By Eman Abdallah Kamel
Eman is a writer and engineer. She likes writing about birds, their threats, and conservation efforts.
Parrots
Parrots have strong hooked beaks, an upright posture, and clawed feet. Parrots, along with crows, starlings, and magpies, are among the most intelligent birds.
Parrots are mostly found in tropical regions, but many species also occur in temperate zones. South America and Australia have the most diverse parrot populations.
They are classified into four families comprising approximately 410 species. These four families are,
- The Old World parrots (Psittaculidae),
- The African and New World parrots (Psittacidae),
- The cockatoos (Cacatuidae),
- The New Zealand parrots (Strigopidae).
Parrots face extinction, according to the IUCN Red List.
Popular Types
1. African Grey Parrots
African grey parrots, native to the rainforests of Central Africa, are found in a band stretching across the continent from the Ivory Coast to western Kenya. This species is the largest parrot in Africa, distinguished by
- Its silvery plumage,
- White mask,
- Bright red tail,
- Males and females are very similar in appearance.
African grey parrots are highly social birds. They eat foods such as oil palm nuts and kola nuts, which they grasp with their talons and tear apart with their powerful beaks. These birds also occasionally attack crops grown by humans, such as corn.
In 2018, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the gray parrot as a threatened species.
Did You Know?
Gray parrots are among the most intelligent birds in the world and are considered one of the best parrots at mimicking human speech. According to an article written on National Geographic.com, research has shown that these birds possess cognitive skills comparable to those of a five-year-old child.
Grey Parrot and Amazon Parrot. Sources of Images: istockphotos.com
2. Amazon Parrots
Amazon parrots are medium- to large-sized birds, typically ranging from 25 to 45 cm in length. Depending on the species, their bright green plumage is frequently adorned with vibrant shades of yellow, red, or blue. Amazon parrots are native to the rainforests of Central and South America. These parrots are characterized by,
- They are known for their ability to mimic sounds and can learn a wide range of words and phrases.
- These parrots are intelligent.
- Amazon parrots are highly social and tend to form close bonds with their human owners.
Did You Know?
Amazon parrots are active and intelligent birds, renowned for their vibrant colors and impressive vocal abilities. These parrots make wonderful companions, but they require meticulous care, commitment, and patience.
3. Macaws
Macaw Parrots are intelligent and social birds, often gathering in flocks of 10 to 30 individuals. Their loud calls and squawks echo throughout the forest. Parrots use these sounds to communicate within their flock, mark their territories, and recognize one another. Some species are even capable of mimicking human speech. It feeds on fruit, nuts, insects, and snails. They typically mate for life, share food with their partners, and enjoy mutual grooming. During the breeding season, the mothers incubate the eggs while the fathers hunt and bring food to the nest. There are at least 17 different species of parrots, many of which are endangered.
4. Cockatoos
The cockatoo species is primarily found in Australia and New Zealand, with populations ranging from the Philippines and eastern Indonesian Wallachia to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Australia. They eat seeds, tubers, corms, fruits, flowers, and insects. They often forage in large flocks, especially when scavenging on the ground. Cockatoos are distinguished by
- Their prominent crests and hooked beaks.
- Their plumage is less vibrant than that of other parrots, being predominantly white, gray, or black, often with iridescent markings on the crest, cheeks, or tail.
- On average, cockatoos are larger than other parrots; however, the cockatiel, the smallest of the cockatoos, is considered medium-sized.
Did You Know?
Cockatoos are popular pet birds, but their requirements can be difficult to meet. Cockatiels are the easiest cockatoos to care for and the most common in captivity. White cockatoos are more frequently kept in captivity than black cockatoos.
Pink Cockatoo, Conures, Male and Female Eclectus, Cockatiels. Source of images: istockphotos.com
5. Conures
Conure parrots are considered social, playful, and active birds. Some species can be quite noisy. The less common Dark Conure and Green-cheeked Conure are quieter than the more common conures, such as the Jandaya Conure, Sun Conure, Slanting Conure, and Crescent Conure. These birds are not generally good talkers, but they can be quite noisy in the early morning and late afternoon. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures feed primarily on grains.
Conures are characterized by
- Their slender build,
- Long tail,
- Small, strong beak. The conure’s beak has a small nasal membrane and is usually gray or black.
6. Eclectus
The Eclectus comprises four species known as Eclectus parrots, plus the extinct species Eclectus invictus, also known as the oceanic Eclectus parrot. Eclectus parrots are medium-sized and native to parts of Oceania, particularly New Guinea and Australia. Males are predominantly bright green, while females are typically bright red. The conservation status of the remaining species is not threatened. Eclectus parrots adapt well to captivity and are very popular pets worldwide.
Eclectus parrots are characterized by
- A large head,
- A short tail,
- Striking colors,
- And a length of approximately 35-42 cm.
7. Cockatiels
The cockatiel is a small parrot native to Australia. Cockatiels are characterized by:
- Long tail feathers that make up nearly half their total length.
- Cockatiels measure 30 to 33 cm in length.
- The male’s face is yellow or white, while the female’s face is mostly gray or light gray.
- Both sexes have a round, orange patch on each ear. This orange color is generally bright in adult males and often paler in females.
- It is often possible to determine the sex of this species by sight.
Did You Know?
Cockatiels are popular pet birds worldwide and are relatively easy to breed compared to other parrot species. They are second only to the Australian cockatiel in popularity as cage birds.
Pionu, Caique, Senegal, Lovebirds Parrots. Source of images: stock.adobe.com
8. Pionus
Pionus parrots are a medium-sized parrot found throughout Mexico and parts of Central and South America. It comprises many different species, including
- The blue-headed,
- The scaly-headed,
- The red-billed,
- White-crowned,
- Plum-crowned,
- Bronze-wing,
- Dusky parrot,
- White-capped.
These parrots are characterized by:
- Their plump bodies.
- Bare eye rings.
- Their short, square tails.
- They resemble Amazon parrots in appearance but are smaller.
- Their colors are generally muted.
- Males and females are similar, with no noticeable sexual dimorphism.
Did You Know?
Pionus parrots are friendly and make excellent pets for beginners interested in birds.
9. Caiques
Caiques are native to South America and have regional habitats near the Amazon, from Bolivia and Peru to Brazil. They live in large flocks and prefer forest edges in humid, tropical climates. Four species of caiques have been found, two of which are critically endangered and rarely kept in captivity: the white-bellied caique and the yellow-tailed caique. The two most common species kept as pets are the western white-bellied caique and the common caique. Caiques are characterized by:
- They are medium-sized parrots, ranging from 23.5 to 28 cm.
- They have green, black, white, orange, and yellow plumage.
- All caique parrot species have white bellies.
- White-bellied caiques sometimes breed in captivity, but this is rare in the wild due to their geographic preferences.
10. Senegal Parrot
The Senegal parrot is a resident parrot that breeds across a wide area of West Africa. It migrates within West Africa, depending on the availability of fruits, seeds, and flowers that make up its diet. It is commonly kept as a pet. These parrots are characterized by:
- They are about 23 centimeters long.
- It weighs between 120 and 170 grams.
- It has a relatively large head and beak for its size, and its feathers form a short, broad tail.
- Adults have a charcoal-grey head, a grey beak, and bright yellow irises.
11. Lovebirds
Lovebirds are a small species of parrot in the Psittaculidae family. All nine species in this genus are native to Africa. These birds are social and friendly, forming small flocks and feeding on fruits, vegetables, grasses, and seeds. Some species are kept as pets, and many colorful variants have been selectively bred on bird farms. The lovebirds are characterized by
- 13–17 cm in length.
- They have a robust build, a short, blunt tail, and a relatively large, sharp beak.
- Wild lovebirds are usually green, but the coloration on their upper parts varies by species.
- Fischer’s lovebird, black-cheeked lovebird, and masked lovebird all have a prominent white ring around their eyes.
Did You Know?
The name “lovebird” is derived from the parrots’ strong bond and the long periods of time they spend sitting together.
Parrotlets and budgerigars. Source of images: istockphotos.com and wikimedia.org
12. Parrotlets
Parrotlets are some of the smallest parrot species. They are natives of Central and South America. In the wild, they travel in flocks of four to over a hundred birds. Most species travel in groups of five to forty birds. These parrots form strong, lifelong pair bonds with their chosen mates. The parrotlets are notable for their sharp intelligence and captivating beauty.
There are several different breeds of parrotlets, including the Pacific parrot, the green-rumped parrot, the Mexican parrot, and the spectacled parrot.
13. Budgerigars
The budgerigar parrot is a small, long-tailed, seed-feeding bird native to Australia. This species is characterized by its green and yellow plumage with black, serrated markings on the back of the neck, back, and wings. Australian parrots are kept in captivity in many colors, including blue, white, yellow, and gray. This bird is characterized by
- The average length of a wild parrot is 18 cm.
- It weighs between 30 and 40 grams.
- Its wingspan is 30 cm.
- It has a light green body with dark black markings on its back, surrounded by distinct yellow streaks.
Did You Know?
The budgerigar parrot is a popular pet worldwide due to its small size, low cost, and ability to mimic human speech.
14. The Ring-Necked Parrot
The ring-necked parrot is a medium-sized parrot belonging to the genus Psittacula and the family Psittaculidae. Its native range is scattered across tropical North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified this species as Least Concern.
The ring-necked parrot is characterized by
- It measures 37–43 cm in length, including its tail feathers, which make up a significant portion of its total length.
- The folded wingspan, from the outer wing joint to the tip, ranges from 14 to 16 cm in African birds and from 15 to 19 cm in Asian birds.
- The tail length ranges from 17 to 27 cm in African birds and from 16 to 29 cm in Asian birds.
- Generally, the male’s tail is longer than the female’s.
- It weighs between 51 and 93 grams in African birds and between 104 and 143 grams in Asian birds.
Did You Know?
The ring-necked parrot is one of the few parrot species that has successfully adapted to living in disturbed environments, surviving urbanization and deforestation.
15. Quaker Parrot
The Quaker parrot is a small- to medium-sized parrot with bright green plumage, a gray breast, and a greenish-yellow belly. It is native to temperate and subtropical regions of South America. The red-bellied parrot feeds on seeds, fruit pits, flowers, nectar, leaves, and fruit bark. This parrot is characterized by
- The parrot is 29 cm long on average, with a wingspan of 48 cm.
- It weighs about 100 grams.
- Its tail is long and pointed.
- Its beak is orange.
16. Red-Bellied Parrot
The red-bellied parrot is a small African parrot of the genus Poicephalus, measuring approximately 23 cm in length. Poicephalus is the most diverse genus in terms of species, and it is widespread throughout Africa. This parrot is primarily green and gray. Males have a bright orange belly, and females have a green belly. The red-bellied parrot is characterized by
- It weighs about 140 g.
- Adult birds have green feathers covering the upper portions of their legs, red irises, and dark grey beaks.
- They build their nests in tree cavities. It lays white eggs, which are usually three in a nest. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days, and the chicks leave the nest approximately 63 days after hatching.
Ring-nicked, Quaker, and The African Orange-bellied Parrot. Source of images: istockphotos.com
Threats
The African grey parrot is one of the most popular pet birds worldwide. Over the last four decades, at least 1.3 million grey parrots have been legally exported from Africa, with the majority going to Middle Eastern countries. However, hundreds of thousands, and possibly many more, have died in transit or been illegally captured from the forests of West and Central Africa as part of the illicit wildlife trade. African grey parrots face habitat loss because they prefer to nest in tall trees that loggers target.
Many macaws are illegally hunted for trade. The rainforest habitats of many species are also disappearing at an alarming rate. Red-fronted macaws and blue-throated macaws are critically endangered. The glaucous and Spix’s macaws may have already become extinct in the wild.
Some cockatoo species have been negatively affected by habitat loss, particularly the loss of suitable nesting cavities following the removal of large trees. The illegal trade in wild birds contributes to the decline of some cockatoo species.
Common threats to parrots:
- Deforestation and illegal logging
- Habitat loss
- Poaching
- Illegal trade
Conversation Efforts
- In 1981, concerns about the poaching of wild parrots for the pet trade led to their inclusion in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), along with all other parrot species. This made the trade in, import, and export of parrots captured from the wild illegal.
- In 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which monitors international trade in endangered species, decided to ban all international trade in the wild African grey parrot, except under “exceptional circumstances.”
Sources
©Eman Abdallah Kamel, 2026
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