeching.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate, with a
high-pitched voice.
Average lifespan:15-20 years, up to 30.
D
Eclectus
The Ecletus parrot might be more
aptly called the electric parrot because of its eye-popping colors. The
sexes are a snap to tell apart: Males have almost-fluorescent green
feathers, topped off by deep-blue shoulders, a blackish-green tail, red
under the wings, and a candy-corn orange upper mandible tipped with
yellow. Eclectus females boast a scarlet head, a maroon back and a
jet-black beak, with some subspecies sporting bright blue lower
bellies. Unlike most parrots, which perch on extended family trees, the
eclectus belongs to only one genus, Eclectus roratus,
split into 10 subspecies differentiated mostly by size and accent
feathers in blue and yellow. Experts recommend feeding the eclectus
extra fiber for health because of the bird's unusually long digestive
tract. The most popular pets include the Solomon Island (Eclectus
roratus solomonensis), grand (Eclectus roratus
roratus), vosmaeri (Eclectus roratus vosmaeri)
and red-sided (Eclectus roratus polychloros).
Countries of origin: Indonesia, New Guinea and
Australia's Cape York Peninsula.
Size: Medium, 13-16 inches long and up
Moderate to excellent, some say equal to the African grey's.
Average lifespan: 30-50 years.
F
G
Hawk-headed Parrot
A BROWN HEAD streaked with white
gives this green parrot the mythological look of part-raptor. More
unusual still, when agitated the hawk-headed is capable of erecting its
nape feathers into a beautiful ruff of red feathers edged in electric
blue. The breast and lower belly sport the same coloration, with the
back, wings and tail an emerald green. Both types of hawk-headed
parrots, the buff-crown (or northern, Deroptyus a.
accipitrinus) and the rarer Brazilian (or southern, Deroptyus
a. fuscifrons), which has a dusky-brown crown, are native to
South America. Not available as a pet, the Brazilian hawk-headed parrot
numbers less than two dozen worldwide, according to the Rare Species
Conservatory Foundation.
Countries of origin: The buff-crowned ranges from
northern Brazil to French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia,
Ecuador and Peru. The southern species lives in Brazil south of the
Amazon River and into Bolivia.
Size: Medium, at almost 14 inches long
and about 250 grams, or half a pound.
Personality: Playful and intelligent, enjoys
hanging upside down and wrestling with toys. Voice ranges from warning
hisses and growls to more pleasant calls to loud shrieks. Younger
hawk-headeds can be affectionate but sexually mature birds can turn
aggressive and unpredictable, biting and feather plucking.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: 30 years.
Average lifespan: 40 years.
I
Jardine's
Parrot
A generously proportioned beak
gives the Jardine's parrot an appealing, cartoonish appearance. There
are three types of Jardine's, all near-identical, small green South
African parrots. The Lesser Jardine's, also known as the orange-crowned
parrot (Poicephalus gulielmi fantiensis), is the
most commonly available in the United States. It sports a
brownish-black back and wings, and orange crown, thighs and wing edges.
The black-wing Jardine's (Poicephalus gulielmi gulielmi)
is a slightly larger bird with a more reddish crown. The greater
Jardine's, or Masai Red-headed parrot (Poicephalus gulielmi
massaicus), has a smaller spot of red on the crown and
broader green edging on the back feathers.
Country of origin: The Jardine's (black-wing)
originates in southern Cameroon, northern Angola and northern Kenya.
The greater Jardine's can be found in northern Tanzania and southern
Kenya, and the lesser Jardine's comes from Liberia and Cameroon.
Size: Small but stockily built with
short square tail. The lesser Jardine's is the smallest at 10 inches
long and up to 230 grams. The slightly larger black-wing Jardine's
measures 11 inches and weighs up to 280 grams. The greater Jardine's
also measures 11 inches long but weighs the most, up to 310 grams, or
three-quarters of a pound.
Personality: Among the most playful and
energetic, with a penchant for "playing dead" like the caique.
Generally steady temperament--sometimes described as an Amazon without
the mood swings--but can be nippy. Accepting of strangers. Pleasant
voice makes it a good bird for apartment dwellers.
Talking ability: Moderate to good. May develop
fairly large vocabulary but does not enunciate clearly.
Average lifespan: 30-50 years.
Lory
The Lory and its longer-tailed
cousin, the lorikeet, look like typical parrots, but watch them eat and
you'll see a big difference. These colorful birds consume a mostly
liqui to 550 grams, or a little over one pound (Australian eclectus, Eclectus
r. macgillivrayi).
Personality: May behave calmly even when
frightened, which has led to a reputation for lethargy. Once
acclimated, enjoys toys and bonds strongly with owner. Relatively
quiet, but has harsh screech.
