All about Birds
16 Fun Facts About Parrots
Nov
Looking for more some fun and interesting facts about Parrots? Then keep reading…
Parrots stand out in the bird world with their lovable and cheeky personalities.
These colorful birds are far more than just a pretty face.
There are loads of cool facts about parrots and I’m here to tell you some of the most fascinating ones.
Keep reading to discover 16 facts about parrots you absolutely need to know!
Read on to discover amazing fun facts about Parrots…
1. There Are Around 393 Species of Parrots
There are lots of different types of parrots out there, most of them are found in tropical and subtropical surroundings.
There are 3 different families of parrots: the Psittacoidea, which are known as true parrots.
Cacatuoidea, which are cockatoos and Strigopoidea, which are New Zealand parrots.
2. Parrots Eat With Their Feet
All birds have amazing grip but only the parrot is able to hold food up to their beak while eating.
They can grasp onto their food with one foot and then move it up to their beak so they can nibble on it.
In fact, parrots eat very similarly to how we do. Their fleshy toes act a lot like how human fingers do.
3. Most Parrots Can Imitate Sound
Parrots imitate sound so that they can fit in with their surroundings.
These social birds don’t like to feel like they’re missing out, so they mimic sounds they hear around them to communicate.
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They don’t have vocal cords as humans do, they use the muscles in their throats to direct the air differently, which allows them to mimic sounds such as a ringing phone, creaking door or a barking dog.
If you have a pet parrot then it’s likely that they’ll pick up on certain words and phrases that you say.
If a parrot says “hello” when you enter the room, then this is because it’s made an association between the action and the word.
4. Parrots Can Live For Over 60 Years
The bigger the parrot the longer their lifespan usually is.
For instance, the African Grey is known to live well beyond 60 years of age.
Macaws usually live between 25-50 years, while medium-sized parrots commonly live between 15-20 years.
Pet parrots commonly live longer than wild ones because they have fewer threats from predators and diseases.
The lifespan of a household parrot is around 30 years, with many exceeding this.
5. They Mate for Life
Once a male and female parrot get together, then they generally stay together, even outside of the breeding season.
The only time they go their separate ways is if they fail to produce young, or if their partner dies.
It’s down to the male parrot to woe the female. He does this by a courtship display, where he parades, dances and makes different expressions and sounds to impress her.
They forage together, groom each other and sleep next to each other.
See Also: Black Palm Cockatoo Bird: What You Need To Know
6. They Have Strong Beaks
Parrots are known for having a curved beak, with the top part of it large than the bottom.
It’s advisable not to place your fingers anywhere near a parrot’s beak (unless you have a very close bond with them) as they are extremely strong.
The largest macaws have a beak so powerful that they can crush a brazil nut and even break open metal cages with it.
7. The Kakapo Parrot Can’t Fly
This is the largest kind of parrot, it can weight up to 9lbs and grows to over 2 feet long.
It’s the only member of the parrot family that can’t fly.
It’s also the only nocturnal parrot, which is mainly due to the fact that it can escape prey easier at night.
The Kakapo is amazing at jumping and climbing trees.
This parrot is extremely rare, with only around 142 thought to be left in the world.
8. A Baby Parrot is Called a Chick
Chicks are born with a thin layer of down on their backs.
It’s 2 weeks before they start to open their eyes and see the world for the first time.
Most parrots lay their eggs in a nest, although some choose to lay their eggs in tree holes, ground tunnels, and rock cavities.
9. Parrots are Omnivores, Which Means They Eat Both Meat and Veg
Parrots love seeds and could happily munch on these all day long.
Their strong beaks making cracking open nuts easy peasy!
They also eat flowers, fruit, and insects.
Even though they’re omnivores you don’t need to feed your pet parrot meat, as they’re more than happy with yummy fruit and veg.
In fact, the more colorful the food the better.
Some of the fruit and veg you can give your parrot are mango, pumpkin, asparagus, papaya, and bananas.
10. They’re One of the Most Intelligent Birds
Parrots are known for being smart creatures.
Not only are they capable of mimicking human speech but they can also add, subtract and understand the meaning of zero.
Parrots are smart because they have a brain neural circuit similar to primates, including humans.
Scientists believe that parrots have the same logic as a 4-year-old human child.
11. Parrots Lay Between 2 and 8 Eggs at a Time
The incubation period lasts between 18 to 30 days. Both parents take it in terns to sit on the eggs.
At 3 weeks old they begin to develop their feathers but they don’t reach adulthood until they’re between 1 to 4 years old (species dependant).
See Also: Amazing Fun Facts About Eagles
12. There are Wild Parrots in NYC
Back in the 1960s a shipment of parrots was accidently released from JFK Airport.
These birds are resilient to the cold, have adjusted their diet to fit in with the constant supply of discarded food and they have made impressive nests to keep themselves safe.
Communication is key to their survival, so if you see a lone parrot in NYC, chances are it will soon be joined by a friend.
