10 Quick Facts about Parrots

Everyone has heard of parrots and has an image of one, maybe sitting on the shoulder of a salty pirate squawking “The plank! The plank!” or perched in a cage asking politely for a cracker. But what information do you really know about parrots? Here are some quick facts about these amazing birds.

Fact 1:  The word “parrot” refers to many types of birds.
In the parrot family, you will find Macaws, Cockatoos, Lories, Parakeets, Budgies, and more! They come in all shapes, sizes, colors and personalities.

Fact 2:  They have a well-developed tongue.
Despite this, the tongue is not why parrots are able to mimic voices. (Want to know why they can talk?  Check out our e-book!)

Fact 3:  You can tell a parrot’s mood by watching his eyes.
Here’s an interesting bit of parrot information! Did you know that while our pupils dilate automatically when we are in light or dark environments, the parrot can dilate based on his emotional state.

Fact 4:  Parrots have proven that they can be as smart as a five year old human.
The African Grey, one of the smartest parrots, not only repeats words, but knows what the words mean. Some African Greys can identify objects by name!

Fact 5:  They can live to several decades old.
Adopting a parrot is a life-long investment. Most parrot owners have written their birds into their will, naming “godparents” for their feathered friends.

Fact 6:  Members of the parrot family cost anywhere between $10 and several thousand.
A budgie, finch, or parakeet can cost you under $25 in most places. Larger parrots like the Macaw, Amazon, or African Grey can cost upwards of $1000.

Fact 7:  They love to eat nearly all fruits and vegetables.
In the kitchen making a salad?  Your parrot would love some bell peppers! Making strawberry shortcake for dessert? Chop up some berries for your parrot and he’ll be the happiest bird on the block.

Fact 8:  Polly does love crackers, but salt-free, please!
Parrots should not eat much sodium in their diet.  Look for wheat-based crackers with low sodium.

Fact 9:  Parrots that are hand-raised can be loving and cuddly.
It depends on the individual bird, but breeders who hand-raise and hand-feed their baby birds raise parrots that love human attention.

Fact 10:  They can learn to do more than talk.
Your parrot can learn how to turn around, dance, and say certain phrases on command. Be careful! If you teach a parrot how to say “Yummy food!” at feeding time, you might find it shouting it whenever it’s hungry.

We hope this list of facts has been useful information to you! Parrots are wonderful pets that can bring decades of entertainment and companionship