Parrots
The Animal Answer Guide
Published on 27. October 2012
Book
Hardback
272 pages
978-1-4214-0543-8 (ISBN)
Description
Have you ever wondered what parrots eat in the wild? Or why so many species live in the Amazon? How intelligent are parrots? What is the world's rarest parrot? "Parrots: The Animal Answer Guide" provides detailed, factual answers to the ninety questions most on our minds. There are more than 350 species of these colorful callers, ranging in size from the diminutive lovebird to the massive macaw. Many species can live to be octogenarians in captivity-sometimes outliving their human caretakers by decades. The beautiful plumage of parrots and the ability to mimic sounds are both a blessing and a curse. A number of species are in danger of extinction because they are captured and sold into the pet trade by unscrupulous dealers. Fortunately, most parrot owners and retailers rely on captive breeding, although an appalling amount of wild collection continues. In addition to discussing parrot behavior and biology, Matt Cameron reveals the truth about the trade in wild parrots and explains what each of us can do to help save native populations.
Whether you are a parrot owner, birder, ornithologist, or curious naturalist, you will find that Cameron asks and fully answers every question you have about these incredible birds.
Whether you are a parrot owner, birder, ornithologist, or curious naturalist, you will find that Cameron asks and fully answers every question you have about these incredible birds.
Reviews / Votes
A good general introduction to the biology of parrots. -- Ian Paulse, Grrl Scientist Guardian Cameron does a nice job of detailing parrots in general while also highlighting various specific species. The Q&A format presents the material in short focused sections making for an easy read. -- Robert E. Hoopes Wildlife Activist Anybody with a passion for parrots and parrot research (and there are plenty of us out there), whether professional, amateur or pet-owner, will find plenty to engage and maintain their interest in this text. -- Lucy Aplin Ibis The text is encyclopaedic and unexpectedly complex, reviewing behaviour, evolution and ecology. Anybody with a passion for parrots and parrot research (and there are plenty of us out there), whether professional, amateur or pet-owner, will find plenty to engage and maintain their interest in this text. -- Lucy Aplin Ibis Essential reading for aspiring parrot students, and for anyone owning or contemplating a pet parrot or cockatoo, but also enjoyable and informative reading for anyone interested in parrots. The series seems a most worthy one, and this volume is highly recommended to bird enthusiasts. -- Stephen Debus Australian Field OrnithologyMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Illustrations
37 farbige Abbildungen, 70 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 7 Karten, 3 Kurvendiagramme
3 Graphs; 7 Maps; 70 Halftones, black and white; 37 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 26 mm
Weight
726 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4214-0543-8 (9781421405438)
DOI
10.1353/book.15134
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Person
Matt Cameron is an independent scholar and the author of Cockatoos.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Introducing Parrots
What are parrots?
Are cockatoos also parrots?
How many kinds of parrot are there?
Where do parrots live?
What is the current classification of parrots?
When did parrots evolve?
What is the oldest fossil parrot?
2. Form and Function
What are the largest and smallest living parrots?
What does a parrot's bill tell us about its diet?
Do all parrots have the same type of bill?
How fast can parrots fly?
Are there any flightless parrots?
Do a parrot's feathers wear out?
Are there any bald parrots?
3. Parrot Colors
Why are so many parrots green?
What causes the colors of parrots?
Do parrots see the same colors as humans?
What are the benefits of UV vision?
Do glowing parrots really exist?
Is there a reason for the color patterns of parrots?
Are there color differences between males and females?
Do a parrot's colors change as they age?
Is there much geographic variation in the color of a parrot species?
4. Parrot Behavior
Are parrots social?
Why do parrots form flocks?
How do parrots spend their day?
How do parrots communicate?
How smart are parrots?
Can parrots talk?
Do parrots play?
Do parrots fight?
How do parrots avoid predators?
5. Parrot Ecology
Do parrots migrate?
Which geographic regions have the most species of parrot?
How many parrot species live in an area?
How many parrots live in the Australian desert?
How do parrots survive in the desert?
Are there parrots in alpine areas?
How do parrots survive droughts?
Do parrots get sick?
Are any parrot species nocturnal?
Are parrots good for the environment?
Is it true that some moths depend on parrots?
6. Reproduction and Development
Where do parrots nest?
Do parrots nest at the same time every year?
Do parrots use the same nest every year?
How do parrots reproduce?
How many eggs do parrots lay?
Are nestlings in a brood all the same age?
What proportion of eggs hatch?
How fast do parrots grow?
Do both parents care for their young?
How long do young birds stay with their parents?
Do parrots pair for life?
Do any parrots have unusual breeding systems?
How long do parrots live?
7. Foods and Feeding
What do parrots eat?
Are there any predatory parrots?
How much food does a parrot need?
