Parrot Species

Parrot Species by Picture and Description.

Macaws:
This is perhaps one of the most coveted birds in aviculture. These South American beauties are often toted as the giants of the psittacine kingdom. While it is true that they are certainly the largest parrots, some Macaws are amongst the smallest parrots, as well. The Hahn's Macaw rivals a petite Aratinga Conure for size (~35cm). These birds are very intelligent and can be very comical and affectionate. However, Macaws are often known to challenge their owners for dominance and with such a large, threatening beaks this can be a intimidating at best. In Macaws, it is the smaller species which can be the most challenging. The giant Hyacinth Macaw is often called the most gentle of macaws (or even of the psittacines!) while the tiny Hahn's Macaw is known to be quite sassy and challenging.

Conures:
Conures are the small cousins of the Macaw. Like the Macaw, this pint-sizes parrots are aerodynamically shaped with thin bodies, long wings and a long tapered tail. In flight, they are a stunning sight to see. In the pet trade, there are 2 major genus of conures: the Aratinga and the Pyrrhura. There are a few species that are considered mono genic meaning they are the only member of their genus - these birds do not conform to the specifications of either Aratinga or Pyrrhura. Conures are perhaps the most varied of all the parrots. In general, the Aratinga conures are the larger birds with heavier frames and wide, thick beaks. These birds tend to be noisier and better talkers. These birds have a lot of variety in color and body type from species to species. The Pyrrhura conures, on the other hand, are very petite.They tend to all be darker in color with distinct, scallop-edged feathers. They are known to be quiet with an even, gentle personality. The Pyrrhura conures are wonderful parrots for the first-time bird owner.

Amazons:
Amazons are amongst the most common and popular large parrots in Aviculture. Long prized for their talking ability, the Amazon is known as a comical and gregarious pet. These birds look little like the Macaws and Conures they share their homes with. They are heavy, stout birds who almost look uncomfortable in flight. There are several species of Amazon Parrot available in the pet trade. Each species has a very distinct personality. However, there are a few traits common to Amazons. They can often be rowdy and excitable, but fairly confident. Amazons are known for their mood swings, so it is important that an owner learn to "read" the bird's moods. Some Amazons, such as the Yellow Nape, Double Yellow Head and the Blue Front are amongst the best talkers in the parrot world. They mimic so well that it is often hard to tell their voice from their owners! While Amazons are delightful pets, they are often not "cuddlers," preferring instead to be vocally interacted with or to play
with its toys (although it is a rare Amazon that doesn't appreciate a good scratch on the head).

African Grey Parrots
African Greys Parrots are highly prized amongst true bird lovers for their amazing intelligence. In recent years, research has indicated that these parrots may have intelligence rivaling a 5 year old human child! There has been a good deal of evidence supporting the fact that these birds not only talk, but they know the meaning of the words they say (later research with other species supports that this holds true for many other parrot species, as well)! While this makes Greys a very popular pet, new owners rarely realize the hardships associated with this species. African birds in general tend to be quiet and more prone to hiding than their South American cousins. As a result, if not well socialized, a Grey is very prone to stress reactions. Unsocialized birds may often become extremely aggressive to strangers. Also, because they are so intelligent, birds that are not intellectually stimulated and interacted with also are very subject to stress. While they are very smart, it is very hard for Greys (or any pet) to reason changes in lifestyle, changes in housing, etc. In Greys, stress is often manifested in feather picking or over grooming. Screaming and biting may also result. However, for an owner knowledgeable in bird psychology and willing to take time to work with their pet, and African Grey is a wonderful and charming addition!

Cockatoos: 
Cockatoos are quickly emerging as the preferred hookbill pet amongst fanciers. They are known to be smart, cuddly, playful and good talkers. These birds are also beautiful, most being white with powdery pinkish or yellowish hues. All cockatoos have a crest of some sort on top of their heads which becomes erect when startled or excited. While many people view cockatoos as the perfect parrot, few realize until they have one that these birds can be difficult to own. With their intelligence and affectionate nature come a certain neediness. 'Toos become settled into a routine quickly and are often not excepting of change. Boredom, stress and loneliness are common afflictions to these pretty birds. Often, screaming, moping or feather picking are a result. With cockatoos, it is important to set ground rules early and to establish that you may not be around the house all day. A baby cockatoo that is overly coddled or spoiled at a young age may have trouble adjusting to the "real world" when its beloved owner has to go to work or go off on a trip. It is important that these birds be socialized early, or a fear of new placed or new people may result. However, a properly raised cockatoo is a true joy. If started off right, cockatoos can be outgoing and amazingly intelligent (some say they rival African Greys for brains). If considering a cockatoo as a pet, be sure to do extensive research on their behavior. Talk to other 'too owners to see what has worked for them. If started off right, the cockatoo may be your perfect pet!

