That Bird Blog – Bird Care and History for Pet Birds

This article is the second in a series designed to help you in choosing a pet parrot by providing background information on popular species. Please see Part I for an explanation of the nature of the information covered here.

Peruvian Grey-cheeked Parakeet, Brotogeris pyrrhopterus
At a mere 6 inches in length, this bird is an excellent choice for those with limited space. Grey-cheeks have a trusting, amiable nature, even when obtained as adults, and are therefore also well-suited to those new to bird-keeping. These parakeets are not the most skilled of talkers, but can learn a few words and are, overall, ideal pets.

Blue-headed Pionus, Pionus menstruus
Beautifully clad in green and with a striking blue head, this medium sized (11 inches) Latin American parrot has moderate talking abilities but a great personality. I have kept several in busy pet stores and nature centers – without fail, they remained calm and even, I would venture to say, “amused”, by the goings on around them. The blue-head makes a fine pet for those who live in circumstances that might shake up other birds (noisy children, active dogs, etc.).

Sun Conure, Aratinga solstitialis
This bird’s brilliant green-streaked yellow plumage would cause most bird fanciers to ignore any bad traits it might have. Amazingly, however, this Central American beauty also makes an affectionate pet and a fair talker. It is far quieter than most conures, and a bit more “steady” in demeanor as well.

Noble Macaw, Ara nobilis
Macaws have much to recommend them – striking beauty, large size, intelligence – but their strong personalities and propensity to scream (often at dawn) should give one pause for thought. The noble macaw, one of the smallest species available (14 inches), is an excellent first choice for those new to this group of parrots. A bit more laid back than the larger macaws, nobles crave company and thus bond strongly with their owners, and talk reasonably well.
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Blue-and-Gold Macaw, Ara ararauna
This huge (32 inches), gorgeously marked fellow’s great intelligence and eagerness to play renders it among the most sought after of the macaws. They talk well, in a surprisingly deep voice, but are also given to loud screams and require a large cage and freedom to roam about. Those considering this or any large parrot should be well-versed in parrot care and handling, as an untamed macaw can inflict severe injuries with its massive beak.

Goffin’s Cockatoo, Cacatua goffini
One of the smallest of the cockatoos (13 inches), this species shares the group’s overall intelligence and tendency to bond strongly with one person (and to become jealously possessive of that person). Goffins are good “beginner cockatoos”, as they easily trained and speak well, but they do require more space than other similarly sized parrots. Like all cockatoos, they shed a fine, white powder-down, which may disturb people with dust and related allergies.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
These striking white birds are topped with crests of yellow feathers and have huge wingspans. Incredibly intelligent and good talkers, they are very expensive and in great demand. Sulpher-cresteds should, however, be kept only by those with a good deal of experience – their intelligence comes with a strong, determined personality, and is backed by a powerful beak. Like all cockatoos, they are a good deal more active than other parrots, and hence require both a huge cage and a room about which they can move freely on occasion. Cockatoos spend a good deal of time gnawing on anything within reach, and will demolish furniture, electric wires and such if not closely supervised when roaming about.

An article discussing additional factors that may influence species selection is posted at:http://www.realmacaw.com/pages/rightpet.html

My experience with pet and wild birds has convinced me that this is a mistake. I have observed a number of species engaging in behavior that, if not truly “play”, is certainly very close – little green herons “hunting” leaves, fledgling cardinals pulling at flowers and dropping them to the ground, etc. And anyone who saw the National Geographic Magazine photo of a wild raven sliding down a snow bank on its back cannot but conclude that it was truly “playing”. Most of these activities help birds in developing skills that they will need for survival (although I cannot yet explain the sow bank photo in that light!). In captivity, they also provide valuable mental and physical stimulation.

Finches of all types are particularly quick to use toys, even those designed with other birds in mind. They notice anything new in their cage, and are soon pecking, flying and perching on or about the novel item. They take quickly to ladders, toys that house hidden treats, nests constructed of grasses (which they usually try to shred in short order) and love to peck at bells.

Many parrot toys are quite suitable for finches and will be well used, even if not in the manner intended by the manufacturer. When purchasing toys made for larger birds, please be sure to check that your finches cannot injure themselves by becoming lodge themselves within any holes or openings. There are many options available – a few suggestions follow:
Heart Ring of Rings

The perch most often utilized by your pet, i.e. the one upon which it roosts for the night, should be of a width that allows the bird’s toes to go about ¾ of the way around. A variety of perches of other widths should also be included in the cage, and these should be made of differing materials. Following are some perch characteristics, along with suggested products:

Natural wood perches provide both a variety of grip widths and a chewable surface.

