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Breed Details
Breed Name:
Conure
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Conures are either large parakeets or small parrots that are found in the western hemisphere. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World's Rose-ringed Parakeets or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in Central and South America; the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis or Carolina Parakeet was an exception. Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention seeking behavior including hanging upside-down and swaying back and forth or "dancing."
Despite being large for parakeets, conures are lightly built with long tails and small (but strong) beaks. Conure beaks always have a small cere and are usually horn-colored or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they do not currently constitute a natural, scientific grouping. The term conure is now used mostly in aviculture. Scientists tend to refer to these birds as "parrots" or "parakeets." They are known as clowns of the parrot species because of their antics and the way they behave.
Life Expectancy:
15 to 35 years
Weight:
132-143 grams
Height:
28 cm
Color:
Bright yellow with green, orange, and some blue markings.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Budgerigar
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Personality and Appearance
Budgies come in over a thousand color mutations. The normal budgie is bright green on the chest with the wings a mix of green with black. There are several variations to this including yellow, blue, violet and albino. The male and female show sexual dimorphic characteristics, which means that there are visual differences. The adult male usually has a blue colored cere (the firm fleshy band across the base of the beak), and the females is pink or brownish colored. Young budgies typically have stripes that cover the head and continue down to a pink cere. As the bird matures, the cere color changes. Budgies are of two different body types: the American budgie and the English budgie.
The American budgie is most commonly seen in pet stores and is about seven inches long, with the tail making up most of the length. His head is small, but it is proportionate to the rest of the body. These budgies are excellent talkers and quite easy to tame. They usually live 15 to 18 years.
English budgies have characteristics and features that were developed and enhanced specifically for show, such as a bigger chest and head, large circular throat spots, and vibrant clear colors and markings. They are about 10 inches in length and are less active; some believe they are not as smart as the American budgie.
Budgies can be taught to talk, although not all will. Some will only whistle, while others will learn many words. Hand-raised birds are more likely to talk as are single-caged birds. Relatively inexpensive, they are not loud, do not take up a lot of space and do not make a mess. They are easy to train and make exceptional pets if they receive a lot of attention. As with most birds, the budgie will bond quicker to you if it is a single bird. If you have a busy lifestyle and feel you would not have a lot of time to interact with your bird, you may want to consider having two as they are flock birds and like companionship.
Grooming
Budgies love baths; some like a dip and some like showers. Try putting a dish of water in the cage to see if your parakeet likes to bathe. If he shows no interest, you can mist him with warm water and let him dry in the sun. Always make sure the room is warm for bathing.
Feeding
Budgies love to eat and their diet is very important. In the wild they eat ripened green seeds and greens. A pelleted diet is best, in addition to anything you eat, except for avocado, chocolate, fatty things and salty things. A good diet consists of pellets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and seeds. They enjoy carrots, corn, peas, green beans, cooked chicken egg, apple, pear, cantaloupe, leafy greens, whole wheat bread, and corn bread. They also like plucking the fresh buds off of fresh broccoli. You can fix a plate for your budgie when you are having your own dinner. An occasional millet spray is a great treat. If your budgie has not been raised on fruits and vegetables, he may be stubborn about changing his diet. Add something new each day and be patient. His curiosity just might reward him with some healthy and tasty treats.
Housing
Your budgie may be small, but he still needs some space. The cage should be the largest one you can afford, but at least 18 inches. Budgies fly horizontally so the cage should be wider than it is high to allow space to flap his wings, play with his toys and climb. Bar spacing should be no wider that 1/2 inch, small enough so the head will not fit between the bars. Place the cage in an area of the house where your budgie will see a lot of the family. However, keep him away from the kitchen where dangerous cooking fumes can harm him.
Budgies love to play and need mental stimulation. Make sure there are enough toys but not so many that they crowd the space. Your budgie will enjoy playing with mirrors, bells, swings, ladders and chewy toys. And if you have a safe environment for a bird, you can let him out to fly once a day. However, remember that your budgie does not know that the patio door is not open and he would have trouble surviving if he were to get out of the house. You might let him fly in an enclosed room with the door closed, and be sure to stay in there with him. Remove poisonous plants, electrical wiring or strings because budgies are excellent climbers and chewers. Never leave your budgie unattended when another pet is present, such as a dog or a cat.