13. The Band Hatebeak have a Gray Parrot as Their Lead Vocalist
This is one of the most unusual facts about Parrots we’ve come across!
This death metal band comes from Maryland and has a parrot called Waldo as their lead vocalist.
They’ve released songs titled “Beak of Purification,” and “Birdseeds of Vengeance.”
If Waldo is feeling stubborn and refuses to perform, his bandmates usually manage to coax him back with his favorite food…dried bananas.
Hatebeak doesn’t tour as they know all the traveling wouldn’t be fair on Waldo.
14. A Group of Parrots is Called a Pandemonium
The word pandemonium also means “wild and noisy,” which makes it a fitting name for this group of social chatterboxes.
15. In India, it’s Illegal to Keep Parrots as Pets
In India parrots are classified as a wild species of bird, therefore it’s illegal to cage one.
Anyone caught breaking this law could find themselves facing a fine and up to 6 years in prison…ouch!
16. The Novel Treasure Island is the Reason Parrots are Associated with Pirates
In this novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, the parrot named Captain Flint is the pet of feared pirate Long John Silver.
Captain Flint is famous for saying “pieces of eight,” which refers to silver coins.
FAQs: The Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions on Parrots
So now you’ve learned 16 fun facts about Parrots:
But are there still loads of parrot questions that you’re eager to know the answer to?
Don’t worry, as below are the answers to the most frequently asked parrot questions.
Question 1: Do Parrots Feel Emotion?
Yes! They feel emotions just like humans do. They can be angry, sad and happy.
Each parrot portrays its own unique characteristics.
As amazing as parrots can be, dealing with a pet that feels all of these emotions can be hard work at times.
Question 2: Do Parrots Like being Petted?
Lots of parrots love being petted, after-all, they do like attention.
They prefer being stroked on top of their heads.
Also, don’t stroke towards their tail, instead of stroke downwards towards their beak.
Other places they like being petted are under the beak and over their ears as they can’t reach these stopes themselves.
Question 3: Do Parrots Have Ears?
They don’t have external ear structures but they have 3 inner eat chambers which are the same amount as humans.
Question 4: What Should I Consider Before Buying a Parrot?
Parrots are fascinating birds and there’s no doubt that they would make an amazing pet.
However, they have a long lifespan, need lots of attention and can’t be left in the house alone for longer than a day.
Before buying one, make sure that you’ll be able to provide them with everything they’ll need to keep them happy and content.
Will you be able to provide them with plenty of your time?
Do you have a safe space to put them? Do you already own other pets that may frighten them? Is where you live too noisy for them?
Question 5: Can Parrots Sleep with the Light on?
Parrots like to sleep in the dark just like we do. To them light is day and this means being active, while darkness means it’s sleeping time.
Their instinct is to stay awake during the day in case predators strike.
It’s important that you turn the light off in the room your parrot’s in at night so that they get a good night’s sleep. A sleep-deprived parrot could lead to health issues.
Question 6: How Can You Tame Your Parrot?
So, you want to bond with your pet parrot but you don’t know the best way to do this?
Start by sitting next to their enclosure and offering treats from your hand.
Once your parrot associates you as a calming, friendly being who gives them yummy treats then they’ll want to be your best friend in no time.
Question 7: How Can You Tell if your Parrot is Stressed?
Commons signs that a parrot is stressed is if it starts pacing back-and-forth or plucks out its feathers.
Often, stress can be caused because the parrot is bored. They’re very smart birds who need to have their mind and body stimulated to keep them happy and fulfilled.
Adding in toys, treats and introducing more playtime should destress your parrot.
If they continue to appear stressed then you could always be getting another parrot to keep them company.
Question 8: How do I Know if My Parrot’s Ill?
Parrots are very good at hiding their ailments until they become extremally sick.
Some of the first signs that your beloved pet may be ill are:
- changes to eating and drinking patterns
- lethargic behavior
- vomiting
- greasy looking feathers
- plucked feathers and changes in their stools.
If you think your parrot is ill then you should take them to the vet as soon as you can. Also, if you have other parrots then make sure you separate them away from the ill one.
Question 9: Can I Teach my Parrot How to Talk?
You can try but this doesn’t mean that your parrot will cooperate. It’s best to start with easy words, like “hi.” Position yourself in front of your parrot as you speak.
Repeat the word or phrase you want your parrot to copy every time you see them. Make sure you sound friendly and keep this fun.
You could even turn it into a fun game, where you say the word then give your parrot a yummy treat.
Sometimes, however hard you try your parrot may not want to say certain words. Instead, it may repeat the curse word you muttered one time after stubbing your toe, over-and-over again.
A Parrot Summary
So now you know our favourite fun facts about Parrots!
Parrots are cute, colorful and can copy what we say which I think makes them pretty cool.
Not only that but they’re smart, feel emotions and have their own characteristics.
They make amazing companions to humans and can have a long and happy life, they also love seeds and banana.
I hope that you now know everything you need to know about these funny mimics.
