Parrots are some of the most familiar and popular birds worldwide. Most species inhabit tropical rainforests, though some live in open areas. Known for their vibrant colors and vocal abilities, many parrots can mimic human speech and are commonly kept as pets. However, due to the impact of wild capture, many places have banned keeping wild-caught parrots. Parrots are social birds that live in flocks and form strong pair bonds.
This article introduces 15 different types of parrots and their key features to help you learn more about these colorful birds.
Parrots belong to the phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Psittaciformes. They are characterized by a curved downward beak with flexible upper and lower jaws suited for eating nuts and seeds. Their feet have two toes forward and two backward, aiding in grasping food and climbing. Parrots mainly originated in Australasia, home to the greatest diversity of species.
The parrot order includes three families:
Psittaculidae: small African parrots and Asian/Oceanian parrots.
Psittacidae: African and American parrots.
Psittrichasiidae: including unique species like the Pesquet’s parrot.
Unlike cockatoos (which have crests and long tails), parrots lack crests and have shorter tails. They are generally larger and more robust than parakeets. With lifespans averaging 60 years, parrots are favored pets.
Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus)
33-39 cm long, native to Australia. Males are green with blue and red wing feathers; females are bright red with blue band on back.
Caique Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
Inhabits Amazon rainforest, 36 cm long. Green body with grey head and red crest, genetically close to cockatoos.
African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus)
Famous talking parrot, grey body, white face, red tail; highly intelligent and widely kept.
Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus)
Largest of Poicephalus parrots, 35-37 cm long, green feathers with red spots on head and wings.
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)
Small size, 24-28 cm, blue head and chest, green and yellow body; found in Central and South America.
Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus)
44-46 cm, native to Chile and Argentina, nests by digging tunnels in cliffs.
Pesquet’s Parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus)
Known as the “Dracula parrot,” red body with black wings and head; found in New Guinea.
Amazon Parrot (Amazona amazonica)
Medium-sized, 30-35 cm, green with yellow and orange markings; known for mimicking whistles and speech.
Red-faced Parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi)
Endemic to Australasia, males have red to pink face and blue nape; females have brown face; 20 cm long.
Senegal Parrot, Malachite Parakeet, Short-tailed Parrot, Yellow-faced Parrot, Black Parrot, Blue-fronted Amazon, Vulturine Parrot, etc.
Discover more about exotic birds worldwide in our “Exotic Bird Species” section.
animal tags： Parrots
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