Interesting Facts About Parrots

Parrots have long captured the interest and hearts of people. Whether as pets or viewed in the wild, these intelligent birds attract peoples attention. Their diversity and adaptability in some ways mimics humans. Knowing parrot facts can give people a new and deeper appreciation of these birds.

More than 350 types of birds classify as parrots. They range in size from the small budgerigar to the large macaw. Their colors vary, some have little coloring, like the African grey. Others have very bright feathers in red, green, yellow and blue. All parrots categorize as zygodactyls with four toes--two facing backward and two forward--on each of their feet. They also all have curved beaks, come from warmer areas of the world and eat a similar diet of fruit, seeds, nuts, plant material and insects.

Parrots have multiple sacks in their lungs. They have high susceptibility to many of the fumes found in the average home. Fumes from Teflon-coated cookware can poison a parrot in minutes. Other possible dangers include cleaners, nail polish and remover, cigarette smoke and air fresheners.

Every parrot has an individual personality and behaviors. While some generalizations may apply, such as the temperament of a type of parrot, variations always occur. Parrots, like many animals, do what results in a positive outcome. For example, if squawking causes a person to run into the room to soothe and calm the bird, they will continue to perform that behavior. Fortunately, this makes parrots very trainable when people reward the behaviors they want.

One of the reasons parrots can make such good companions for people is due to their flock mentality. The parrot sees the people it lives with as its flock. They try to communicate with the flock, which can come out as talking and mimicking humans. Many types of parrots live long lives--up to 100 years old in captivity--forming deep bonds with their people. Even though people have kept parrots as pets and companions for thousands of years, they are not domesticated.

In warm climates, escaped or freed pet parrots have established wild colonies. Places such as Arizona and Florida have wild populations of lovebirds and Quaker parakeets. On the reverse side of these parrot facts, parrots in their natural habitats have several threats. People catch wild babies to sell or trade. Habitat destruction reduces the population of parrots. Parrots top the list of most endangered birds with more than half of parrot types being threatened because of the trade in wild birds, according to the World Parrot Trust.

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