Cockatiels:
Cockatiels are perhaps one of the most common pet birds. These little dynamos are easy to breed and become wonderful pets if hand raised. Like Cockatoos, tiels are known for their crested head. The original color is the "grey" which is yellow and grey with orange cheek patches. From this color pattern, many beautiful mutations have occurred. In breeding, there is a whole science associated with the combining and breeding of color mutation tiels. Cockatiels are relatively inexpensive pets and make great first birds because they possess many of the same traits and needs as the larger hookbills. Tiels are affectionate and can learn to talk and whistle many tunes. They can be stubborn, so tiels are a great way to learn behavior training for birds. When getting a tiel, it is best to get a young hand-raised bird that you can "start off right." Start establishing behaviors early (such as the "step up" command) and don't let the bird start setting rules through biting early on. Tiels are both stubborn and manipulative, so once it learns that you can be "bullied" the pattern may be hard to change. Also, be sure to start your new pet off on the right diet, as cockatiels are very stubborn about changing their eating habits.

Budgerigars: Pacific Distribution
Budgerigars ("budgies") are the birds most commonly called "parakeets" in the pet trade. These little hookbills rival the cockatiel in sheer volume for bird fanciers. Their numbers may solely be due to the low price tag often associated with their purchase. Unfortunately, the low price tag usually yields a bird that was bred and raised in an aviary and is therefore afraid of humans. Essentially, this situation give you a nearly wild pet, which can be an unpleasant situation for many new owners. Like other parrots and parakeets, though, budgies make wonderful pets if handraised. They can be affectionate, charming and great little talkers. In fact, handraised budgies make wonderful first birds and can be a very pleasant pet experience. Like all birds, it is important to start your budgie out with the right behavior and feeding. Amongst hookbills, budgies rival the cockatiel for "stubbornness" as well. The original color of the Budgerigar is green and yellow. Because of their prolific breeding, many mutations of the original color have cropped up including a lutino (all yellow), white and blue and a harlequin (yellow and blue).

Eclectus: Pacific Distribution
These parrots are somewhat unusual, but quickly gaining popularity in the pet trade. There are four main types of Eclectus Parrots. Unusual among hookbills, Eclectus are sexually dimorphic, meaning the male and female of the species look markedly different. The males are bright green with red or purple under their wings. The females are a brilliant red color. Both have a orange-yellow beak and unusual feathers that have a hair-like consistency. Eclectus make quiet, gentle pets if raised correctly. They can talk and have soft, sweet voices. The males tend to be much friendlier than the females, who tend to be more standoffish and may get nippy in order to be left alone. Eclectus can be hard to breed in captivity. However, for certain breeders (who have the correct Eclectus finesse) these birds will breed very well. For this reason, there may be a large difference in price from one source to the other.