Are parrots fussy eaters?
How do parrots find food?
Why do some parrots eat soil?
8. Parrots and Humans
Do parrots make good pets?
What is the best way to take care of a pet parrot?
What should I do if I find an injured or orphaned parrot?
How can I see parrots in the wild?
Should people feed wild parrots?
9. Parrot Problems (from a human viewpoint)
Are some parrots agricultural pests?
Can parrots be a nuisance in urban areas?
Are parrots ever invasive species?
Do parrots have diseases and are they contagious?
10. Human Problems (from a parrot's viewpoint)
Are any parrots endangered?
Have any parrot species gone extinct?
What is the world's rarest parrot?
Will parrots be affected by global warming?
Why do people hunt parrots?
What impact does the wildlife trade have on parrot populations?
Can captive breeding benefit wild populations of parrots?
11. Parrots in Stories and Literature
What roles do parrots play in religion and mythology?
Did any early explorers or naturalists mention parrots in their writings?
What roles do parrots play in popular culture?
What roles have parrots played in literature?
How long have humans kept and bred parrots?
12. "Parrotology"
Why study parrots?
Who studies parrots?
Which species are best known?
Which species are least known?
How do scientists recognize individual parrots?
What is being done to save endangered parrot species?
What can people do to help parrots?
Appendix: Common and Scientific Names of Living Parrots
Selected Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1. Introducing Parrots
What are parrots?
Are cockatoos also parrots?
How many kinds of parrot are there?
Where do parrots live?
What is the current classification of parrots?
When did parrots evolve?
What is the oldest fossil parrot?
2. Form and Function
What are the largest and smallest living parrots?
What does a parrot's bill tell us about its diet?
Do all parrots have the same type of bill?
How fast can parrots fly?
Are there any flightless parrots?
Do a parrot's feathers wear out?
Are there any bald parrots?
3. Parrot Colors
Why are so many parrots green?
What causes the colors of parrots?
Do parrots see the same colors as humans?
What are the benefits of UV vision?
Do glowing parrots really exist?
Is there a reason for the color patterns of parrots?
Are there color differences between males and females?
Do a parrot's colors change as they age?
Is there much geographic variation in the color of a parrot species?
4. Parrot Behavior
Are parrots social?
Why do parrots form flocks?
How do parrots spend their day?
How do parrots communicate?
How smart are parrots?
Can parrots talk?
Do parrots play?
Do parrots fight?
How do parrots avoid predators?
5. Parrot Ecology
Do parrots migrate?
Which geographic regions have the most species of parrot?
How many parrot species live in an area?
How many parrots live in the Australian desert?
How do parrots survive in the desert?
Are there parrots in alpine areas?
How do parrots survive droughts?
Do parrots get sick?
Are any parrot species nocturnal?
Are parrots good for the environment?
Is it true that some moths depend on parrots?
6. Reproduction and Development
Where do parrots nest?
Do parrots nest at the same time every year?
Do parrots use the same nest every year?
How do parrots reproduce?
How many eggs do parrots lay?
Are nestlings in a brood all the same age?
What proportion of eggs hatch?
How fast do parrots grow?
Do both parents care for their young?
How long do young birds stay with their parents?
Do parrots pair for life?
Do any parrots have unusual breeding systems?
How long do parrots live?
7. Foods and Feeding
What do parrots eat?
Are there any predatory parrots?
How much food does a parrot need?
Are parrots fussy eaters?
How do parrots find food?
Why do some parrots eat soil?
8. Parrots and Humans
Do parrots make good pets?
What is the best way to take care of a pet parrot?
What should I do if I find an injured or orphaned parrot?
How can I see parrots in the wild?
Should people feed wild parrots?
9. Parrot Problems (from a human viewpoint)
Are some parrots agricultural pests?
Can parrots be a nuisance in urban areas?
Are parrots ever invasive species?
Do parrots have diseases and are they contagious?
10. Human Problems (from a parrot's viewpoint)
Are any parrots endangered?
Have any parrot species gone extinct?
What is the world's rarest parrot?
Will parrots be affected by global warming?
Why do people hunt parrots?
What impact does the wildlife trade have on parrot populations?
Can captive breeding benefit wild populations of parrots?
11. Parrots in Stories and Literature
What roles do parrots play in religion and mythology?
Did any early explorers or naturalists mention parrots in their writings?
What roles do parrots play in popular culture?
What roles have parrots played in literature?
How long have humans kept and bred parrots?
12. "Parrotology"
Why study parrots?
Who studies parrots?
Which species are best known?
Which species are least known?
How do scientists recognize individual parrots?
What is being done to save endangered parrot species?
What can people do to help parrots?
Appendix: Common and Scientific Names of Living Parrots
Selected Bibliography
Index