Breeding
Budgies normally breed best in the spring and early summer and can be done by either of two methods: selective cage breeding or colony breeding. Selective cage breeding involves single cages with one pair per cage. A budgie nest box (available in many styles at pet stores) is attached to the cage. Make sure the boxes you purchase have a nest block a piece of wood with a concave section carved out where the hen can lay her eggs.
Colony breeding is best done in an aviary. Several pairs are put together and supplied with nest boxes and allowed to choose their own partners to breed.
The normal clutch is five eggs, which hatch in 18 days from the time the hen starts sitting. The hen incubates the eggs and handles most of the feeding chores.
Training
The budgies wings should be clipped so that he will not panic and fly away from you during the training sessions. When you first get your budgie you should spend some time each day holding him close to your chest and letting him wiggle out of one hand and crawl into another, this is a great beginning for building a trusting relationship. Your budgie breeder can help you with training tips. Budgies train quickly and can even be taught to do tricks and become talented talkers. One budgie of record was known to repeat over 100 words. Always remember to be patient with your bird and to go at his pace rather than your own.
Common Diseases and Disorders
Budgies are relatively healthy birds but are susceptible to the following:
• Psittacosis
• Salmonellosis and E. coli
• Red mites
• Feather mites
• Ascaris worms
• Capillariasis
• Coccidiosis
• Giardia
• Scaly face mites (Cnemidocoptes)
Life Expectancy:
5-8 years
Weight:
30-40 grams
Height:
18 cm
Color:
Green body colour (abdomen and rumps), while their mantle (back and wing coverts) is black edged in yellow
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Canary
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
The beautiful melodious song of the canary has earned these delightful birds the status of being among the worlds most popular pet birds. Requiring little space, they are easy to keep, hardy and well suited to almost any home environment. However, as with any bird, they require enough space to fly.
One of the most endearing qualities of these birds is their beautiful song. Males are the best singers and they usually sing better when kept alone. Canaries make good pets for just about anyone, but they are especially appealing to older people.
The domestic canary (Serinus canarius domesticus) is a descendant of the wild canary (Serinus canarius canaries) found in the Canary Islands and Azores Islands, which were imported into Spain as early as 1478. Later, German miners in the Harz Mountains used them to detect toxic gases in coal mines. If the birds which are more sensitive to airborne poisons than humans - died suddenly, the men knew to evacuate the mine.
The most common canaries bred for song are rollers and American singers, but the Timbrado and Waterslager (also known as the Malinois) are also popular.
Canaries bred for color can be divided into two main groups: those with yellow or white background vs. red-factor birds, which have orange to red background. The original coloring of the wild canary contained dark black or brown pigments on a yellow background, and the name pigmented or melanine is often used to describe such birds. Light-colored birds, which show only the light background colors, are referred to as lipochromes. The trait referred to as red-factor will only produce red or pink coloration if the birds are color-fed foods containing red-pigments.
• Of lipochromes, yellow is the best-known color variety. The most prized show yellow canaries have no dark pigment even on the feet or beak. White birds have lost all yellow pigment except for the shafts of the flight and tail feathers. The English white is a different mutation and have no yellow. Orange and orange-red canaries have intense, even coloration. Lighter shades may be referred to as buffs or frosted, or ivory.
• Pigmented or melanine canaries possess either black or brown pigments and are divided into six different varieties green (brown and black pigments on a yellow background), blue (black and brown pigments on a white background), bronze (black and brown pigments on an orange or red-orange background), golden cinnamon (brown pigment on a yellow background), silver cinnamon (brown pigment on a white background) or orange cinnamon (brown pigment on an orange background). Lighter colored pigmented canaries are referred to as pastels or opals.
Mosaic mutations are those in which patterned loss of pigmentation occurs.
When buying a canary, look for a bird that is active and lively. The birds plumage should be smooth and shiny and the eyes bright. Catch the canary and cup it in your hand to feel his or her chest. If the keel bone is prominent, the bird may be too thin. Hold the bird to your ear and listen for clicking respiratory sounds that may indicate respiratory disease.
Canaries are pets for people who will admire them in their cage. Although they are highly domesticated they are not typically hand tamed and do not like handling.
Feeding
Pelleted diets, made in a small size, are available for canaries and finches and provide balanced nutrition in every bite. Canaries should also be offered small amounts of fresh dark green leafy vegetables such as romaine, endive, spinach, watercress and dandelion greens. They also enjoy tiny slices of apple, grapes, melons or sprouts. Boiled eggs or commercial egg food are excellent for young and breeding canaries.
