8 Intriguing Realities About Parrots You Didn't Know Header

8 Intriguing Realities About Parrots You Didn’t Know

Posted on July 13, 2016

The colourful and clever birds are truly an experience to witness and have as a pet. Parrots are known for their colourful wings, their curved bill, upright stance and their ability to talk which makes them very dear and fascinating to humans.

 1. They eat with their feet

Parrots have zygodactyl feet, which means they have four toes on each foot, two facing backwards and two facing forward. Their feet are similar to the human hand and hence, they use it to pick food and put it in their mouth.

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 2. They Have Hollow Beaks

Despite its solid appearance, parrot beaks are hollow. What makes the beaks strong are its bony struts.

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 3. They don’t have vocal chords

Even though talking is one of their main characteristics, parrots don’t possess vocal chords. They trumpet sounds by pushing the air out of their trachea. They don’t actually talk but make variations on whistling.

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 4. They love music

Parrots are amongst the few animals who can feel the music. They feel and understand the beat of the music and move with it!

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 5. They live very long

Parrots can live for over 80 years, thus being the best companions for humans in the long run.

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 6. They can move the feathers on their head

Certain parrots like the Cockatoo have an array of feathers on their head that rises and lowers depending on the bird’s will.

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 7. They’re Smart.

Scientists have come to understand that the parrot is as smart as dolphins, dogs, and even pigs. They have been known to be able to read and count.

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 8. They don’t need nests

Most birds build up nests to live and lay their eggs, but not parrots. Parrots prefer convenient abandoned spaces like a hole in a tree or termite mounds which is enough for them to lay and hatch their babies.

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