The animal kingdom is full of beautiful and amazing creatures. Some are more intelligent than others, and parrots definitely have smarter habits than most.
The fact that they can speak and have distinct personalities makes them all the more appealing. So let’s talk about parrots and parrot habits. In this guide, we will take a look at the habits of parrots along with their unique characteristics.
Traits and Habits in Parrots
Depending on the species of parrots, their habits can vary by a margin. However, there still are some common ones which we’ve listed below.
Feather Plucking
Feather plucking is a common habit among many parrots. This is their way of grooming themselves, but it might also indicate stress, illness, or in many cases, boredom.
Hormonal imbalances, abrupt changes in diet, or skin infections stimulate a parrot to pick off its feathers. It’s advisable to get a thorough check by an experienced individual. But that’s not all, emotional disturbances take their toll. Factors include a new owner, a new pet, or a new environment.
Plucking feathers might indicate agony, but for birds, it’s a common practice, one that they may find satisfying or relaxing. Regardless, a checkup from a vet or any experienced individual is, once again, advised.
Vocalization
Parrots are known to speak. While not all of them can talk in human languages, they certainly know how to make noise. You will often come across them screaming at the top of their lungs in the mornings and evenings.
Scratching
One of the more common parrot habits is them scratching their heads and necks. This is essentially a part of their preening process. The most common ones to do this are African Grey Parrots.
Regurgitating
Regurgitating is essentially a way for a parrot to show affection and feed his young. They will eject swallowed food and feed it to the children as part of bonding.
Hanging Like Bats
Another common trait that you may see in some parrots is them hanging upside down. However, this is actually a good thing since it shows that they are happy.
Socialization
Parrots are known to be social creatures. They enjoy interacting with people and other pets. This makes them excellent companions because they are extremely loyal and loving towards people who raise them well.
Similarly, parrots are active throughout the day. They need to exercise and play to keep their minds stimulated. Therefore, it’s best to let them explore their environments and interact with other animals.
Biting
If you’ve been bitten by a parrot before, you’re not alone. Essentially, this is a sign of them being aggressive or defensive. Parrots will usually bite if they are scared. Most often, parrots that bite are separated from other birds until they stop their behavior.
Sleep
When it comes to sleep, parrots do not hold back. They essentially have 12-hour cycles where they will sleep before sunset and wake up at dawn. This habit tends to vary for a few species of parrots but is true for the general population.
What Kind of Birds Are Parrots?
Before we start talking about habits, let’s first get to know our pesky friends. As per findings of the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), parrots belong to the Psittaciformes order. It is home to more than 350 different species of birds currently.
In essence, there have been more than 400 species of parrots alone since they first originated on Earth. Some common types are:
African Grey Parrots
The African Grey is considered to be the smartest talking parrot in the world and is commonly known for its vocalizations, though not all Grey Parrots can talk. Usually found amongst the rainforests of Africa, as hinted by their striking red tails, these remarkable creatures live for up to 50 years.
Overall, they are considered a bit shy next to their counterparts, however, they may become attached to any particular individual and get along with new faces rather well. To bond with the owners, they require to spend time with them, preferably outside their recommended vast cages. They are sensitive to hostile and unpredictable environments, therefore it’s good to accommodate them by providing different meals occasionally and a handful of toys/swings.
Budgerigars
Commonly known as ‘Budgies’, they are the most common pet parrots in the world. With their soft and high-pitched voices, it is hard to decipher the element of human speech.
They were domesticated back in the 1840s and are bred in captivity till this day, mainly because of their beauty and easy sustenance, which allows them to be easy pets for the newcomer bird enthusiast, but also because Australia, which happens to be their homeland, stopped exporting them back in the 1890s.
Macaws
Most Macaws are commonly found in South America, the Amazon rainforest to be specific. They come in outstanding diversity, such as Hyacinth, Lear, or the Scarlet Macaw. They are highly intelligent and social birds, capable of deconstructing and reconstructing human speech.
Loosely speaking, these wild-caught parrots are aggressive and very noisy which deems them unsuitable for the amateur bird-owners who might live in small homes or apartments. They require vast cages for the sake of their physical and psychological well-being.
Sadly, more and more of these common pet birds are joining the ever-growing list of extinct parrots. For example, the Spix macaw or the Glaucous macaw have probably gone extinct with the lack of recorded sightings. If the trend continues, these wild parrots might one day get removed from the archive of nature.
Conclusion
Parrots are majestic creatures that have inhabited earth for millions of years. They have different habits and quite interesting personalities. Some will talk and be more social while others will be the complete opposite.
In this guide, we looked at some of the common parrot habits, as well as their general meaning. We also talked about some of the most popular kinds of parrots and their distinctive traits. That brings us to the end of this guide. Thank you for reading.
Harlan Derricks, nice to meet you. I created this online resource in the hopes of educating more people about the wonders of parrots, including their species, sizes, and more.
But I don’t just want to stop with parrots. I want to give every bird an opportunity to be marveled at and rescued by my education. If just one of my readers learned something valuable about budgies, cockatiels, or parakeets, then I’d be happy with my success.