If your canary is fed a seed diet, vitamin supplementation is needed. Ideally, vitamins should be added to soft foods, such as egg food and a soft bread mix. Vitamins can be provided in water, but the bowl or water bottle must be washed daily to prevent bacterial overgrowth. Vitamin supplementation is not necessary if the bird eats a pelleted diet.
Canaries have historically been given grit. However, contrary to popular belief, they do not require it. Note: The birds must have fresh water daily and can die if water is withheld for 24 hours.
Housing
Canaries are small but they are very active and should be given plenty of room to move around. They should have at least two perches far enough apart to jump or fly between. Cage size should be at least 18 inches square.
The floor of the cage should ideally be lined with paper, newspaper or craft paper. Make it a habit to look at the stools of your bird every day when changing the paper. If your canary is eating seeds the feces should look like a small dark round dot (the feces) with a smaller white spot (the urates or solid urine) on top. If he is eating pellets, the feces will be slightly more bulky and may contain colors from the pellets, which pass harmlessly through the digestive tract.
Grooming
Canaries love baths and small bird baths can be purchased that will fit into the door of a standard canary cage. This can be filled with lukewarm water. Allow the bird to enter as he chooses. Canaries can also be offered a shallow bowl of water in the floor of the cage. They should be allowed to bathe twice weekly to maintain excellent plumage.
Wing clipping is uncommon for canaries as they are not usually handled. If you do choose to let your bird fly in the house, there are safely concerns. Accidents are often associated with ceiling fans, birds falling into open toilets, swimming pools.
Nails should be kept to an appropriate length, as overgrown nails can be a hazard as well. They can be clipped with fingernail clippers watching for the quick (vein) inside the nail.
Breeding
Breeding season is usually in the spring (March to July) in North America. Canaries can breed when they are 1 year old.
The classic breeding cage size is approximately 24 inches long, 14 inches tall and 10 inches wide. They are usually constructed so a partition can be slid into the cage to separate the male from the female.
A few days after mating the hen begins to lay and will lay four to six eggs. There can be quite a size difference between the oldest and youngest chicks in the clutch, and some chicks may be lost if they are too small to compete with their siblings. For this reason some breeders remove eggs as they are laid, replacing them with artificial eggs. When the entire clutch is laid the breeder will return all the eggs to the nest to start incubation, which lasts 13 days.
Common Diseases and Disorders
Canaries are relatively healthy birds but are susceptible to the following:
• Canary pox
• Atoxoplasmosis
• Coccidiosis (Isospora canaria)
• Trichomonas
• Toxoplasmosis
• Psittacosis or parrot fever
• Scaly face and scaly leg mite (Cnemodocoptes)
• Liver disease
• Airsac mites or tracheal mites
Life Expectancy:
7-9 years
Weight:
15-20 g
Height:
12.5 cm long, with a wingspan of 20-23 cm
Color:
Yellow-green, with brownish streaking on its back.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Cockatiel
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Cockatiels, with their sweet dispositions, soft voices and graceful appearance, make ideal pets for people of all ages. These birds have been domesticated for more than 100 years. They have been carefully selected over many generations for qualities that make them exceptional companion animals. They are an ideal size for a companion bird: 11 to 12 inches long.
They can be taught to speak in soft, squeaky voices, but their main vocal talent is whistling and they quickly learn to mimic tunes. Males have a courtship song they sing while doing a shuffling dance to win their chosen hen.
While they are often thought of as miniature cockatoos, cockatiels are actually the only representative of a distinct genus. They range widely throughout Australia and are commonly found in large flocks, mostly in arid and semi-arid areas. They are nomadic and seasonal, following rains and the availability of food in flocks of up to 1,000 birds and feeding primarily on grass and tree seeds; occasionally they are crop pests.
Cockatiels, known by the scientific name Nymphicus hollandicus, are readily available and are usually modestly priced about $45 although some color mutations may be quite expensive. Cockatiels occasionally live to 20 years, but the typical life span is around 15.
Appearance
When buying a cockatiel, make sure you buy a young bird. They will have dark, almost black eyes but the eye color of normal adults is dark brown also. In young birds, the orange cheek patch will be less prominent and they are usually a little smaller than those that are fully-grown.
The wild type of gray cockatiel is a sleek, elegant bird with a stately posture, erect crest which is raised even higher when the bird is alert and long, tapered tail. They are a soft, powdery gray. Both sexes have a round orange ear patch, but males also have a large bright yellow cheek patch edged in white that covers the face and extends up into the crest. Both sexes also have a white wing bar visible in flight. The beak is gray and the eyes are brown.
