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More About Parrots ...
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A parrot is any of the many birds belonging to the family Psittacidae. They have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back.
Along with the cockatoo family (the Cacatuidae), the parrot family makes up the order Psittaciformes. Confusingly, the term parrot can be used in either the narrow sense of the parrot family Psittacidae or the broad sense of the order Psittaciformes.
Birds of the parrot family can be found in most of the warmer parts of the world, including India, South East Asia and West Africa, with one species, now extinct, in the United States (the Carolina Parakeet). By far the greatest number of parrot species, however, come from Australasia, South America and Central America.
Many species can imitate human speech or other sounds, and at least one researcher, Irene Pepperberg has made controversial claims for the learning ability of one species; an African Grey Parrot Alex, has been trained to use words to identify objects, describe them, count them, and even answer complex questions such as "How many red squares?" (with over 80% accuracy). Many other scholars claim that parrots are only repeating words with no idea of their meanings and point to Pepperberg's results as being nothing but an expression of operant conditioning.
Parrots are commonly kept as companion animals in many countries. Often the wings of such birds are clipped, but many people keep flighted pet parrots, allowing the birds to roam their homes or neighborhoods. Some parrots, including the conures, macaws, cockatoos, cockatiels, and budgerigars are said to make good family pets.
While most birds have a hinged lower mandible (jaw) and a fixed upper mandible, in parrots both the upper and lower mandibles are hinged. This makes them look a bit comical when they yawn. While most birds have three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing rearward, parrots have two forward-facing toes and two rearward-facing twos. This foot structure is termed "zygodactal."
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Taxonmony
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Parrots
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INFO LINKS
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Maroon Fronted Parrot
The Wild Ones
One of the two parrot species that live in Mexico. General Information Read More
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Red-Tailed Amazon Parrot
The Wild Ones
General Information Read More
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St Lucia Parrot
The Wild Ones
This species is found in the island of St.Lucia. Site includes information on Breeding, lifecycle, reproduction, conservation and habitat Read More
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African Grey Parrot
Honolulu Zoo
African Grey Parrot Read More
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Amazon Parrot
Honolulu Zoo
Amazon Parrot Read More
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Eclectus Parrot
Honolulu Zoo
Eclectus Parrot Read More
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Red-cheeked Parrot
Honolulu Zoo
Red-cheeked Parrot Read More
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Red-winged Parrot
Honolulu Zoo
Red-winged Parrot Read More
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African Orange-bellied Parrot
Kenya Birds
About African Orange-bellied Parrot Read More
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Brownheaded parrot
SafariCamLive.com - African Wildlife to the World
Brownheaded parrots Read More
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Hawk-Headed Parrot
Sedgwick County Zoo
Hawk-Headed Parrot fact sheet Read More
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Thick-Billed Parrot
theBigZoo.com
About Thick-Billed Parrot Read More
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Thick-billed Parrot
eNature.com
Pictures, Sounds, and information about Thick-billed Parrot Read More
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parrot
parrot
Parrot's cries sound false alarm - a news clip Read More
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parrot
BBCi
How Parrots Talk! Easy to read Read More
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Parrot
National Geographic
Parrot fact sheet and pictures; video clip; audio clip Read More
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Parrot
Bird Families of the World - Dan Roberson
Details about the Psittacidae family including pictures and good print references Read More
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Parrot
Unique Australian Animals
Categorized information on Parrot including description, habitat, feeding, etc. Has nice pictures, too. Read More
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Red-Crowned Parrot
Bird Friends Of Lake Murray And San Diego County
Red-Crowned Parrot pictures, description, and more Read More
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Red-Lored Parrot
Bird Friends Of Lake Murray And San Diego County
Red-Lored Parrot pictures, description, and more Read More
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Eclectus Parrot
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
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Yellow-Eared Parrot
Animals Of The Rainforest
Brief description, taxonomic information, pictures, and links Read More
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Swift Parrot
Tasmania - Dept. of Primary Industries, Water, and Environment
Brief narrative about Swift parrot Read More
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Orange-bellied Parrot
Tasmania - Dept. of Primary Industries, Water, and Environment
Brief narrative about Orange-bellied parrot Read More
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Blue-winged Parrot
Tasmania - Dept. of Primary Industries, Water, and Environment
Brief narrative about Blue-winged parrot Read More
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Ground Parrot
Tasmania - Dept. of Primary Industries, Water, and Environment
Brief narrative about Ground parrot Read More
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Dusky Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Black-Headed Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Blue-Headed Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Mealy Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Orange-Winged Amazone, Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Red Fan Parrot
Birds in Suriname
Brief description, pictures, and distribution map for Surinam Read More
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Gray Parrot
web.edunet4u.net/~nature/ (Korean)
Brief description and picture Read More
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Thick-billed Parrot
The Wild Ones
Brief article about Thick-billed Parrot Read More
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Double-Eyed Fig Parrot
Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Narrative article about Double-Eyed Fig Parrot Read More
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Australian King-Parrot
Chambers Wildlife Rainforest Lodges
Narrative article about Australian King-Parrot Read More
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