Talking ability: d diet of nectar and
fruit--no seeds or nuts--using a specialized "brush-tipped" tongue
composed of small fleshy appendages called papillae. As a result, they
have loose droppings they're capable of shooting up to six feet away.
This habit makes keeping lories indoors a challenge, to say the least.
Special acrylic enclosures or cages with removable plexiglass panels
work well but require more cleaning than the typical parrot cage. In
the last decade, several expensive but nutritionally complete
commercial nectars have made it easier to keep lories healthy in
captivity. Dry and seed diets specially formulated for lories make
their droppings firmer and easier to cope with, but may eventually
result in malnutrition because the birds' weak gizzards cannot digest
them properly. There are 11 genera of lories and lorikeets, including
55 species, in all the colors of the rainbow and then some. Common pet
lories include dusky (Pseudeos fuscata) and
yellow-backed chattering (Lorius garrulus). The
rainbow (Trichoglossis haematodus) is a popular pet
lorikeet.
Countries of origin: Primarily Indonesia and New
Guinea, but also Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga.
Size: Lorikeets have long pointed tails
and tend to be small birds, some measuring only six inches long. Lories
have short square tails and most are about the size of a cockatiel, at
12 to 13 inches long, but much stockier at about 200 grams, or almost
half a pound.
Personality: Lories and lorikeets are playful,
entertaining birds who like to roughhouse with their toys and lavish
brushed-tongue kisses on their favorite human beings. They enjoy
hanging upside down and hop as often as they walk. Some species,
including the yellow-backed chattering lory, will attack other birds.
Voice ranges from soft trills to ear-splitting shrieks.
Talking ability: Moderate to good, with raspy,
high-pitched voice.
Average lifespan: 35 years.
Lovebird
Lovebirds love to huddle together
and preen one another, but contrary to popular belief, they don't need
mates to thrive. A lovebird kept singly and given plenty of attention
by its human will make a fine pet, just like almost any other parrot.
The peach-faced (agapornis roseicollis) lovebird and
its many color mutations are the most popular types of this small green
African parrot with the brightly colored head. Masked (Agapornis
personatus) and Fischer's (Agapornis fischeri)
lovebirds are also common pets. The six remaining species, including
the grey-headed (Agapornis canis), red-faced (Agapornis
pullarius) and black-winged (Agapornis taranta),
are relatively rare or unavailable as pets.
Countries of origin: African continent and adjacent
islands, including Angola, Bioko, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon,
Ghana, Guine, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Principe, Sao
Tome, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Size: Small, stout. 5 to 6 inches long
and about 50 grams (less than two ounces).
Personality: Lively, comical, chatty.
Affectionate if handled frequently, but can be nippy and voice can be
shrill.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: 15-30 years.
Meyers
The Meyer’s parrot offers many of
the same good pet qualities as the cockatiel. The smallest member of
the Poicephalus family of African parrots, which
also includes the Senegal and the Jardine's parrot, the Meyer's wears
conservative grayish-brown feathers on its back, head and upper breast.
A light blue or green lower belly and yellow spots on the wings and
crown give it a more colorful front. The six subspecies of Meyer's vary
only slightly in size and coloring.
Country of origin: Burundi, Chad, Cameroon, Congo,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda,Zambia.
Size: Small but plump, 8-9 inches long
and about 120 grams (a little over four ounces).
Personality: Playful, acrobatic, generally
even-keeled and easy to tame. Quiet voice. A good bird for children or
apartment dwellers.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: 25-30 years
Macaws
Its dramatic size, long, graceful
tail, and bold colors draws many would-be parrot owners to the macaw.
However, this bird's powerful lungs, beak and need for attention can
make it a challenging parrot to keep. The best-known are the
blue-and-gold (ara ararauna) macaw and the rarer scarlet (Ara macao)
macaw, often displayed in zoos, animal parks and tropical-themed hotels
and other establishments. But there are over 15 species of macaws in
all, ranging from the pint-size green Hahn's (Ara nobilis) and severe
(Ara severa) "mini-macaws" to the hyacinth (Anodorhynchus
hyacinthinus), the largest parrot in the world. Lear's (Anodorhynchus
leari) and blue-throated (Ara glaucogularis) macaws are rare, but the
Spix's (Cyanopsitta spixii) macaw is closest to extinction. The last
wild Spix vanished last year, leaving a few dozen left in captivity.
Countries of origin: Mostly South America. Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana,
Guyana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad,
Venezuela.
Size: All macaws have long tails and a
distinctive bald face patch. The smallest species, the Hahn's, measures
no longer than a cockatiel at 12 inches, but weighs almost twice as
much at up to 165 grams. The severe, the other most commonly kept small
macaw, is next in size at 18 inches and 360 grams. The blue-and-gold
macaw, scarlet and green-winged (Ara chloroptera)
macaws are among the largest parrots, at around 34 inches and up to
1100 grams. However, the king of macaws and all parrots is the
beautiful cobalt-blue hyacinth, which measures up to 40 inches long and
weighs up to 1450 grams, or over three pounds.
