The Parrot (Part Three): Little-Known Facts

By Leslie Brown

African Grey parrots have been people's pets for over 4,000 years. The Egyptians are thought to be the first to keep the African Greys as pets, as depicted in their hieroglyphics. The Greeks also highly valued the African Greys, as did the Romans, who kept these intelligent birds in highly ornate cages. The tradition continued with King Henry VIII. Today, the African Grey parrot is still kept as a prized pet.

African Grey parrots are considered to be talented talking parrots. Unlike other parrots, wild African Greys have been documented as imitating the calls of several other species. African Grey parrots have been tested using rigorous scientific standards, and are classified next to the most intelligent animal species. Wild African Grey parrots frequently whistle, shriek, squeak, and click. If you are the proud owner of an African Grey, expect to hear regular renditions of the microwave, telephone, alarm clocks, dripping water, wild birds, video games, and any other sound occurring in the vicinity of your parrot’s cage.

Here are a few interesting or little-known facts about parrots.

Parrots have large heads and short necks, strong feet with two toes in front and two in back (facilitating climbing and grasping). They have strong, thick bills, with the larger hooked upper mandible hinged to the bones of the head.

Parrots have four toes on each foot. Two of their toes point forward and two point backward.
Parrots have a thick muscular tongue that helps them eat fruit, seeds, buds, nectar, pollen, and some insects.

While eating, parrots hold their food in one foot, which can be either the left or right, making parrots left- as well as right-handed.

Parrots cannot eat chocolate because it is poisonous to their bodies.

Parrots in the wild are arboreal, meaning that they live and nest in trees. When they are not nesting, they live in flocks and are prone to squawking and screaming.

The vocalizations of some parrots can be heard for up to 1 mile.

Wild parrots build their nests in holes in trees, termite mounts, rock cavities, or ground tunnels. Only a few build stick nests.

Wild macaws and cockatoos can fly up to 500 miles in a day in search of food.

Larger parrots can live more than 75 years, while smaller ones live up to 15 years only. The parrots are a broad order of more than 350 species of birds. Macaws, Amazons, Lorikeets, Lovebirds, and Cockatoos are all considered parrots.

Parrots are found in warm climates all over the world. The greatest diversity exists in Australasia, Central America, and South America.

Some parrots are forbidden in certain states. Ninety percent of parrots are regulated in their movement across country borders. International treaty regulates flora and fauna, which includes the transfer of parrots (but not parakeets). According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) (http://www.cites.org/), there are different levels of protection of parrots in different states in the United States. All of the greys are considered Schedule One, and have to comply with importing restrictions.

Currently, CITES bans the sale of any wild-caught species, yet the parrot’s popularity continues to drive illegal trade.

Some parrot species are highly endangered. In other cases, previously tame birds have reproduced in the wild and established thriving feral populations in foreign ecosystems. For example, the monk (green) parakeet, now lives in the wild in several of states in the United States. (See the story of “Tango” at http://www.urbanparrots.com/.)

The Hyacinth macaw is a bird of envy with high maintenance. Sensitive by nature, they require special handling, and do not breed well in captivity. They range in age from 50 to 80 years. (If you are thinking of adopting a macaw, consult The Large Macaw, by Dr. Brian Speer and Joanne Abrahmson.)

The Hyacinth macaw is the only macaw that needs actual nuts in their diet. They need fatty nuts, like macadamia nuts, while other parrots can get by with fruit and pellets.

Both macaws and greys are very affectionate. Greys can cuddle and beg to sit in a chair and have their heads scratched, or call out to owner by name. Many learn by listening, and can ask for food by name, such as asking for “toast”.

One example of parrot intelligence is an African Grey named Alex, who could distinguish not only color, shape, and texture, but could communicate by asking for a square piece of wood or green wool. Alex was the only parrot that had an obituary in the national news (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070913-alexparrot-video....).

The macaw knows how to fly better than the African Grey, which does not have the same mobility.
Certain types of macaws range in cost from $300 or $400, while a Hyacinth costs $12,000 to $14,000.

The Hyacinth macaw is yellow around the eye and beak, with a yellow stripe around either side of its tongue.

Parrots see in fluorescent colors. We might claim that they are sexually dimorphic because we cannot see in fluorescents. Humans cannot tell the difference between male and female African Greys. However, because parrots see in fluorescents, they can see a parrot of the opposite sex.

Sailors kept parrots as companions on long voyages; the notion of seafaring parrots was popularized by the pirate character Long John Silver in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, "Treasure Island," and the silver screen version was immortalized by English actor Robert Newton (http://www.mooncove.com/newton/impers.htm).

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