Tag Archives: parrots

Bird Basics: Sun Conures

Looking for a loving little bird that is easy to train and loves human companionship? Take a look at the lovely South American sun conure! These birds wear a rainbow of colors — brilliant yellows, reds and oranges and vibrant blues and greens. The younger birds will not be as brightly colored as the adults; full color and plumage will develop by one year of age. Beaks and feet are black, and you’ll see distinctive white patches around each eye. Sun conures can live more than twenty years — the average lifespan is between twenty-five and thirty years. They are … Continue reading →

Bird Basics: African Grey Parrots

African Grey parrots have been kept as pets for thousands of years! These birds are highly intelligent and are known for clearly mimicking human speech and other sounds. As the name suggests, these birds come from Africa. The African Grey Parrot is also known as the Congo African Grey (CAG) or Timneh African Grey (TAG). These birds sport lovely grey feathers, some with white edges. Congo African Greys have shiny black beaks and bright red tail feathers; Timneh African Greys have bone colored beaks and deep maroon tail feathers. Those beaks are extremely strong! Make sure your African Grey parrot … Continue reading →

Bird Behavior: Parrot Screams

Adding a parrot to the family? Be forewarned: parrots are very vocal. You must be willing to accept a certain level of noise if you are bringing a parrot (or any bird) into your home. Why do birds vocalize? To find their “flock”. This can mean the human family for a domesticated bird. Contact calls will start gaining volume if they are not answered. A lack of stimulation. If your bird has nothing else to do, he may start to scream. Illness or injury. A sudden scream (without softer calls first) may mean an injury. An expression of joy. Your … Continue reading →