At present, more than forty orders of birds live on our planet . Their total number is about one hundred billion individuals. Among such a variety of birds, there is one detachment, representatives of which any person can recognize at a glance. It is a parrot. They differ from other birds in their bright plumage, energy and ability to talk. Such a pet can surround its owner with love and affection no worse than a cat or dog. The article describes the existing types of parrots. Photos and names of each of them are also attached.
A bit of history
Parrots are one of the few representatives of the animal world that have survived to this day and have practically not changed their appearance. This is evidenced by the numerous excavations of ancient human sites, during which the fossilized remains of this detachment of birds were discovered. Historical evidence suggests that the first people to teach parrots in human speech were the Indians. Representatives of this detachment of birds on the European continent appeared along with the soldiers of Alexander of Macedon. At that time, parrots were considered sacred, because they knew how to talk like people. Later, these bright and energetic birds spread throughout the European countries, gaining the fame of their beloved pets.
How many species of parrots exist in our time? The answer to this question can be found below.
Types of Parrots
The parrot-like order is divided into two families:
The cockatoo family is divided into three subfamilies. They include twenty one species.
The parrot family is divided into two subfamilies. The total number of species represented in them is more than three hundred and fifty.
Thus, we can calculate how many species of parrots exist in modern nature. Nowadays there are more than three hundred and seventy of them.
Below will be described how you can determine the type of representative of the order of the parrot-like.
How to determine the type of parrot?
In order to answer this question, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- body length and weight of an individual;
- beak shape;
- plumage color;
- the presence or absence of a crest.
After analyzing these characteristics and comparing them with a photo and a description of various species of birds, it will be possible to understand what kind of representative the parrot-like order is in front of you.
Consider the most famous types of parrots, photos and names of which are given below.
Nestor
This parrot species is an ancient inhabitant of New Zealand. Nestor is firmly complex and comparable in size to a crow.
One of the subspecies - kaka - is an inhabitant of mountain forests. Such parrots are vibrant and sociable in nature and make a lot of noise. The Kaka language is well developed and adapted for the extraction of nectar from the flowers of trees. These birds love to eat berries, seeds and larvae of harmful insects. The last parrot gets from under the bark of trees, plucking the affected areas of wood.
Another representative of the Nestor species is the kea parrot. Such birds live in highlands. They feed mainly on berries of various trees, honey, roots and insects. It is believed that kea can attack flocks of sheep and pluck small pieces of meat from the backs of animals.
Owl parrot
This species of parrot got its name due to the original shape of the facial disc, soft plumage structure and nightlife. More recently, such birds in large numbers lived in New Zealand. Now it is an endangered species of parrots that can be found only in remote wild parts of the island.
Such birds mainly live on rocky slopes, in shrubs and along the banks of mountain rivers. Owl parrots lead a land-based lifestyle. And this is their main difference from other species. These birds have poorly developed wing muscles, so they fly poorly. But owl parrots run fine. They can also easily climb a tall tree using tenacious claws and a beak.
Like owls, such parrots sit in their nests during the day, and when night falls they go in search of food. At night, these birds navigate in space using special long hairs located on the facial disc. The main food of owl parrots is moss and various berries. Their favorite treat is snowy grass.
Budgerigar
The most numerous species of parrots - wavy - lives in Australia. Its representatives can be found in any part of this continent. They live in savannahs, eucalyptus forests, semi-deserts, and even in cities. Budgerigars create large colonies, the number of which can be up to a thousand individuals. They must have their place of settlement near the source of water.
The budgerigar is a small bird of a slender physique, having a bright plumage. Its length is 17-20 centimeters, and weight is only 40-50 grams. Most budgerigars have a characteristic grassy-green or greenish-yellow color of feathers. Often there are individuals of white, blue or bright yellow colors. On the back, wings and back of the head of such birds are dark brown stripes. Budgerigars are friendly in nature.
The main food of such birds is wheat grains and grass seeds. An extremely important component of their diet is water.