Personality: Playful, highly intelligent,
voracious chewers can be very destructive. Beak is capable of
inflicting deep and painful bites. Among the most raucous of parrots,
capable of ear-splitting screeches, but generally does not scream
habitually. Scarlet’s are reputed to behave the least predictably;
blue-and-gold’s and hyacinths are considered the gentlest. Mini-macaws
are the easiest to train and handle. Average lifespan:
Up to 30 years.
Talking ability: Moderate to good.
Average lifespan: 80 years or more.
N
O
Parolett
The Budgie has to be the smallest
parrot there is, right? Think again: The tiniest hook bill in captivity
is the feisty Parolett. The green-rump variety (Forpus
passerinus) of this South American psittacine measure only 3
1/2 inches long and weighs less than an ounce, about half the size of a
budgie. Parrolett’s have streamlined wedge-shaped tails but large beaks
for their size. Most birds are olive green, with patches of yellow,
grey or blue to differentiate the seven subspecies. Although they make
fine pets, parrotlets are not as widely available as the budgie nor as
affordable. The normal Pacific (Forpus coelestis),
the most popular pet parrotlet, costs a whopping $150 to $200. The
yellow-face, blue-wing (Forpus xanthopterygius) and
Mexican (Forpus cyanopygius) parrotlets are the
scarcest, and Sclater's parrotlets (Forpus sclateri) are available only
in England.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Venezuela, Caribbean islands
Size: Very small. 3 1/2 inches long and
18 grams (green-rump) to six inches and 45 grams (yellow-face).
Personality: Boisterous and outgoing, but can
be moody and temperamental like its big cousin, the Amazon parrot.
Parrotlets enjoy large cages, toys and attention, although they tend to
cope better than larger parrots when left alone for extended periods.
Green-rumps tend to have the gentlest personalities. Relatively quiet
voice.
Talking ability: Fairly poor. The best talkers,
spectacles, have high raspy voices.
Average lifespan: 30 years.
Pionus
The Pionus (pi-OH-nus),
a pigeon-size parrot native to Central and South America, may have the
most endearing eyes of any psittacine--big, brown and expressive,
thanks in part to an extra-wide eye ring. All eight pionus
species also share tails with red undersides and prominent ceres. Five
types are available as pets: the blue-headed (Pionus menstruus),
Maximilian's (Pionus maximiliani, the largest at 12
inches), the white-capped parrot (Pionus senilis),
the dusky parrot (Pionus fuscus) and the
bronze-winged parrot (Pionus chalcopterus). Most
pionuses are green with variously hued heads and breasts, with the
exception of the bronze-winged, a mottled-looking violet bird with a
yellow beak, and the dusky parrot, which sports a slate-blue head and
dark brown back and wings. The bright-red beak of the less commonly
available coral-billed pionus (Pionus sordidus corallinus)
appears dipped in blood.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
Size: Medium with stocky build and short
square tail. 10 inches long and 180 grams (the white-capped) to 12
inches long and 260 grams, or a little more than nine ounces (the
blue-headed).
Personality: Even-tempered and gentle, somewhat
shy, easier to handle and generally less prone to bite than other
parrots. Wheezes or pants when afraid. Relatively quiet, but can be
noisy at times. Less likely to bond exclusively with one person, a
problem with many parrots, but not as overtly affectionate, either.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: 30-40 years
Quaker
(monk) Parakeet
The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta
monachus), more commonly known as the Quaker, attracts a
loyal following for its relatively low cost and outgoing personality.
The Quaker is mostly bright green, with a grey forehead, cheeks and
chest. Although referred to as a parakeet, its tail is short, not long.
The three subspecies are slightly smaller, have a yellower chest, or
both. The hardy Quaker is one of the few types of parrots able to
survive wild in the United States. In fact, it's illegal to own Quakers
in some states because officials fear the establishment of more wild
colonies, believed to adversely affect native bird populations.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Uruguay
Size: Small at 10 to 12 inches long,
about the size of a cockatiel, but stockier, at up to 150 grams (about
5.5 ounces).
Personality: Acrobatic, outgoing, self-assured,
can be stubborn, fairly noisy and occasionally aggressive toward other
animals and people. Appears to be more prone to feather-pluck and
self-mutilate than other small parrots. Recommended for kids with
supervision.
Talking ability: Moderate to good, considered by
some to be the best talker of the small-to-mid-size parrots. Good
imitator.
Average lifespan: 20-30 years.