Petco agrees to stop large-bird sales, ending PETA boycott

Courtesy of ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN DIEGO – Petco Animal Supplies Inc. said Tuesday it will stop selling large birds in a deal with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which agreed to end its boycott of the No. 2 pet supply chain.
Larger parrots, such as African greys, Amazon parrots, cockatoos and macaws will no longer be sold at Petco stores once the company completes the sale of its existing stock of the birds. Petco will continue selling smaller and medium-sized birds, such as canaries, finches, parakeets, cockatiels and conures.
"We recognize that most of our bird customers are what we would call 'beginning hobbyists.' Large birds are not necessarily appropriate for these individuals due to their long lifespan, size and care requirements," Bruce C. Hall, Petco's president and chief operating officer, said in a joint statement.
San Diego-based Petco, which operates 730 stores, also agreed to encourage adoption of homeless birds from shelters and to separate mice and rats by gender to prevent them from breeding.
In return, PETA agreed to end demonstrations outside Petco stores and has taken down its anti-Petco Web site. The Norfolk, Va.-based organization began attacking the company in January 2003 for what PETA called Petco's pattern of mishandling pets for sale. A PETA Web site and billboard ads, in a play on the company slogan, called Petco a place "where the pets die."
"We'd be happier if all birds weren't sold, but this is a precedent-setting action," said Daphna Nachminovitch, a Petco spokeswoman. "It is a victory for the birds for certain."
Large parrots can easily outlive their adult owners, said Nachminovitch, who considers parrots to be wild animals and terrible pets. Wild and escaped parrots are known to flock noisily in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities.
Petco spokesman Shawn Underwood denied that PETA's boycott campaign hurt Petco's $1.8 billion in sales in fiscal 2004.
Joan L. Storms, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., said Tuesday's settlement was a positive move for the company and added that Petco was not worried about the bottom line so much as its public perception.
"They do not want to be perceived as people who are mistreating animals," Storms said. "I think they felt that it really is in everbody's best interests to be aligned with PETA."
A complaint by PETA to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, calling on Petco to disclose revenue and inventory figures of pets for sale in its stores, is pending.
Last year, Petco paid more than $900,000 to settle two lawsuits that accused the company of mistreating animals and overcharging customers. The settlements resolved a lawsuit brought by district attorneys in four California counties, including San Diego, along with a separate action filed in 2002 by San Francisco's city attorney.

Zinc Poisoning

One of the hottest topics in avian medicine and in aviculture in the last few years has been zinc toxicosis. Heavy metal poisonings have long been seen as a problem in veterinary medicine. The most common type is lead poisoning. In recent years, however, diagnosis of zinc toxicosis has been on the rise.
What Causes Zinc Toxicosis This is primarily an environmental problem. Several different etiologies have been determined for zinc poisoning. One of the first causes described by veterinarians was termed "New Cage Syndrome". Veterinarians recognized that some birds would exhibit symptoms resembling heavy metal toxicity soon after being placed in new, galvanized wire cages. Zinc is one of the main elements found in galvanized coatings. Birds will lick the wire or accidentally ingest zinc when using their beak to climb the cage wire. Other potential sources of zinc include: ¥ Bolts, nuts, screws, quick links, and other hardware. ¥ Chains and other metals.¥ Some paints will contain zinc. ¥ Keys
Manufacturers have become more aware of this problem and are now offering safe alternatives such as stainless steel chain and quick links. You may want to contact the manufacturer to determine the zinc contact in questionable sources. California Cage Company and For The Birds acrylic toys are two companies that provide a written guarantee on zinc-free products. You can also replace the quick links on toys with stainless steel quick links. The pear shaped links on smaller bird toys are nickel plated and do not pose a hazard. Generally, a shiny, polished finish on metals will be safe and zinc-free.
Researchers, avian veterinarians, aviculturists, and pet bird owners are working together to gather information that will be useful in the prevention and treatment of zinc toxicosis. Zinc toxicosis has been a major topic at the Association of Avian Veterinarians Annual Conference for the last three years in an effort to keep avian veterinarians trained and informed about this potentially fatal problem.
Zinc toxicosis can present as a diagnostic challenge. Veterinarians rely heavily on the historical information that owners provide. Clinical signs will vary slightly with each case. Symptoms to be aware of include weakness, depression, polyuria, polydypsia, diarrhea, weight loss, hematuria, and seizures. If you suspect that your bird has ingested a toxin, or if your bird exhibits any of these symptoms you must call your avian veterinarian immediately for recommendations and instructions.
Diagnosis and Treatment Assays are available to measure the level of zinc in the blood stream. An elevated level of zinc is diagnostic for zinc toxicosis. Oral medications developed for lead poisoning in children has been clinically effective in treating zinc intoxication. Treatment is rewarding because recovery is often rapid and dramatic.
Removing the zinc from the bird is the first life saving step when treating for zinc toxicosis. However, you must take steps to correct the environment to prevent further exposure.