Cockatoo
The main habitat of the cockatoo are such island states as the Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. These parrots live in alpine, tropical and mangrove forests. They like to exist in close proximity to civilization. Therefore, they can often be seen in a city or agricultural area.
The cockatoo plumage is mainly colored in yellow, pink, black and white. A distinctive feature of this parrot is a high crest. Its color differs from the main color scale of plumage. The length of the cockatoo body is from 30 to 80 centimeters, weight - from 300 to 1200 grams.
Such birds in flight can reach speeds of up to 70 km / h. They are also good at climbing trees. Representatives of this type of parrot love to swim and devote a lot of time to caring for their plumage. The basis of their nutrition is seeds, fruits and insects.
Cockatoo is a type of parrot whose talkative representatives can be taught to pronounce individual words and even phrases. Also, these birds are able to show extraordinary ingenuity to achieve their goals. Do not offend a cockatoo, because such birds are extremely vengeful.
Jaco
What type of parrot is the most talkative? No doubt it's jaco. Another name for it is the gray parrot. Ornithologists distinguish two subspecies of these birds: red-tailed and brown-tailed jaco. The first lives in Central Africa, Togo, Kenya and North Angola. The length of his body can reach 35 centimeters. Such a bird weighs an average of 400 grams. The wing length is about 24 centimeters. The plumage of this parrot is painted in ash gray shades. His chest, head and neck are usually slightly darker or lighter than the main tone. The tail and back are colored red.
Brown-tailed Jacquot is found in South Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone. This subspecies is smaller in comparison with the red-tailed. The body length of such a parrot can reach 34 centimeters. This bird weighs an average of 350 grams. The wing length is about 21 centimeters. The tail is painted in maroon.
The gray parrot is able to remember and reproduce up to 150 words or even phrases. Such a bird can conduct a meaningful conversation with the owner. In addition, Jaco is able to expertly imitate various sounds, for example, the trill of a phone call or alarm clock. Gray parrots also have the ability to distinguish between shapes and colors.
Corella
This kind of parrot lives in Australia. In addition to the name "Corella", which was given to this bird by the natives of the continent, there is another thing - "nymph". They were awarded a parrot by European scientists.
Outwardly, the Corella looks like a small dove. The length of the feathered can reach 33 centimeters. Half of them are tail. A striking feature of this species of parrot is a yellow crest. The plumage of the Corella is painted in light olive or gray colors, on the cheeks there are round spots of a bright orange hue.
The corella feeds mainly on plant seeds, wheat grains and insect larvae.
This species of parrot is not easy to teach to speak. Despite this, Corella is still able to memorize up to 100 words. Males of these birds sing well and can even imitate nightingales.
Ara
Ara is the largest representative of the order of parrots. Its main place of residence is the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Macaw parrots come together in flocks and lead a nomadic lifestyle.
The length of an adult can reach 100 centimeters. The macaw has a large long tail and a powerful beak, with which the bird can even bite through steel wire.
The basis of the diet of this type of parrots is grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts.
Ara possess a loud and sharp voice, are able to reproduce human speech and repeat various sounds. A distinctive feature of the nature of these birds is that they are monogamous.
Some of the macaw subspecies are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the world Red Book.
Lovebirds
Lovebird parrots are called birds in love because of the unusual mutual affection of the male and female. In nature, this species of birds can be found in Africa and on the island of Madagascar.
Male and female are together constantly. Even if one of them flies away, he tries to be within such limits that he can hear the sounds of the voice of the second half. Lovebird parrots do everything together: they get food, fly to a watering place, rest, sorting out feathers to each other. They are agile and agile, able to fly fast.
These birds feed on berries and small seeds.
Conclusion
Parrots stand out among other birds. Their striking appearance and ability to reproduce human speech and imitate various sounds make it possible to recognize representatives of this squad at a glance. The article describes the most famous types of parrots. In the world there are much more varieties of such birds, some of which are even listed in the Red Book.