Ringneck
A Stately, stand-offish
beauty, the ringneck is not as "cuddly" as most other types of parrots,
even among its own kind. Some birds form pairs only for breeding, then
go their separate ways the rest of the year. All 13 species carry a
distinctive narrow band of black feathers around the neck, making the
ring-necked parrot easy to identify. Most ringnecks are green birds,
with long, pointed tails and heads in various hues. The pretty
plum-headed (Psittacula cyanocephala) and
blossom-headed (Psittaculus roseata) parakeets sport
purple heads and blood-red beaks.
Countries of origin: Mostly India, Indonesia, African
continent.
Size: Medium-size and slender, 12 to 24
inches long and 110 grams on average.
Personality: In general, not as approachable as
other types of parrots; may not enjoy head scratches, for instance.
However, can be affectionate if handled frequently.
Talking ability: Moderate
Average lifespan: 30-50 years
Senegal
The Senegal is the best-known bird
in the African Poicephalus family of parrots, which
also includes the Jardine's and the Meyer's. It bears the family traits
of a small body and pleasant disposition. Mostly green, the Senegal (Poicephalus
senegalus) has a grey head and a golden breast bisected by a
green "v-neck", which gives it the appearance of wearing a vest. The
tail is short and pointed. The two subspecies, the red-vented parrot (Poicephalus
s. versteri) and the orange-bellied parrot (Poicephalus
s. mesotypus), vary only slightly in coloring.
Countries of origin: The Senegal occurs in Senegal,
Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. The red-vented subspecies is found on
the Ivory Coast and in Ghana and Nigeria. The orange-bellied parrot
also occurs in Nigeria, and Cameroon and Chad.
Size: Small but stout, at 9 inches long
and about 140 grams, or 5 ounces.
Personality: Playful and rambunctious with
toys, cuddly and a bit bossy. Will menace smaller birds. Rarely noisy
voice makes it well-suited to apartment life.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: Up to 30 years.
Quaker (monk) Parakeet
The Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta
monachus), more commonly known as the Quaker, attracts a
loyal following for its relatively low cost and outgoing personality.
The Quaker is mostly bright green, with a grey forehead, cheeks and
chest. Although referred to as a parakeet, its tail is short, not long.
The three subspecies are slightly smaller, have a yellower chest, or
both. The hardy Quaker is one of the few types of parrots able to
survive wild in the United States. In fact, it's illegal to own Quakers
in some states because officials fear the establishment of more wild
colonies, believed to adversely affect native bird populations.
Countries of origin: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Uruguay
Size: Small at 10 to 12 inches long,
about the size of a cockatiel, but stockier, at up to 150 grams (about
5.5 ounces).
Personality: Acrobatic, outgoing, self-assured,
can be stubborn, fairly noisy and occasionally aggressive toward other
animals and people. Appears to be more prone to feather-pluck and
self-mutilate than other small parrots. Recommended for kids with
supervision.
Talking ability: Moderate to good, considered by
some to be the best talker of the small-to-mid-size parrots. Good
imitator.
Average lifespan: 20-30 years.
Ringneck
A Stately, stand-offish
beauty, the ringneck is not as "cuddly" as most other types of parrots,
even among its own kind. Some birds form pairs only for breeding, then
go their separate ways the rest of the year. All 13 species carry a
distinctive narrow band of black feathers around the neck, making the
ring-necked parrot easy to identify. Most ringnecks are green birds,
with long, pointed tails and heads in various hues. The pretty
plum-headed (Psittacula cyanocephala) and
blossom-headed (Psittaculus roseata) parakeets sport
purple heads and blood-red beaks.
Countries of origin: Mostly India, Indonesia, African
continent.
Size: Medium-size and slender, 12 to 24
inches long and 110 grams on average.
Personality: In general, not as approachable as
other types of parrots; may not enjoy head scratches, for instance.
However, can be affectionate if handled frequently.
Talking ability: Moderate
Average lifespan: 30-50 years
Senegal
The Senegal is the best-known bird
in the African Poicephalus family of parrots, which
also includes the Jardine's and the Meyer's. It bears the family traits
of a small body and pleasant disposition. Mostly green, the Senegal (Poicephalus
senegalus) has a grey head and a golden breast bisected by a
green "v-neck", which gives it the appearance of wearing a vest. The
tail is short and pointed. The two subspecies, the red-vented parrot (Poicephalus
s. versteri) and the orange-bellied parrot (Poicephalus
s. mesotypus), vary only slightly in coloring.
Countries of origin: The Senegal occurs in Senegal,
Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. The red-vented subspecies is found on
the Ivory Coast and in Ghana and Nigeria. The orange-bellied parrot
also occurs in Nigeria, and Cameroon and Chad.
Size: Small but stout, at 9 inches
long and about 140 grams, or 5 ounces.
Personality: Playful and rambunctious with
toys, cuddly and a bit bossy. Will menace smaller birds. Rarely noisy
voice makes it well-suited to apartment life.
Talking ability: Poor to moderate.
Average lifespan: Up to 30 years.
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