Chronic Egg Laying

Chronic egg laying is a very common problem in cockatiels, lovebirds, and budgies; and is seen in other species of pet birds including macaws, cockatoos, amazons, and African greys. This problem can begin in your bird as early as nine months or as late as several years of age. The most common age range is from one to three years.
The process of producing and laying an egg is an incredible feat of nature. A bird utilizes various proteins and minerals to build a container that can sustain a life for several days and up to several weeks. Within this container all of the necessary functions of life are carried out - eating, drinking, sleeping, waste disposal, breathing, growth and development, and so on. This is amazing to say the least!
The process of producing and laying an egg is stimulated by many factors. Day length, food availability, mate behavior, rainfall, competition for nesting sites, and many other factors can stimulate hens to lay an egg. It is not necessary that an egg be fertilized before it can be lain. In fact, a mate does not even need to be present for a female to lay eggs.
The shell of an egg is made primarily of calcium. The calcium comes from calcium stores within the bird's body. The bones and muscles provide nearly all of the calcium required to shell an egg. The calcium that is lost in forming the shell needs to be replaced so the body can continue to function properly. Calcium is primarily needed for muscle contractions and building strong bones. In the case of chronic egg laying, calcium stores are depleted and the body is unable to function properly. The condition is known as hypocalcemia. The most common problem in egg laying females associated with hypocalcemia is egg binding. With calcium at a low level the uterine muscles are unable to contract and push the egg out. Hypocalcemia can also cause seizure-like activity and brittle bones, which can be easily fractured.
During the laying cycle birds will begin holding their droppings for an extended period of time. This behavior is related to keeping the nest clean and free of poop. Often the bird will release large, loose, foul smelling, and discolored droppings. The odor is due to the presence of bacteria and yeast in the droppings. It is important to prevent excessive egg laying, since it can lead to many health problems. The most important factor in preventing health-related problems is nutrition. It is vital to be sure that your bird is on a complete and balanced diet. No diet is better or more complete than a formulated or pelleted diet. Pellets offer all essential nutrients in the correct ratios. Seeds are very inadequate in preventing problems related to excessive egg laying. Seeds have no calcium, almost no phosphorous, no vitamin A, and no vitamin D; all of which are essential in calcium absorption and utilization. Seeds are also deficient in essential amino acids (protein) and are unable to replace the protein lost in forming the inside of the egg (the yolk, albumin, and fetal membranes).
The first step in treating chronic egg laying is to put your bird on a complete diet. A bird that is on an balanced diet is in little danger of the health problems associated with chronic egg laying. The next step is to have your bird examined by an avian veterinarian for a complete work up, including exam, blood work, cultures, and all necessary treatments. Your veterinarian will be looking for bacterial and yeast infections related to holding in the poops, signs of poor nutrition and stress, and clinical signs of calcium deficiency. The next step is to decrease the amount of light your bird receives during the day. You want to provide them with a maximum of 10 hours of light per day. This will help prevent hormone release that leads to egg production.
Birds will lay one egg every other day with an average total number of up to 5 or 6 eggs. When your bird does lay an egg, you should leave it in the cage. If you remove it you will stimulate production of more eggs.
Finally, you should remove anything that may be stimulating breeding behavior. Dark, confining spaces such as shoeboxes, bags, cabinets and other places can serve as a nest. Disallow association with such places. Don't stroke your bird on the back, especially during her breeding period. Leave the grates on the bottom of the cage to give an unsuitable place to lay and sit on eggs. On rare occasions, females will chose a favorite toy or perch for masturbating. This item should be removed it your bird exhibits this behavior. Other changes may need to be made depending on your bird's environment and play habits.
A mate is not a solution for the chronic egg layer. Mates will only perpetuate the problem, not solve it. Your bird may become less concerned about you, bond to the other bird, want to reproduce, and you will lose the nice pet you have always had.
We, as responsible owners, should work to prevent excessive egg laying. Prevention can be accomplished by controlling these stimuli and providing balanced nutrition to our pet birds, which is critical in reducing the risk of secondary disease associated with chronic egg laying.
In summary, improve the diet, decrease the photo period, leave the eggs in the cage, remove any breeding stimulation that may be contributing to the problem, and see your avian veterinarian for a physical exam, diagnostics, and treatments.