Parrots are birds with gaily and boldly colors. Parrots have even, thin
plumage on their whole bodies with solid color spots, which usually
contrast themselves. The most obvious feature of all parrots
is the difference between the upper and lower mandibles. Both of them
are curved but the upper one is curved downwards and ends like a hook
while the lower one is smaller and curves upward. This is only one of
the parrots distinctive features.
Another interesting special feature of the parrots is the feet. They
show four toes, two of them pointing backwards and two pointing
forward. This feature allows them to grasp strongly the objects around
them.
Although not all of them, most parrots like to populate
trees, tending to live in or close to tropical forests. They eat
fruits, wild figs, buds and blossoms, seeds, nuts or berries.
They
build nests in holes in the trees, or in some cases, in termite mounds
or rocks. Parrots lay 2 to 5 white eggs which hatch in around 3 weeks.
Both parents feed the young with predigested regurgitated food.
The eclectus parrot
In
this case, the male and female show different colors, the male is
bright green with red and blue spots and the female has blue belly and
the rest of the plumage is crimson. Both male and female are glossy and
brilliant birds.
Where can they be found? This kind of parrots
is found in Solomon Islands, Lesser Sundas, N-E Australia and New
Guinea. Those birds live in lowland forests and clumps of tall trees.
In the early 1980’s they were discovered to be very common in the
Malaccan Islands.
The eclectus parrots behavior
The
eclectus parrots have strong wings and muscles, which makes them very
good flyers. They fly above the forest canopy in pairs or small groups,
making loud noises and searching for food. At sunset, they make display
flights and gather in large groups, preparing themselves for the night.
Two
distinct calls were encountered in the eclectus parrots. While they
feed, they have a wailing cry or a mellow flute-like call and when they
fly they repeat three or four times a screeching sound
Their food
The
Eclectus parrots eat mainly fruits, seeds, nuts, leaf buds, blossoms,
nectar and berries. All those are usually found up in the top of the
trees.
How do eclectus parrots grow up and reproduce
Usually,
those parrots find or build nests in holes in the trees in the high
areas. Also they seem to like clearings in the forests or the edges of
the forests for their nests.
The eclectus parrot female lays two
eggs; usually on wood chips deep inside the nest and for 26 days she
will be the only one to touch her eggs. Only the female broods the
eggs. During this period, the male feeds her twice a day on regular
intervals and those are the only times the female leaves her eggs. 12
weeks after hatching, the young parrots leave the nest.
Reprinted with permission: www.articlebiz.com
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