Description of the types of grass parrots and the rules for their maintenance

If you decide on a difficult relationship with birds as pets, and ordinary canaries and budgerigars seem boring to you, pay attention to grass parrots. Their friendly disposition and bright plumage will quickly win the hearts of your household.

This small bird - an adult, usually barely reaches 25 cm, with a very bright beautiful plumage. Most birds have a green color with various shades. Australia and the island of Tasmania adjacent to the mainland are considered to be the birthplace of a feathered one. Under natural conditions, these parrots prefer to settle in eucalyptus forests with herbs. They feed on grass seeds, small berries and insects.

Unlike many of its relatives, grass parrots move mainly on the ground, and fly only in exceptional cases. In nature, they are well oriented in dense grass, preferring to take off only to the height of the bush. For their constant maintenance at home, it is advisable to purchase a spacious aviary of at least 1 meter in length.

Grass parrots are quite friendly and easily tamed. Despite the fact that the bird is constantly moving, it does not make excessive noise. Herbs in captivity breed well - in a year the female can lay eggs 1-2 times. Childbearing age is approximately 8-9 months, but experts do not recommend mating birds before they turn one year old.

Since these birds come from the tropics, the conditions of their detention in captivity should be close to natural. A room with a bird enclosure should be warm, without drafts. The optimum temperature is considered to be +20 degrees Celsius, and air humidity - at least 60%. Activity in grass parrots occurs in the afternoon. During the day, the bird hardly moves, and closer to sunset it begins to trill, bringing them out with its not very loud, but rather pleasant and melodious voice.

Therefore, in the evening, you should take care of additional lighting. The bird is very shy, so the transition from daylight to evening lighting should be carried out smoothly. Abrupt onset of darkness can cause stress in the bird. It is believed that a quiet whistle can calm a worried bird, but loud sounds, on the contrary, are very exciting and annoying. When properly maintained, grass parrots in captivity live on average 12-15 years, in some cases they survived to 20 years.

At home, parrots feed on a grain mixture. Food for canaries, oatmeal and other cereals, millet, and sunflower seeds are quite suitable. The main thing is not to overfeed the bird. An adult bird needs about one and a half tablespoons of food per day. Parrots with pleasure eat finely chopped or grated vegetables and fruits, various greens.

In total there are 7 species of grass parrots, each of which has its own unique color. Let us examine in more detail each of these types.

Pink-bellied parrot, also known as a bourke. The scientific name is Neophema bourkii. The size of the bird is about 23 cm, the length of the tail is about 10 cm. The plumage of this individual is brownish, the abdomen is colored red-pink. The feathers on the female’s cheeks are white, and the male’s forehead has a blue speck. In nature, the pink-bellied parrot makes nests in the hollows of trees. The female can lay 3-5 eggs at a time, which hatch for 2-3 weeks.

Hatched chicks stay in their parental nest for about a month, after which they are completely ready for independent life and leave the nest. This species was introduced to Europe in the 19th century and was so fond of it that by the beginning of the 20th century the species was on the verge of extinction. Therefore, Australian authorities have banned their export. Currently, the population has been restored.

Azure parrot, scientifically Neophema pulchella. The dimensions of the bird are the same as in the previous species. The color of the males is also quite bright. The back is painted in a deep green color, and the feathers on the abdomen are yellow chicken color. On the head is a cap made of soft turquoise small feathers. The wings have a double color: closer to the base are feathers of red-brown colors, and at the tips of the wings, as if in tone with a hat, gloves are the color of sky blue. On the paws, the color is bright pink, the beak is the color of gray asphalt. The female azure parrot is easy to distinguish by a more modest robe.

The main color of females, like males, is dark green, the abdomen is also yellow, but the color is not as saturated as that of males. And red shades in females are completely absent. On the inside of the wings are white spots. Azure parrots also nest in hollows, lay 5-8 eggs, fly quickly and run.

In some sources, this species is also called orange or gold-bellied. The scientific name is Neophema chrysogaster. A parrot lives on the islands of Tasmania and King. Refers to an endangered species, the trade of which is prohibited. The size of the golden parrot is not more than 20 cm. The main color of the male is emerald green, on the forehead there is a blue spot with a blue tint, the cheeks are yellowish, the breast and belly are protective-marsh. On the lower abdomen there is a bright orange spot, for which the view got its name.

On the bend of the wings, the feathers are dark purple, and the females on the inside have a white strip, which the males do not have.In nature, they prefer to settle on the sea coast, in areas with low vegetation. They nest inside eucalyptus trees in late autumn and early winter. In one clutch there are usually from 4 to 6 eggs. Hatching of the chicks lasts 3 weeks, and after 5 weeks the chicks leave the nest.

In scientific sources it is designated as Neophema chrysostoma. A rare endangered species is included in the list of the convention on the prohibition of the sale of rare species of flora and fauna, so it is practically not found in pet stores. You can look at it only in some nurseries. The body sizes of the blue-winged parrot are standard; the main color is also green.

On the superciliary and in the tail zone there are small yellow blotches, the same are on the cheeks of the bird. A thin blue bridle is observed on the forehead, the same color is also found in covering feathers on the wings. Outside, the wings are dark brown, the tail in the middle is light yellow, smoothly turning into gray-green. Traditionally, the color of the female is less intense than that of the male.

Decorated or elegant, in Latin Neophema splendida. Body sizes are standard, the dominant color in the color is green with an olive tint. The superciliary region and folds of the wings are saturated blue, the tail in the middle is blue with a grayish tint, closer to the edge is light yellow.

The male from the female can be distinguished by the presence of a pale orange spot on the lower part of the abdomen. It feeds mainly on plant foods, builds nests on branches or stumps. The female lays up to 5 eggs once a year, in early autumn. In captivity, birds live for more than 10 years.

In some sources, this species is called stone. The scientific name is Neophema petrophila. It is rare at home, as it is an endangered species and is protected by law in its historical homeland. The size of the rocky parrot is slightly more than 20 cm, the main color is swamp green, the breast is yellow, the reddish fluff is barely noticeable on the abdomen. The superciliary area is blue, with a smooth transition into blue. The tail of a complex color is blue-green above, yellow below. The wings on the fold are blue, blue at the edges.

Females are traditionally dressed less brightly, but have a white stripe on the inner side of the wings. Feathers on paws and beak are gray. They live in nature in the immediate vicinity of water bodies, in rocky terrain, with sparse vegetation. It flies badly and only for short distances, preferring to hide in dense grass. Nests are built in rocky cavities.

This species is considered perhaps the most beautiful among all grass parrots. Thanks to its special coloring, it is also called glossy. In the scientific literature, the species is called Neophema splendida. With standard body sizes, the red-breasted parrot has a tail as much as 17 cm! The male has an elegant shiny hat of blue color, a bright purple scarf around his throat. The upper part of the bird — the back and tail — is green, and multicolor is observed below: the abdomen and lower feathers of the tail are yellow, the abdomen is bright yellow, and the breast is bright scarlet.

The wings at the ends are black with a blue tint, covered from above with blue feathers. Feet have a neutral beige color, and the beak is blue-black. As with other species, the color of the female is much more modest than that of the male. And she has a white stripe on the inside of the wing. Parrots of this breeding prefer flat areas, often settle on farms and in orchards. They prefer to pack up to 20 individuals; at the end of summer they begin to nest.

For what can and cannot be given to grass parrots, see the next video.