Color Varieties
• Lutino. A mostly white bird with a bright yellow cast. This mutation retains the orange cheek patch of the wild gray type and has black eyes. Lutinos often have an inherited bald spot. They are also prone to night fright and fatty liver syndrome.
• Albino. A true albino is totally white and has red eyes. These birds tend to be less hardy than gray cockatiels. In order to keep offspring strong, albinos should not be bred together.
• Cinnamon. The body color is a soft cinnamon color, but otherwise the bird is colored like a gray. A similar mutation called fallow is a lighter beige color; these birds, like albinos, have red eyes.
• White face. This mutation has lost the yellow and orange coloration on the face as well as the yellowish cast to the body feathers.
• Pied. Pied cockatiels have lost pigmentation in blotches scattered around the body.
• Pearl. The covert feathers of the wings each have a spot which makes the bird appear to be spotted. Both sexes will be spotted as juveniles, but males will resemble normal grays after they molt into their adult plumage.
Grooming
Cockatiels are skilled fliers and need to have more feathers clipped than do heavier-bodied birds. Clip all the primary feathers (outside 10 flight feathers) and two to three secondary flight feathers (10 flight feathers closest to the body). Do not clip the inner secondary feathers closest to the body. For best results, both wings should be clipped evenly.
Many people keep their bird full-flighted; if you choose to do so, keep in mind the possibility of accidents (often associated with ceiling fans, pots on the stove, etc.) and escapes.
Cockatiels have special feathers, called powder down, that produce a powder that cleans the feathers. This may be a problem for people with allergies. Bathing the bird frequently will help to control it. The birds enjoy baths and should be bathed twice weekly to maintain excellent plumage.
Overgrown nails can be a hazard; clip them with fingernail clippers, watching for the quick (vein) inside the nail. Most cockatiels nails are white and the vein can be seen easily.
Feeding
Cockatiels can live on a seed diet alone but will eventually develop nutritional deficiencies, especially if breeding. Feeding only a pelleted diet to cockatiels often results in kidney problems as the bird ages. The best way to feed cockatiels is to mix a pelleted food made for cockatiels, half and half, with a good clean cockatiel seed mix, which is relatively low in sunflower.
Cockatiels are reluctant to accept new foods and will accept few fruits and vegetables. They do tend to enjoy whole wheat bread, grated carrots, boiled eggs and shredded greens, and these items are an excellent supplement for breeding birds. They will often eat apples and love broccoli. However broccoli should not be fed daily because of its oxalic acid content, which can lead to kidney and calcium metabolism problems. Grit should not be offered. Vitamins and minerals should be supplemented if more than 50 percent of the diet is seed.
Housing
Cockatiels should be given plenty of room to move. Cage size should be at least 20 to 24 inches square. They should have at least two perches far enough apart to jump or fly between. Natural branches make ideal perches as well as chewing material. Don't use sandpaper perch covers as they are very abrasive to the feet. A small rope perch is also fun. Toys should be supplied to keep the cockatiel busy.
The cage should be placed so it is not directly below an air conditioning vent, or in direct sunlight, but it should be in an area of the house where there is much activity. Cockatiels are very social and like to be the center of attention. If you keep your cockatiel in the kitchen, always be aware of the dangers of Teflon poisoning (from overheating), cleaning chemicals and oven cleaners.
Breeding
Cockatiels can breed when 1 1/2 years old. They will breed almost year-round but should be made to rest so they do not become exhausted. If they are bred outdoors, they should rest in the summer because the chicks don't tolerate heat well and will have health problems, especially the weaker mutations.
The breeding cage for a pair can be 2 feet by 2 feet by 3 feet long with a nest box hung on the outside. The nest box should be approximately 8 inches by 8 inches by 10 inches tall and should have approximately 2 inches of pine shaving as bedding. The hen can lay three to eight eggs but usually four to five. Incubation period is 21 days.
Both parents share in caring for the young and they are ready to fledge (emerge from the box) when they are 6 weeks old.
If you have several pairs you can reduce the burden on a single hen by moving eggs or chicks between nests. It is best to have a hen raise only four chicks. Chicks fledge at 4 to 5 weeks and if allowed will stay with the parents for another month. When hand-fed, chicks wean at 6 to 7 weeks. If you choose to hand-feed your chicks, it's best to leave them with the parents until they are about 3 weeks old. At that age they can be fed hand-rearing formula three to four times daily.