Variable-width perches constructed of a variety of materials will help to maintain foot health and are easily cleaned.
Insite T & U Perches
Treetop Perches

Cement perches are valuable in keeping nails trimmed but should not be used as your pets “main” perch. A good place for these is near the food bowl, so that they are used daily but not exclusively.
Trimmer Perches

Rope and cable perches provide a unique surface upon which to grip and perch and encourage birds to exercise the muscles in their feet (especially if placed at varying slanted angles).
Comfy Perches

In recent years an ever increasing number of parrot species have been bred in captivity and made available to those of us who enjoy keeping these avian clowns. This wonderful turn of events has taken a good deal of pressure off wild parrot populations, but sometimes leaves the prospective parrot owner a bit bewildered when it comes to choosing a pet.

Choosing a species and an individual parrot is an important step, and is best undertaken after careful research and discussions with the specialists in our bird room. I will write detailed articles about the care of individual parrot species in the future. What I would like to do here is to give you a general idea of the personalities and needs of some popular species, to help in your initial planning.

Please bear in mind that individual parrots vary greatly in their personalities and reactions to different people and environments, and that they quite often break the “species mold”. Their past care – how and where they were kept and raised – and your own actions will also have a great influence on their suitability as pets.

Fischer’s Lovebird, Agapornis fischeri
The behavior of these spunky little fellows often belies the “love” part of their name. True, mated pairs are quite attentive to each other, but lovebirds in general are among the most fearless of birds and will not hesitate to take on adversaries many times their size.

Years ago I kept a flock of Fischer’s lovebirds along with a pair of grey duikers (small antelopes) in an exhibit the Bronx Zoo. The birds were the bane of the antelopes’ existence, and would only allow the much larger creatures to feed after the flock had eaten its fill. They would even crowd around the glass that separated them from the meerkat exhibit — screening at the normally bird-intimidating predators and just itching for a fight!

Adult lovebirds are almost impossible to tame, but when acquired as fledglings they make very responsive and intelligent pets. Although not known for their talking abilities, they make up for this with their clownish antics and sociability. Their small size (6 inches or so) renders them ideal choices for those with limited space.

Black-headed Caique, Pionites melanocechala
Although not as commonly available as some of the other birds on this list, this caique (correct pronunciation is “kah-ee-kay”, but you will often hear “cake”), is well worth searching for. Although somewhat less “dependent” upon company than other parents (often to the point of seeming “aloof”), this South American beauty often bonds closely with one person. They are fairly small (10 inches) and possess only moderate talking abilities. Colored green with a yellow and orange front and black head and beak, this bird is quite stunning to behold.

Spectacled Amazon, Amazona albifrons albifrons
Often overlooked because they are relatively common in the pet trade, spectacled Amazons have much to recommend them. They are, however, quite loud and given to an almost constant chattering, and this can be a bit much for some people. These tendencies, however, render them fairly good talkers and their outgoing personalities can be quite charming. Those that I have worked with have unfailingly become the center of attention, and were quite are undeterred by large groups and noisy surroundings. They reach about 11 inches in length, and so need a bit more room than the birds mentioned up to this point.

Yellow-naped Amazon, Amazona ocrocephala auropalliata
This Amazon is less brightly-colored than others of the group, but makes a wonderful pet for the right owner. I say “right owner” because they are quite large and active, and tend to defend themselves vigorously when threatened. That being said, yellow-napes are also extremely curious and engaging, and are among the most acrobatic and trainable of the Amazons. They reach 16 inches in length and are best acquired as hand- fed babies.

You can read more about important considerations in choosing a pet parrot at:http://www.windhovervet.com/choosing.htm

As in most animals, male zebra finches utilize the hormone testosterone to help develop secondary sexual characteristics, such as their bright red bills. However, this comes at a cost, as testosterone has also been shown to weaken the immune system.

Carotenoids – compounds that impart yellow and orange colors to carrots and other foods – also help male finches to maintain their bright colors and, as a consequence, to attract females. The finches obtain carotenoids from their diet.

Recently, researchers at Arizona State University have shown that, in addition to imparting color, carotenoids also combat the negative influences of testosterone in zebra finches. Males deficient in carotenoids suffer depressed immune systems, while those with a sufficient intake benefit from testosterone by becoming more attractive to female finches.

This information reinforces the importance of a providing our birds with a well-balanced diet, and may have implications for human health as well. I suggest feeding your zebra finches a variety of nutritious foods, including such important basics as Goldenfeast Australian Blend Bird Food / Tropic Fruit Pudding and ZuPreem Fruit Blend, to assure a sufficient intake of carotenoids and other nutrients.

Interesting research concerning the effect of diet on zebra finch reproduction is posted at:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1810080&blobtype=pdf