Parrots

Matt Cameron is an independent scholar and the author of Cockatoos.  

Matt Cameron has worked in the field of natural resource management for nearly 20 years, with a particular emphasis on threatened species conservation. He has undertaken research on a range of species groups including invertebrates, waterbirds, reptiles, raptors and cockatoos. The results of this work have been published in national and international scientific journals. For his PhD, he studied the ecology of Glossy Cockatoos in central NSW. He is currently based in country NSW, where he is employed by the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.

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 parrots 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 parrots 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 parrots 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 parrots viewpoint)

Are any parrots endangered?

Have any parrot species gone extinct?

What is the worlds 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

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 Ornithology