Common Diseases and Disorders
Cockatiels are relatively healthy birds but are susceptible to the following:
• Psittacosis or parrot fever
• Polyoma virus
• Psittacine beak and feather disease
• Protozoal
• Liver disease
• Bacterial infections
• Bordetella avium
• Yeast
• Internal parasites
• Excessive egg laying
• Calcium deficiency
• Traumatic accidents and accidental poisonings
Life Expectancy:
15-20 years
Weight:
86-110 grams
Height:
14 inches
Color:
Primarily grey with prominent white flashes on the outer edges of each wing.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Cockatoo
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
The Cockatoo is the feathered teddybear of the parrot world. They love to be touched and scratched on the back of the neck by their chosen human. Their great sense of curiosity also makes it most amusing to watch a Cockatoo examine any new object placed in it's cage. However, an enormous amount of dexterity is possessed by these playful creatures and as a result, locks on cages are often a challenge happily accepted and conquered.
An additional characteristic of this parrot is its vanity.
Cockatoos seem to know just what a beautiful picture they present and they will display their wings and toss their heads to achieve positions designed to give an observer the most beautiful possible view. At such moments their crests are usually raised and displayed for the edification of admirers. Unfortunately, if one should fail to notice this display or if the owners back is turned, a loud scream will immediately attract his and everyone else's attention.
In addition, if the cockatoo is not satisfied with something (anything) he will raise the feathers around his beak almost hiding it in an attempt to look as pathetic as possible. In his opinion this will surely bring the proper response he feels he deserves. As you can see, care must be taken with this parrot, especially as a youngster, in order to assure that affection lavished on him is not overdone. If this parrot gets used to a lot of attention and other things start to occupy his owner's time, the cockatoo will become not only emotionally distraught, but frequently very loudly so. Cockatoos are capable of very loud screams, which are mostly to announce sunrise, sunset, and to let the world know what fun their having at play. They seem to feel this is their duty and won't be denied. An unhappy Cockatoo can be even more vocal.
To maintain health the food and water dishes must be scrubbed daily with hot water (no soap) and the cage must be kept clean. The diet of Cockatoos must be varied to ensure plenty of nutrition and fuel for this energetic parrot. A good pellet mixture with some seed and lots of fresh water is the basic start. Adding plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and soaked beans to his daily diet will help ensure his health. Avoid chocolate, caffeine, nicotine, aerosols, smoking and anything with fumes as these things are very toxic to all birds. An occasional bite of human food is fine but be very careful about temperature of the food. The Cockatoo's cage must be large enough to allow for a lot of wing flapping without striking the cage bars.
Cockatoos must have a lot of room and toys to chew on and play with. This is especially so if the family is a working one and he must be left alone for most of the day. In addition, if they are not supplied with wood to chew, they are more than happy to help themselves to what is available in your home. When out of the cage, they can be powerful flyers and therefore they should have their wings clipped to avoid crashing into walls and windows. The Cockatoos have short tails and for this reason they cannot stop in flight quickly.
The Cockatoos are the most long-lived of parrots and have a life expectancy comparable to humans. There are documented cases of Cockatoos who have lived into their 80s. Your Cockatoo will live a long and happy life with a lot of care and love, so when you obtain one of these charming avian companions, be prepared for a lifelong friend and make arrangements in the event he outlives you.
Life Expectancy:
More than 50 years
Weight:
450 - 800 grams
Height:
30–52 cm
Color:
Most species are white, but some are gray, pink, or black, with bright markings.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Dove
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Pigeons and doves constitute the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerine birds. In general parlance the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the term "dove" and "pigeon." This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. The young doves and pigeons are called "squabs."
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon, common in many cities.
Their usually flimsy nests are made of sticks, and the two white eggs are incubated by both sexes. Doves feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds (but see flamingo), the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Life Expectancy:
15 years
Weight:
100-200 grams
Height:
22-35 cm
Color:
Mostly white, brown and gray
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Finch
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Finches are passerine birds, often seed-eating, found chiefly in the northern hemisphere and Africa. One subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics. The family scientific name Fringillidae comes from the Latin word "fringilla", meaning chaffinch, a member of this family that is common in Europe. The taxonomic structure of the true finch family, Fringillidae, is somewhat disputed, with some including the Hawaiian honeycreepers as another subfamily (Drepanidinae) and/or uniting the cardueline and fringilline finches as tribes (Carduelini and Fringillini) in one subfamily; the euphonious finches were thought to be tanagers due to general similarity in appearance and mode of life until their real affinities were realized; the buntings and American sparrows were formerly considered another subfamily (Emberizinae). Przewalski's "Rosefinch" (Urocynchramus pylzowi) is now classified as a distinct, monotypic family with no particularly close relatives (Groth 2000).
