CallDownTheParrots

Budgerigars, also known as budgies or parakeets, are one of the most popular pet birds.

Lifespan: 5-10 years, occasionally more

Latin name: Melopsittacus undulatus

Diet: Primarily grass seeds, but will feed opportunistically on lawn grass seeds and certain crops.

Personality: In the wild, budgies are social birds and live in flocks, sometimes shared with cockatiels. They are small birds and prone to predation, which may be why they tend to be adverse to new objects or foods in captivity. They tend to like things to stay the same. They are friendly birds and relatively easy to tame and care for, not usually developing behavioural issues like larger parrots. They are, however, best kept in pairs due to their social nature!

Native to: Dry parts of Australia

Habitat: Scrublands, open woodlands and grasslands. They are nomadic and move on when habitats become unsuitable.

Conservation status: Least concern

Fun facts: Having a male and a female budgie does not necessarily mean they will breed- some budgies just don't fancy each other!

Kakapos are the heaviest parrot, as well as one of the most endangered.

Lifespan: Around 90- 95 years

Latin name: Strigops habroptilus

Diet: Plants, seeds, fruits, pollen and sapwood, particularly the fruit of the Rimu tree.

Personality: Unusually for a parrot, Kakapos are nocturnal. Although not kept as pets, Kakapos in captivity are said to have a wide range in personality, from friendly, cheeky and curious to grumpy and aloof. They are also said to enjoy their food! In the wild, Kakapos are solitary and ground foragers, although they do have a strange habit of jumping from trees and flapping their wings ineffectually.

Native to: New Zealand (endemic)

Habitat: Tussocklands, scrublands and coastal areas, as well as forests.

Conservation status: Critically endangered (around 209 birds left)

Lifespan: Around 40- 60 years

Latin name: Psittacus erithacus

Diet: Seeds, nuts, berries and vegetation; they particuarly like fruit from the African Oil Palm.

Personality: Their behaviour in the wild is not well-documented, as they are secretive birds (perhaps due to being prey animals, preyed upon by a number of raptors. However, they are very social, and rely on a flock-type structure. In captivity, they tend to be good talkers, and are highly intelligent. Due to their complex needs, they can be prone to feather plucking, amd need plenty stimulation to prevent this. Unlike some other parrots, greys are not 'cuddly', and will usualy only tolerate head-scratching.

Native to: Also known as the Congo Parrot, they are native to equatorial Africa.

Habitat: Greys favour dense forest, but are also found at forest edges, and in more open savanna forests.

Conservation status: Endangered, numbers decreasing. This is largely due to deforestation and the pet trade.

Fun facts: Some African Greys are said to live in Florida- however, these are escaped pets, and no evidence of breeding has yet been discovered. One of the most famous African Grey Parrots was Alex, who could identify, request, refuse and categorise around 100 items.

Lifespan: 15- 30 years old

Latin name: Aratinga solstitialis

Diet: Fruits, nuts and seeds.

Personality: Sun Conures are very expressive and extremely loud birds- sometimes known as the loudest medium-sized bird. They are playful and easily trained to do tricks, as well as usually being affectionate and cuddly (though they are, like most parrots, prone to mood swings). As pets, they don't tend to pick a 'favorite person' as some parrots do.

Native to: North-Eastern South America.

Habitat: Inland, tropical habitats, dry savannah woodlands and coastal forests; especially areas with fruit trees or palm groves.

Conservation status: Endangered, population decreasing

Scarlet Macaws are one of the most beautiful and iconic species of Macaw, being both large and vividly coloured in red, blue and yellow.

Lifespan: 40-50 in the wild, up to 100 in captivity.

Latin name: Ara macao

Diet: Nuts, leaves, berries and seeds, but also flowers, nectar, and some insects/larvae.

Personality: Though social, birds are typically seen alone or in pairs, though flocks are sometimes seen too. They are monogamous and mate for life. Scarlet macaws are very lively and have a lot of 'personality'- they can be nippy even when tame. As pets they can tend towards being one-person birds, perhaps due to their bonding for life in the wild.

Native to: Central and South America.

Habitat: Humid, evergreen forest, such as the Amazon rainforest.

Conservation status: Least concern, population decreasing.

Fun Facts: Like all parrots, these macaws can 'blush'- and their featherless faces mean this is visible. This can indicate excitement or stress.