Parrots

Basic Information

The word “parrot” likely comes from the French “perrot,” meaning “little Peter.” Scientists call the parrot family “Psittaciformes,” from the Greek word “psittakos” for parrot.

A group of parrots is called a “pandemonium,” which is a fun way of saying they can be quite noisy when together!

Baby parrots are called “chicks,” just like baby chickens, but they’re born blind and without feathers!

The oldest known parrot was a cockatoo named Cookie who lived to be 83 years old at a zoo in Chicago!

Parrots are part of a family of birds that includes more than 350 different species, from tiny parrotlets to giant macaws!

The first parrots appeared on Earth about 50 million years ago, making them one of the oldest bird families still alive today!

Some parrot species can live up to 50 years in the wild, and many can live even longer in captivity!

Parrots are found naturally in tropical and subtropical regions on every continent except Antarctica! They inhabit areas such as Australia, South America, Central America, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The most common wild parrot in the world is the Budgerigar, also known as the common pet parakeet!

Just like chickens, male parrots are called “cocks,” and female parrots are called “hens.”

Physical Characteristics

The largest parrot species is the Hyacinth Macaw, which can grow to be as long as your kitchen yardstick — about 3.3 feet (1 meter) from head to tail!

A parrot’s beak is so strong it can crack open a macadamia nut shell, which would take 300 pounds of pressure for a human to crack!

The Kakapo of New Zealand is the world’s only flightless parrot, and it’s also the heaviest, weighing as much as a small cat — up to 9 pounds (4 kg)!

The smallest parrot in the world is the Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, which is only as big as your thumb — about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long!

Parrots have special toe arrangements called “zygodactyl feet,” which means they have two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, helping them grip branches and hold food!

Most parrots have about 2,000 to 3,000 feathers covering their bodies, and each feather is replaced about once every year!

Parrots are among the very few animals that can see ultraviolet light, which helps them identify ripe fruits and potential mates!

A parrot’s tongue is shaped like a black finger with a tiny nail at the end, which helps them manipulate food in their mouths!

Behavior & Intelligence

Parrots are one of the few animals that can dance to music and keep a beat, showing they understand rhythm!

Wild parrots give each other names by using specific call patterns, which they use to address specific individuals in their flock!

Kea parrots in New Zealand have been observed using sticks as tools to set off stoat traps to get the bait inside!

Parrots are one of the only animals besides humans that can use their feet to eat, holding food like we hold a sandwich!

Diet & Feeding

Most parrots are herbivores, which means they mainly eat plants, including seeds, fruits, nuts, and flowers!

Some parrots, like the Kea, occasionally eat meat, making them omnivores!

A parrot’s upper beak is hinged to its skull, allowing it to crack even the toughest nuts and seeds!

Many parrots eat clay from riverbanks to help neutralize toxins in the seeds they eat!

A single parrot can eat up to 500 different types of seeds and fruits throughout the year!

Amazon parrots spend about 4–6 hours each day just looking for and eating food in the wild!

Some parrots store food in a special pouch in their throat called a “crop” to eat later!

Life Cycle

Most parrot species mate for life and stay with the same partner for many years!

Parrot eggs typically take between 18 and 30 days to hatch, depending on the species!

Most baby parrots stay in their nest for 4 to 10 weeks before they are ready to fly, depending on the species! Smaller parrots fledge sooner, while larger species may take longer.

Parent parrots feed their chicks by regurgitating partially digested food directly into their beaks!

Most parrots grow their full feathers within 4 to 15 weeks after hatching, but their final adult colors may take months to appear!

Female parrots usually lay between 2–8 eggs at a time, depending on the species!

Both parent parrots help take care of their babies, taking turns keeping the eggs warm and feeding the chicks!

Baby parrots learn to talk by listening to their parents, just like human babies learn to speak!

Some parrots don’t start breeding until they’re 3–8 years old!

Parrot chicks double their weight in the first week after hatching!

Habitat & Survival

Wild parrots live on every continent except Antarctica, but most species prefer tropical climates.

Many parrots nest in tree hollows, which they sometimes have to wait years to find!

Some parrot species, like the Burrowing Parrot of South America, dig tunnels in cliffs to make their nests!

Parrots often gather in large groups at special sleeping places called “roosts” to stay safe at night!

The Swift Parrot of Australia migrates over 3,000 kilometers each year to follow flowering trees!

Many parrots use camouflage to hide from predators — green parrots blend in with leaves, while brown parrots match tree bark!

Some parrots live in cities and have learned to use human buildings as their new habitats!

Parrots in the Amazon Rainforest often gather at clay licks, which are special riverside areas where they eat mineral-rich soil!

Desert-dwelling parrots can survive without drinking water for long periods by getting moisture from seeds and fruits!

Conservation & Population

The Orange-bellied Parrot is one of the rarest birds in the world, with about 83 remaining in the wild!

Over 20% of parrot species are threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade!