Czech budgerigar. Budgerigar. In the photo, a flock of parrots

Melopsittacus undulatus) is a species of birds from the order of parrots, the family of parrots, the only representative of the genus of wavy parrots ( Melopsittacus).

The Latin name of the species is formed by 3 words: the Greek word “melos” meaning “singing”, the word “psittacos” - “parrot” and the Latin word “undulatus”, which means “wavy”. Therefore, literally translated, the name of the bird sounds like a singing wavy parrot. A number of bird watchers suggest calling the bird the wavy singer.

Budgerigar - description, appearance and characteristics

All of the above names are absolutely true: budgies are really very noisy and talkative, they perfectly remember and imitate individual words and phrases that are repeated many times, often without much meaning.

The budgerigar is a beautiful and slender bird that, due to its long tail, looks much larger than it actually is. Body length wavy parrot, excluding the tail, reaches 17-19.8 cm with a body weight of about 40-45 g. Domestic birds participating in exhibitions often have a body length of 21 to 23 cm.

Wings Budgerigars with a length of 9.5 to 10.5 cm are used by birds exclusively for flight and are completely unsuitable for support when walking or sitting.

The flight is beautiful and arched, similar to the flight of a swallow, and when landing, the wings of the bird bend downward, like that of a quail. Thanks to this structure, the budgerigar flies quite rapidly and is able to cover considerable distances in search of food.

Budgerigar is long enough tail a stepped shape, growing up to 8-10 cm in length, and in young individuals the tail is much shorter.

Limbs birds are developed and tenacious, ending in 4 long fingers: 2 of them are directed backward, 2 are looking forward. This design allows the birds to grasp various objects and food with their paws, as well as deftly climb trees and walk on the ground. Strong curved claws of dark blue, black or almost white color grow at the end of the toes.

Budgerigar paws can be colored gray-blue, reddish, bright scarlet and pale pink.

Budgerigars that live in nature eyes dark blue, and the color of the iris is yellowish or almost white.

These birds are capable of distinguishing colors, and a sufficiently large viewing angle allows you to observe 2 perspectives at once.

The budgerigar is distinguished by its strong beak protected by a strong horny substance and its curved shape resembles a beak birds of prey... At the base of the beak of the budgerigar, the wax with nostrils is clearly visible. The bird's beak is quite mobile, the upper jaw is not spliced with the bones of the skull, but is held by the ligamentous apparatus, while the lower jaw is much shorter than the upper one.

Due to its peculiar morphology, the beak of these birds serves as an excellent mechanism for breaking off and crushing shoots, foliage and plant seeds, and at the same time it is a convenient tool for carrying objects, food and climbing tree branches. In the event of an enemy attack, the budgerigar's beak acts as a reliable object of protection.

Have budgerigars a small, short and thick tongue, and its rounded tip is protected by keratinized epithelium. In almost all individuals, the inner surface of the beak is equipped with special horny teeth, which act as a file that sharpens the beak, help clean the grains, and also pluck and break fruits.

The chicks' beak is dark in color, but with age it becomes intensely yellow, with a slight greenish tint.

Natural grass green color budgies invisible to enemies against the background of a natural landscape. Cheeks all individuals are decorated with symmetrical purple markings of an elongated shape, and below, on both sides of the goiter, there are specks of black color - special signs inherent in all representatives of the species.

Typically, the markings partially overlap the throat spots.

Goiter and head surface budgies that live in nature are painted in an intense yellow color; in the occipital region, a thin and light dark brown waviness passes to the back, where it becomes much wider and brighter against the general yellow background.

In young parrots, waviness is not so noticeable and starts right from the wax, and as it grows up, it is replaced by a characteristic yellow mask.

Feathers budgerigars on the forehead of males have a unique feature: under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, they fluoresce, due to which females in nature choose a partner for nesting.

Moreover, the human eye can catch this radiation only at night, and budgerigars see the glow even in daylight.

Determining the sex of a bird is not difficult. To find out the sex of a budgerigar, you need to look at its wax, which is located at the base of the beak.

Young males have a purple-colored wax, in a young female it is intensely blue with a light border around the nostrils.
In mature males, the wax is dark blue or purple (in albinos). An adult female can be distinguished by the beige-blue or brown color of the wax. By the way, the brown color of the beeswax in females appears during nesting.

Male on the left, female on the right

Types of budgies, photos and colors

Today the budgerigar is considered the most common and favorite decorative bird for home content. Over the years of breeding work, more than 200 varieties of these birds have been bred with a wide variety of plumage colors, including recessive varieties, which lack the characteristic waviness.

Photo from the site budgerigar.com

Budgerigar yellow is the first mutation color and was developed in Belgium in 1872, and later all modern color variations, based on a yellow or white base, appeared. Below are some of the colors of budgies:

Natural, traditional color plumage of a budgerigar - light green(color Light green)

with a glossy sheen that covers the breast, belly and lower back of the birds. The traditional mask is light yellow, the points on the throat are black, and there are purple markings on the cheeks. The head, wings and back of the parrots are decorated with pronounced black waviness. The long tail feathers are dark blue, the wing bearing surface is colored black with a minimal light yellow edge.

Dark green budgies (color Dark green)

painted especially smartly, they appeared in France in 1915. The chest, belly and bottom of the back of these parrots are dark green, the mask is light yellow, the points on the throat are black, slightly overlapped by purple zygomatic spots, there is a characteristic waviness on the body. The feathering of the wings is identical to the classic variety, but the tail feathers are darker.

Olive green budgies (Olive green)

descended from dark green individuals and were bred in France in 1919. The predominant color of the plumage of birds is olive green, the mask is bright yellow. Black waviness is highlighted in contrast on a yellow base. The wings of budgies are black with a green tint, the tail feathers are darker in comparison with the dark green specimens.

Sky blue budgerigar (Skyblue color)

was bred by the Belgians in 1878. The breast, belly and bottom of the back of the parrot are blue, and the bird's mask is pure white. The characteristic waviness is clearly expressed on a white base, the tail is blue, the primary primary feathers are black with a minimal white edge.

Cobalt budgies (color Cobalt)

were first shown at the London Exhibition in 1910. Their chest, abdomen, back and tail are blue, the bird's mask is pure white, bright waviness is well pronounced against a white background. The wing color of the budgerigar ranges from black to blue. The tail feathers are darker in comparison to the sky-blue parrots.

Lilac budgies (color Mauve)

appeared as a result of a mixture of 2 dark factors, giving a deep lilac color without the presence of a gray tint.

Gray green budgie (Gray Green)

the fruit of the labors of Austrian breeders, which was received in 1935. The front, lower body and lower back of these birds are distinguished by a very light mustard or gray-greenish tone. The parrot mask is bright yellow, the spots on the throat are black, and the cheeks are gray, the clear waviness contrasts well with the yellow background. The tail is colored black, the primary primary feathers of the parrot are black with a minimal light yellow edge.

Gray budgerigars (color Gray)

appeared in Austria and England at the same time, in 1943. In representatives of the species, the breast, lower body, cheeks and lower back are gray in color, the mask is snow-white, the marks on the throat are black. The characteristic waviness is clearly marked on a white base, the tail is black, and the plumage of the wings is black or grayish.

Purple wavy parrot (color Violet)

first appeared in Germany in 1928. The breast, belly and lower back of the bird are distinguished by a deep purple color. The mask of the budgerigar is snow-white, the throat marks are black, the tail is dark purple, the primary flight feathers are black with a minimal white edge.

Yellowfaces budgerigars are of two types:
- The first type of univariate assumes the presence of a lemon-yellow mask in the bird, which rarely extends beyond the occipital region and onto the chest. A lemon-yellow hue can cover the white tail feathers and other white areas of the bird's plumage. The rest of the feathers do not have a yellow tint. In two-factor birds, the yellow mask is absent.
- The second type of yellow-faced parrots also includes two varieties: one-factor and two-factor. Both those and others have a yellow mask. At the same time, the yellow color extends not only to the white feathers of the budgie, but also to the main plumage of the bird, making it from light green to turquoise, from cobalt to dark green, from mauve to olive.

Lyutinos(Lutino)

a very unusual variety of budgies with a bright yellow plumage of a shade of egg yolk. These parrots have red eyes with a light iris and pearlescent zygomatic markings. The tail and wing feathers of the budgerigar are light. Males are distinguished by a pink or purple shade of wax, females are brown. The paws of birds are red-brown or deep pink.

Albino on the left, lutinos on the right

Albino(Albino)

were first obtained in Germany in 1932, and at once by two amateur breeders. These budgies are distinguished by pure white feathers and red eyes with a white iris. The wax and paws of albinos are the same as those of lutinos.

Crested budgerigars

are presented in a wide variety of color variations, but differ in the type of tuft. Some individuals are decorated with a pointed tuft of feathers growing on the forehead or on the crown of the head. In others, the crest has the shape of a semicircle formed by feathers that grow to the very beak in a kind of shield. The third variety of budgerigars is decorated with a double or round tuft growing from 2 points, while the feathers are symmetrically arranged and can form tuft of different shapes and lengths.

Where do budgerigars live in nature?

Budgerigars live in most of Australia, Tasmania and other nearby islands and are the most common and abundant species of Australian parrots.

V natural conditions budgerigars live in flocks of from 2 dozen to several hundred individuals and roam the mainland all their lives in search of food. Usually birds keep semi-desert and steppe landscapes with light forests, therefore they inhabit the entire eastern and western coasts, as well as the central part of the mainland, with the exception of the northern regions with dense forests.

The composition of a flock of budgerigars is constantly changing: some individuals fly away, others join, small groups can gather in giant flocks of up to a million individuals, which is an unforgettable spectacle in beauty.

Birds usually wait out the hot time of the day in the shade, hiding on the branches in the dense foliage of trees. At night, budgerigars sleep, and with the first rays of the sun they gather in small flocks and go to the watering hole and feeding areas, located a few kilometers from the place of their lodging.

Some birds drink at the water's edge, others sink to the very surface and quench their thirst on the fly. Often the company at the watering place is a cockatoo and zebra finches.

What do budgies eat?

According to the observation of scientists, the basis of the diet of budgerigars in nature is the seeds of terrestrial plants, to a greater extent these are the seeds of kangaroo grass. Due to human intervention in natural biotopes, birds are forced to rebuild their diet depending on changes in conditions environment... Today, Australia's main crop is ubiquitous, but the grain is too coarse for small birds. In addition to grains, budgerigars eat young shoots and leaves of plants, various berries, vegetables and fruits, and occasionally feed on insects and other invertebrates.

Budgerigars nest in their natural habitat all year round: the northern part of the population begins to reproduce immediately after the end of the rainy season; in the south, nesting begins in November and December. Nesting pairs occupy hollows, stumps with crevices and any other hollow niches.

Mating games of budgies consist in various courtship, an important part of which is “kissing” and regurgitation of food by the male. Thus, he demonstrates to the female his ability to feed future offspring. In the chosen place, practically without any litter, the female budgerigar lays from 4 to 12 white eggs, their incubation lasts about 3 weeks.

During the entire incubation period, the male budgerigar feeds the female, being nearby in a tireless search for food.

Budgerigar chicks hatch from eggs naked and blind, weighing about 2 g, the mother warms up the offspring, and both parents are engaged in feeding. 10 days after birth, the chicks open their eyes, at the age of 1 month they fully fledge and can leave their native nest, although some juveniles stay near the nest for some time.

At the age of 3 months, grown individuals are already able to reproduce.

Breeding budgies at home is a rather laborious process.

Male and female, unlike most birds, should grow together and feel great sympathy for each other, and artificially created pairs, as a rule, do not give offspring for several years.

How long do budgerigars live?

In nature, budgerigars live for about 7 years, and at home, with decent care, birds can live up to 10-15 years. The life expectancy of some individuals in captivity can reach 22 years.

Budgerigars at home: maintenance, care, feeding

It is better to stop the choice of a feathered pet for home keeping at 3-4 month old individuals: at this age, budgerigars easily get used to the owners and a new home. But before you bring the bird home, you need to stock up on everything you need for decent care and maintenance of the budgerigar at home.

A rectangular cage is considered the best option. The size of the cage for the budgerigar should be such that the bird can flip from one perch to another without touching the walls with its wings. A cage of 25x40x40 cm is sufficient to keep one budgerigar. A cage with frequent vertical and rare horizontal rods will ensure unhindered movement of the bird and prevent slipping. The best material for a cage is unpainted stainless steel... If the rods are painted, the bird will chew on them and may eat paint particles.

Moving to cities, people still try to be closer to nature, growing flowers on the windowsill or having pets: cats, dogs. The desire to keep a bird at home is no exception, because it is so pleasant to listen to singing, melodious chirping in the morning or when you come home from work. The most popular feathered friends that can be kept in an apartment are parrots. But there are so many types of them that the eyes run up, who should be given preference? In this article, we will look at the most common parrot breeds that are suitable for keeping at home, and their features. Then you will understand which bird is right for you.

Parrots (breeds, species names) for home keeping

Scientists have calculated that more than three hundred species of parrots live on our planet. Of these, people made a significant part of them as pets. All parrots are somewhat different from each other: size, variegation of plumage, peculiar singing, life expectancy. One species of these exotic birds will be more capable of conversation, another will be more capable of beautiful melodies, the third will be more capable of performing tricks, and the fourth will be talented in various fields. In addition, each parrot, like people, has its own character, from friendly and unpretentious to aggressive and demanding. Therefore, it is worthwhile to take a responsible approach to the choice of a bird, to decide which criterion will be the most important for you.

In this article, we'll look at parrot breeds such as budgerigars, lovebirds, cockatiels, necklace and Amazonian parrots, cockatoos, grays and macaws. The list starts with small and ends with larger species.

Budgies

Perhaps everyone has heard of budgerigars. And this is not surprising at all. The popularity of budgies is determined by their low price, friendliness, small size, which allows them to be kept even in small apartments, and bright plumage: green, blue, yellow, white, variegated. Of course, these are not all the colors that these parrots can be painted in. The natural color is green, but now you can find any combination, for example, a yellow head and a purple body or a lemon head, and the body is half green and blue. You can even hear such unusual names colors such as anthracite, pearl, turquoise, lilac, rainbow.

Conventionally, we can say that there are two breeds of budgies - regular and exhibition. The latter are distinguished by larger sizes and more pronounced beads on the cheeks. From the name it is clear that exhibition budgies (or Czechs, as they are also called) are suitable for participation in exhibitions.

Budgerigars are flocking birds, this must be taken into account when starting such a feathered pet at home. Solo content is not recommended unless you can devote a lot of time to your friend. While you are at work or doing your own thing, the parrot may just get bored.

"Wavy people" perfectly learn to speak, imitate melodies, learn tricks. It is a common misconception that only males are capable of all this, and only with solitary keeping. This is not so, females, for example, pronounce words even more clearly than males, and you can even teach a conversation in a flock.

Perhaps, of the shortcomings of this breed of parrots, only noise and debris that spreads around the cage. But there will be dirt from any living creature, and the bird is there to sing songs.

Lovebirds

These parrots get their name from the fact that they mate for life. It is very nice to observe the special devotion of these birds. You will always see them together, if, of course, you get a couple: a female and a male.

Lovebirds make specific sounds, they are very vociferous, but still they are considered quiet. The quietest of these parrots is the rosy-cheeked lovebird. These birds can be tamed, they make contact with humans, but keeping them in the same cage with other parrots is not worth it, since they are aggressive towards other species.

Corella (nymphs)

If we talk about medium-sized species, the most popular breed of parrots is the cockatiel. They are also called nymphs. These funny quick-witted birds with a funny crest and orange cheeks resemble a cockatoo, only smaller in size.

Cockatiels also make contact, easily learn tricks, but they are not as capable of imitating a conversation as budgies, but you can still learn words with them. They make a melodic whistle, but they express their dissatisfaction with something with a shrill cry.

Necklace parrots

They got their name from the strip around the neck that resembles a necklace. Only males have it; females do not have it. Necklace parrots are found in green, blue, grayish blue and yellow colors.

These parrots are unpretentious in care, very smart, capable of conversation, behave carefully in communication, they are easy to scare with a careless movement, while they are freedom-loving. Per necklace parrots interesting to watch. For example, when these birds move along a perch or twig, they use their beak as another fulcrum for this.

Amazons (Amazonian parrots)

If we consider the breeds of talking parrots, then it should be noted that the Amazons are considered the calmest. They quickly get used to a new home and are friendly towards people. They are capable parrots, but white-headed, yellow-headed and blue-headed Amazons are believed to be the easiest to learn and train. By the way, the natural color of these parrots is bright green with spots of yellow, red, blue and white.

Among the disadvantages of Amazons, one can note the musty odor from plumage, arising from poor care, as well as their loudness, which they begin to show only in old age. But all large parrots usually have such a disadvantage.

Cockatoo

Most often, you can find black-billed cockatoos on sale. This funny mobile bird will bring a lot of joy to all family members. Cockatoo loves to dance to music while doing squats, bows and tufted movements. This parrot can learn not many words, but he is very smart, easily opens the door in the cage and loves to repeat the movements after the owner.

The character of the cockatoo is savory, especially if pampered. If you don't pay enough attention to it, this parrot will scream loudly until it gets it.

Jaco

What other breeds of parrots are there? Jaco can become a full-fledged member of the family. It is believed that this large parrot has little intelligence, easily learns words, phrases, songs, can even answer questions and imitate the voices of people or animals. There is an opinion that the red-tailed gray is more gifted in terms of learning human speech, in comparison with the brown-tailed.

This parrot requires a lot of attention, especially at the chick age, in order to raise it correctly. If the owner has little time for a gray, it is better to have a couple, loneliness is not well tolerated by them. Also, these parrots react sharply to any changes, for example, rearranging furniture can cause stress, leading to plucking. The Jaco expresses his displeasure with a piercing cry, reminiscent of the croak of a crow. Therefore, before buying this bird, it is worth considering whether you can tolerate such a noise.

In fact, these are not all parrot breeds that can be kept at home. Before buying this or that type, it is worthwhile to study in more detail the literature that reveals the features and nuances of the content, so that there are no surprises later. And remember that we are responsible for those we have tamed.

Exhibition wavy parrot CHEKH is almost 2 times larger than a simple wavy, this is a good choice for those who want a parrot larger than a regular wavy parrot, but are not ready to have a large parrot.

CZECH well tamed, and learns to speak, he is handsome and effective, a good companion, and does not require special conditions content.

Photos of parent stock: "PHOTO GALLERY"

Registration and booking of chicks with us on FORUM.

Differences between CASE and plain wavy:

1.Appearance:

· CZECH from the crown to the tip of the tail 22 - 29 cm (according to the standard 24.5 cm.), and the usual wavy 13-18 cm. (there are larger ones if the CZECH were related, in the common people half-Czechs);

· CZECH has a fluffy cap and a long beard (with chic beads if it has a standard color), the beak is practically hidden under them, and the simple wavy has a smooth small head without a puffed cap with a beak protruding forward, the beard is short, the beads are practically absent;

· CZECHES have many unusual, beautiful colors, as there is constant selection in this direction. In the usual standard colors, plain wavy and CZECH are very different from each other, due to the chic beads on the beard and the CZK's cap;

Well, one cannot fail to mention that the posture of CZECH proud, the chest is a wheel, and the head is held as if it were wearing a crown!

And here are illustrative examples of how big the difference is between these parrots:

This is a photo of a 3-month-old "CHEKHA" chick, next to a simple wavy (this photo clearly shows the difference in size)

Then there are photographs of ordinary wavy and Chekhov, in these photographs it is not correct to compare the sizes of the birds, since all the birds are shot from different angles, but here you can clearly see how much they differ in appearance!

Video clips from the Royal Parrot Nursery

2.Character:

· CZECHES a little calmer than wavy ones, due to their greater body weight, they get tired of flying faster, but at the same time they are no less funny in games and in communication.

3.Taming and teaching to speak:

· CZECHES, as a rule, are already sold by hand, therefore, it is easier to teach them to speak. Each pair of CHEKHOV has a separate enclosure and a nesting house, and breeders constantly take chicks in their hands, with the aim of ringing and observing their development, since parents often stop feeding their few offspring 3-5 chicks, before they leave the nest, and then breeders have to feed the chicks themselves. While in simple wavy birds, breeding takes place in a completely different way, a common aviary with many birds and nesting houses, parents easily feed their numerous offspring, as a rule, these are 8-10 chicks in one brood, they have a well-developed natural instinct for reproduction. And after the chicks leave the nest, the breeders catch them out of the common enclosure, naturally the chicks in this case are wild, because they have not yet seen a person, and as a result, the chicks are more difficult to make contact with a person.

4.Content:

· For CZECH you need a more spacious cage (at least 50 * 40 * 35), thicker perches (at least 2.5 cm in diameter) and naturally the feeders should have large openings so that the parrot does not get stuck in them.

There are no special differences in feeding, dry food, vegetables and fruits, mineral stones, fresh water, a course of vitamins, all this is necessary for simple wavy lines and Chekham.

Show budgerigar standard.

TO today a lot of different races and color variations of budgerigars have been bred, but nevertheless, the breeding of the exhibition budgerigar should be recognized as one of the largest achievements in the field of parrot breeding in general. The appearance of these parrots in the 50s. our century in England for amateur breeders of many countries was the beginning of a sharp rise in the popularity of budgerigars. With the goal of increasing the size of birds, English hobbyists have been breeding budgerigars for decades. In the end, large body sizes began to be passed on to offspring and were genetically fixed. An increase in individual groups of feathers, for example, masks, head feathers, flight feathers and tail feathers, occurred along with an increase in body size. The show type budgerigar is so different from the usual type of these birds that breeders and hobbyists from around the world are interested in it. In order to be able to host international amateur competitions, international rules for the evaluation and standard of budgerigars have been adopted. The basic requirements of the standard for the exhibition type of budgerigar included those used by English amateurs. The following is a description of the perfect show parrot in accordance with the existing international standard.

Wings and their delivery

Tightly fitting to the body, closed at the sacrum, but not overlapping. The length of the wing from bend to the end of the flight feathers should not exceed 12 cm. Seven well-developed primary flight feathers are distinguished on each wing. Long-winged birds cannot be evaluated.

Type of

Sturdy stocky. The shape of the body is round, the neck and shoulders are wide. The body from head to tip of the tail with a straight back line should resemble an elongated drop. The chest is convex, protrudes forward in a graceful arc. The budgerigar should give the impression of being strong and massive, but not overfed. Ideal length from top of head to tip of tail is 24-25 cm.

Tail

Straight, even, with symmetrically spaced smooth feathers, should be a natural continuation of the body. Ends with two superbly developed long tail stays.

Posture

Proud and natural. The angle of inclination of the body to the horizon is 60 °. No part of the body should touch the perch.

Head

When viewed from any side, the head should appear large, symmetrical, round and broad. The forehead is powerful, high, forms a smooth arc from the base of the beak to the back of the head.

Beak

Preferably not too long, firmly set. The mandible completely overlaps the mandible.

Neck

When viewed from all angles, it should appear full, short and wide.

Eyes

Expressive, clean, equally distant from the forehead, crown and occiput.

Colour

Should correspond to the description of the color variation - clean, uniform, of the same intensity, without extraneous shades.

Mask and throat marks

The color of the mask is clear, it is located on the front of the head and is bounded by a wide arch at the crown of the head and chin. Six large, ideally round, equally spaced throat marks, forming an even chain at the bottom of the mask. The two outer marks on either side of the head are partially covered by elongated, tear-shaped zygomatic spots. The color of the mask, throat marks and cheekbones must correspond to the corresponding description of the color variation.

Legs

Straight, strong, two fingers directed forward, two - back. The toes should be firmly wrapped around the perch.

Drawing

The drawing should fully correspond to the corresponding description of color variations - clean, well-defined, well-defined.

How much the show type budgerigar differs from the normal type is clear from the above description. With all this, one should not forget that selection by color is much more difficult than selection by type. All this is also complicated by the important circumstance that when breeding exhibition budgerigars, closely related crossing is widely used, which gives both positive and negative qualities in the genotype of birds. It should be noted that show budgerigars are significantly less fertile than regular budgerigars. The normal number of chicks in a brood is one to four, rarely more. In addition, chicks with various anomalies in growth and development are quite common.

Many birds are often sterile and sick. Based on such factors, it should be noted that exhibition-type budgies require more careful care and compliance necessary conditions maintenance and feeding.

On the territory of the former Soviet Union, budgerigars appeared only a few decades ago, in the early 80s.

The standard of the exhibition wavy "Czech" was rewritten from the book of Skorbovenko S. V. "Budgerigars"

Parrots are one of the most unusual and exotic birds. Thanks to interesting and original habits, as well as the ability to imitate human speech well, parrots have become one of the most popular pets. They differ not only in plumage color, but also in beak shape, life expectancy, intelligence level and size.

Top 5 largest parrots

Today, more than three hundred species of parrots are well known and studied.... A significant part of these birds inhabit Australia, Central and South America. Despite the fact that at home you can most often find, and, as well as, recently bird lovers increasingly prefer the largest and most exotic species with unusual plumage.

Leading positions in terms of size and cost, it is this representative of the parrot family that deservedly occupies. The length of some adults reaches 88-98 cm, while the share of the tail is about 40-45 cm. The average wing length is 35.0-36.5 cm. The weight of an adult, fully formed individual is one and a half kilograms or a little more.

It is interesting! Fans of exotic pets are happy to give birth to this bird, since, despite its impressive size and very powerful beak, it is a very gentle and loyal, intelligent bird.

A distinctive feature of such a parrot is the presence of a very beautiful and bright dark blue plumage, which effectively contrasts with the yellow edging around the eyes and the same color spot under the beak. Currently, this species belongs to the category of rare and endangered parrots. In part, it was this that became the determining factor in pricing and negatively affects the ability to purchase such an unusually smart and beautiful bird.

It is the only species belonging to the genus Palm cockatoo.. This kind belongs to the category of the most ancient and inhabits the northern part of Australia, as well as the Cape York Peninsula, New Guinea and many nearby islands. The size of the parrot is quite impressive. The average body length varies between 70-80 cm with a tail length of a quarter of a meter. The weight of an adult can reach 1 kg. The plumage is black-slate, with a subtle and very attractive greenish tint. The bill is massive and very large, black in color.

Important! As the owners of the black cockatoo note, the bird has a rather unpleasant, creaky, and sometimes very loud and harsh voice, which accompanies a significant part of its wakefulness.

The crest is large enough, represented by narrow, long, curled back, original ribbon-like feathers. The cheeks are devoid of plumage and are characterized by a red coloration. The unfeathered areas around the eyes are black in color. Legs are medium in size, gray. Females are always smaller than males and have a smaller beak.

This species can be considered a real long-liver, and the average life expectancy is slightly less than a century. Birds settle in high-trunk tropical forest zones and savannas, gathering in small groups, or lead a solitary lifestyle. The basis of the diet is represented by eucalyptus and acacia seeds, larvae of various insects.

This is a very popular bird that is highly regarded by lovers of decorative birds. The species is distinguished by high intelligence and, subject to the training recommendations, is able to memorize about seventy words. The body length of an adult varies between 80-95 cm. The wing length is 38-40 cm, and the tail is about 50-52 cm. The weight of an adult parrot often exceeds 1.0-1.1 kg. The upper part of the body plumage is characterized by a bright blue coloration, and the lateral part of the neck, chest and abdomen are orange-yellow.

Important! The bird has a strong and loud voice, so it can create certain inconveniences for all household members. So that the feathered pet does not gnaw interior items and does not bite the wire of the cage, it must be provided with a sufficient number of toys and surrounded by attention.

The coloration of the tail coverts is bright blue. The throat area and key are black. The blue-and-yellow macaw parrot lives in pristine tropical forest areas, but prefers coastal river areas. Often found in mountain valleys and subalpine meadows. The species is strongly attached to its habitat, and is able to lead both a pair and a solitary lifestyle. At home, it takes root quite easily, but requires education and attention from the very first days.

Nocturnal flightless parrot, according to some scientists, may belong to the category of the most ancient species of birds living today. The plumage has a very characteristic yellowish-green color with black specks. The kakapo has a very sensitive facial disc, vibrissa-shaped feathers, a huge gray beak, short legs and small wings. The presence of a relatively short tail is also characteristic.

It is interesting! A very unusual feature of such a tropical pet is the presence of a strong but pleasant smell, reminiscent of the aroma of honey, herbs and flowers.

Owl parrots do not have the ability to actively fly and lead night image life... The skeleton of this bird has significant differences from other species from the parrot family. The owl parrot has short wings, the ends of which are rounded. The thoracic region is small, with a low and underdeveloped keel. The average body length of an adult is 58-60 cm with a weight in the range of 2-4 kg. The plumage of the bird is soft, with characteristic black stripes on the back. The facial feathers form a kind of facial disc, due to which the bird looks a bit like an owl. The voice is hoarse, slightly croaking, sometimes turning into loud and shrill sounds.

One of the brightest representatives of his kind. Such a parrot, of course, is slightly inferior in body size to the common black cockatoo Goliath, and is also its complete opposite in plumage color. The size of an adult bird ranges from 40-55 cm, with a weight of 750-800 g or a little more. Parrots of this species huddle in large and very noisy flocks that can cause significant damage to Australian farmers.

Important! It should be noted that the Australian subspecies of the yellow-crested cockatoo are much larger than the subspecies inhabiting the territory of New Guinea.

Adults have a bright yellow crest, which looks very impressive against the background of snow-white plumage.... This is not only a very beautiful and intelligent, but also a friendly, affectionate bird that is able to tame easily and quickly, and is also strongly attached to its owner. Thanks to its good appearance and hassle-free nature, the yellow-crested cockatoo has become very popular among all lovers of exotic feathered pets.

The category of the largest parrots that are great for keeping at home includes such species as the Large Vase Parrot, Red-faced Shiny Lori, Yellow-eared Mourning Cockatoo and Blue-Faced Amazon.

Before starting a parrot, you need to think about why you need it. It is very important to get a parrot, the type of which is suitable for the owner's living conditions. If no one is in the apartment for a long time, you should not buy a talking parrot. Out of boredom and loneliness, he can begin to pull out feathers from himself and scream loudly. In such cases, it is better to purchase small parrots living in pairs.

General information about parrots

Most parrots are very friendly creatures. They sometimes behave in a funny and comical way, surprising and delighting their master. Many birds, sitting in a cage, can learn different games and tricks. Some species are fine imitate human speech, songs, whistles and other sounds they hear.

When purchasing a parrot, remember that it needs proper care. You constantly need to communicate with him, he does not tolerate loneliness and begins to be capricious. It is a noisy bird that scatters its food everywhere and leaves droppings. Therefore, for a person leading a calm and measured lifestyle, this bird won't fit... If a person's lifestyle suits the character of this pet, you should go to the bird market and choose a feathered friend for yourself.

Types of domestic parrots

Domestic parrots are:

Large (macaw, gray, cockatoo, amazons).
Medium (cockatiels, lorikets).
Small (budgies, lovebirds).

Types of talking parrots:

Budgie

The most popular type of parrots. Families with small children often have them. They can be contained one at a time, in pairs or in multiples. These birds belong to the speaking species of parrots. They practically do not make any noise. Love attention from a person, quickly get used to the hands and easily learn various tricks. It is very easy to look after them. Budgerigars are small in size, so they do not require a large cage. They live from 10 to 25 years.

Corella

This is a medium sized bird. His other name is nymph. Well suited for families with children, because if they bite, it will be completely painless. They have a calm character and quickly get used to their cage. A distinctive feature of this feathered - crest on the head... In our country, this species is considered the second most popular for keeping at home, after budgerigars. Corella loves to communicate with people. She is easy to tame, but she does not talk very willingly, she can only learn a few phrases.

Lovebirds

These birds come in two varieties:

White-bellied caik.
Black-headed caik.

They have beautiful plumage and good contact with people... Unpretentious in content, very active and mobile. It's a pleasure to watch them. However, they cannot be taught to speak words. They got their name due to the fact that they can live only in pairs, and they choose one partner for life. Often they sit tightly hugging each other. They can live up to 20 years.

Jaco

The most gifted species among parrots. According to the research results, it was found that he has the mind of a five year old... Having a calm character, he quickly gets used to people. Refers to the species of talking parrots. Able to pronounce not only words, but entire sentences. They can whistle various melodies and sing songs, imitate the voices of various animals very well and accurately copy the voice of their master. They perfectly copy various sounds, for example, a phone call.

Jaco considers himself a full member of the family. He is very sensitive to how the owners treat him. Maybe even offended then starts screaming very hard... Any change in his life causes severe stress in this bird, even if it is a simple rearrangement of furniture. As a result, the Grays begin to pluck their feathers. Therefore, you need to be very careful when making any changes. They can outlive their owners, living up to the age of 70 years.

Macaw

Belong to the genus large parrots... Due to their large size, they are difficult to keep at home. In addition, they can scream very strongly and shrilly, which not everyone can withstand. Their plumage is very beautiful. The ability of these birds to learn to speak is small, but they pronounce the words very clearly and loudly. This type of parrot lends itself well to training.

If the cage in which this parrot is placed, made of fine wire, then with the help of its powerful beak, the pet destroys it. Therefore, the cage must be welded from steel rods. As soon as the macaw breaks free from his captivity, he is able to destroy all the furniture in the apartment.

Cockatoo

This parrot has white plumage, large crest and black beak... They are considered the funniest birds. They comically squat and bow down, actively expanding and lowering their crest. All segments of the population are very fond of these birds. They are easy to tame, but it is very difficult to teach them to speak, achieving only a couple of phrases. Can whistle different melodies and imitate different sounds. They open the locks in the cage doors, no matter how ingenious they are.

These birds are very moody and noisy. They can be spoiled very much if you carry them on your hands all the time, allow them to walk and fly around the apartment. After that their hard to get to go to the cage... Alone, the cockatoo begins to scream continuously and sharply until the owner approaches him. They can live up to 100 years.

Thus, there are a large number of parrot species that can be kept at home. It only remains to do right choice.

It might be helpful to read: