Mehdi Zabane
Easily one of the most beautiful parrots in the world is the rainbow lorikeet. With their stunning green, orange, and blue feathers it is easy to see where they get their name. Rainbow lorikeets are native to Australia and are an introduced species in Tasmania, New Zealand, and Hong Kong where they live in rainforests and coastal woodlands. They usually live and travel in pairs and fiercely defend their nesting and feeding areas against all other birds. Rainbow lorikeets nest in hollows in eucalyptus and palm trees and only the female incubates the eggs.
One of the most popular species of parrot is the blue and gold macaw. Blue and gold macaws are easily recognizable by their brilliant blue upper bodies and tail feathers. They also have yellow lower bodies and legs and a green forehead. Blue and gold macaws are native to Central and South America and live in forests and woodlands. They bond for life and, although they are usually seen in large flocks, the bonded pairs stick close together. Blue and gold macaws have an inquisitive nature and are known for being able to mimic humans extremely well.
Crimson rosellas are native to Australia and are an introduced species in New Zealand and Norfolk Island. They are medium-sized parrots and have extremely long tails. Crimson rosellas have striking red bodies with purple-blue wings and tail feathers. They are mainly found in coastal and mountain forests and woodlands where they usually prefer wetter forest areas. Although crimson rosellas roost on some of the highest tree branches during the night they forage in trees, bushes, and on the ground during the day.
Crimson rosellas nest in hollows in tree trunks and for the first six days of their lives only the female feeds the chicks. However, after the first week both parents share the feeding duties. Crimson rosellas have a few predators – such as peregrine falcons, goshawks, and owls – but they are not considered to be under threat.
As one of the most vibrant colored parrots around, sun conures can easily be recognized by their stunning yellow-orange bodies and green wings and tails. Sun conures are native to small regions of South America and are found predominantly in north Brazil, southern Guyana, southern Suriname, and southern French Guiana where they prefer a tropical habitat. These parrots are extremely social and are often seen in large flocks of up to 30 birds. Sun conures usually remain with their flock at all times and are very fast flyers. They often cover many miles in a day while searching for food and are extremely vocal when they are flying. Unfortunately, they are an endangered species due to habitat loss and many of them having been captured for the pet trade.
Also known as turquoise-fronted Amazon’s, these parrots are found across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Blue-fronted Amazon’s get their name from the light blue feathers on their foreheads, although the rest of their bodies are green and they have yellow around their eyes. Blue-fronted Amazon’s prefer tropical and subtropical forests where they nest in tree cavities. Females lay between three and five eggs and chicks leave the nest approximately 60 days after hatching. Blue-fronted Amazon’s are particularly noisy birds and are known for screeching loudly, although they do have some talking ability.
The longest parrot in the world is the hyacinth macaw with a length of 3 feet 3 inches. Hyacinth macaws have rich royal blue plumage with vibrant yellow eye rings and chin and a long pointed tail. They are found in southern Brazil and western Bolivia and prefer palm swamps and open woodland habitats, although they usually avoid dense and humid forest regions. Unfortunately, hyacinth macaws are classed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and captures for the pet trade. Hyacinth macaws are known for having a calm temperament and are often called the gentle giants of the parrot world.
Sources: https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-10-most-beautiful-parrots-in-the-world/ https://www.pexels.com/ https://pixabay.com/