"Classic" or true finches are small to moderately large and have strong, stubby beaks, which in some species can be quite large. All have 12 tail feathers and 9 primaries. They have a bouncing flight, alternating bouts of flapping with gliding on closed wings, and most sing well. Their nests are basket-shaped and built in trees. The true finches range in size from the Andean Siskin (Carduelis spinescens), at 9.5 cm (3.8 inches) and 8.4 g., to the Collared Grosbeak (Mycerobas affinis), at nearly 23 cm (9 inches) and 79 g. (2.8 oz).
There are many birds in other families which are often called finches. These include many species in the very similar-looking Estrildids or waxbill family, which occur in the Old World tropics and Australia. Several groups of the Emberizidae family (buntings and American sparrows) are also named as finches, including the Darwin's finches of the Galapagos islands, which provided evidence of natural selection.
Life Expectancy:
5 -15 years
Weight:
10-80 grams
Height:
10-23 cm
Color:
Chestnut, fawn, chocolate, pearl with crest, chocolate gray, pearl gray, albino, cremino.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Lovebird
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
One thing that makes lovebirds appealing is their small size, they're perfectly proportioned parrots with short tails and rounded heads. A tame lovebird can easily perch on your finger or settle in the palm of your hand. However, the diminutive lovebird is mighty in strength and personality. Lovebirds that have been hand-fed or tamed at an early age will even go to strangers and are often content riding on somebody's shoulder.
They're full of energy, whether greeting the beginning of a new day or building a nest. Watch a lovebird emit its shrill vocalizations. It doesn't just open its mouth to sound off; its entire body appears to vibrate with the energy involved - its head actually jerks with the effort. There are three commonly available species of lovebirds: the peachfaced, the masked and the Fischer's lovebird. The Peachfaced is the most readily available, the least expensive and considred the livliest of all the common lovebird species.
A hand-fed lovebird makes a wonderful pet. Males tend to make the better companion bird because they are usually less aggressive and less nippy than females. Newly purchased young lovebirds must be given extra attention when they arrive home. Place food and water dishes at perch heights so they can be utilized easily.
Lovebirds appear to be confirmed seed eaters. However, there are pelleted diets now available that provide a more complete nutritional balance. Some will initially hardly touch any greens, however, greens and pieces of apple and other fruits should be offered constantly in addition to the small hookbill seed diet. Also include soft foods such as cooked beans, corn and fresh whole-wheat bred. These foods encourage the lovebirds to get away from a dry-seed-only diet and have more nutritional value. You can also easily add powdered vitamins, calcium and other supplements to them.
Busy and active, the lovebird needs a cage that allows it room to exercise and play with its toys, since the lovebird is a very active bird. It should be one in which it can flap its wings, fly from one perch to another and have room to explore. If your bird will be spending a good deal of time outside its cage or on a playgym, the cage may not need to be as large as one for a bird that will be spending most of its time inside. The size of the cage and the number of toys (bird rope, swings, ladders, etc) are particularly important if your birds are to be left in their cage(s) for long periods of time. The cage should contain the basics: food and water dishes (or a drinking tube), a treat cup, a cuttlebone and perches.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 15 years
Weight:
40-60 grams
Height:
13-17 cm
Color:
Blue, yellow, violet, fallow, pied, lutino, red, green, white and orange
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Macaw
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
The large macaw is certainly among the most awesome and breathtakingly beautiful of birds. However, the owner must have the time and space that these handsome birds need. Choosing a "first macaw" will be the biggest challenge. Base your decision on your lifestyle, the bird's health and availability and, inevitably, the cost.
Perhaps the most commonly available large macaw is the Blue and Gold. It has an ideal personality, loving social situations and have the ability to rise to the occasion, whether it be a simple dinner or an elaborate wedding. They are highly sociable and quickly become members of the family. Frequently seen in films and commercials, they are quickly recognized. Equal in personality when raised in a loving environment is the Scarlet Macaw.
Greenwing a poor name for that species of macaw: the bird is essentially a rich crimson red bird with a green patch on its wing. Greenwings may be the smartest of the large macaws. Because of this, they are prone to mischief. They should be owned only by a person with a good sense of humor. As with many large parrots, the cage lock is a wonderful mystery which must - and frequently is - solved. The greenwing is among the largest macaws.
The Hyacinth is the largest of the parrot family, nearly 4-feet in length and with a wingspan that frequently exceeds 4 feet. A gentle giant among large birds, its placid disposition makes it a popular, albeit very expensive, favorite. Remember, this bird has an appetite to more than match its size.
Equally popular are the Military Macaw, the smallest of the large macaws, a bird that comes in bright Christmas colors, and the Red Front, also a smaller macaw with a musical voice and affectionate nature.
As pets, macaws will be a lifelong companion provided they are given a healthy diet, allowed freedom and given lots of attention. When purchasing a macaw, be sure it gets a complete health examination by your avian vet. If all the tests (including a CBC, throat and vent cultures and a Chlamydia screen) are negative, you can feel confident about your purchase.
Your macaw should be housed in a cage at least 30" x42" by 5 feet high (currently the most popular size among macaw owners). It must allow room for your bird to flap and stretch its wings. Rectangular or square cages provide more space than round ones. Cages with playpens on the top are helpful for both bird and owner. Since the ideal cage should be twice the wingspan of the bird, and since most commercial cages do not meet this requirement, a climbing tree perch, for when your bird is outside the cage and socializing with the family, soon becomes invaluable. A stand that has at least two levels of perches and something to hang toys from will help to prevent boredom and the inadvertent destruction of some of your furniture.
Provide your macaw with a well-balanced diet including seed, nuts, fruits, vegetables and whatever healthy food the family is eating. Small portions of pasta, cooked chicken, turkey or chicken thigh bones, fruit salad, cooked legumes and other leftovers are great for macaws. Treats which challenge and entertain include peas in the pod, green beans, watermelon or any other melon with the seeds, pomegranate, yams, oranges and their favorite, corn on the cob. A typical macaw feeding can consist of a cup of regular large hookbill mix with 4 or 5 large nuts on top and pint of fruit and vegetable salad.
Life Expectancy:
50-65 years
Weight:
129-1695 grams
Height:
30-100 cm
Color:
Blue and gold, scarlet and green winged
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Parakeet
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Parakeet, common name used for various smaller members of the parrot family. The parrots popularly called parakeets are grouped together only because of their small size and not because they are all closely related to each other.
Wild parakeets are found around the world in warm regions. Some species of parakeets are endangered but others have become agricultural pests. Several kinds of parakeets are popular as cage birds and make colorful and intelligent pets. In some cities in the United States, escaped or released parakeets have formed resident flocks.
Like other members of the parrot family, parakeets have curved, hooked bills and short legs. Their first and fourth toes are turned backward, an arrangement that helps in climbing and perching, but one that makes walking awkward. They often have vividly colored feathers. Their bodies are slender, typically with long tapering tails. They range in size from about 18 to 45 cm (7 to 18 in) long; larger birds are usually not called parakeets. Parakeets primarily eat seeds and grains.
Parakeets are highly social and commonly live in flocks. In some species males and females may form close bonds that last beyond a single breeding season. Most parakeets make their nests in holes in trees. The South American monk parakeet, however, builds large communal nests made of sticks.
Life Expectancy:
15 to 18 years
Weight:
120-180 grams
Height:
18 to 45 cm
Color:
Mostly green with yellow markings and white and blue markings
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Parrot
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Parrot, common name applied to any of about 340 species of brightly colored birds that make up the parrot family. Groups of parrots that have their own common names include the cockatoos, lories, lovebirds, macaws, and parakeets. In length, parrots range from the buff-faced pygmy parrot of New Guinea at 8.4 cm (3.3 in) to the hyacinth macaw of South America at 100 cm (39.4 in). A large part of the macaw's length is attributable to its long tail, and it is probably outweighed by the very large (60 cm/23.6 in) but short-tailed palm cockatoo of New Guinea.
Parrots have curved, hooked bills and short legs. Their toes are zygodactyl,—that is, the first and fourth are turned backward. They walk awkwardly but are excellent climbers, often using their bills to pull themselves up to a higher branch. In most parrots the tongue is thick and muscular, used deftly for manipulating seeds, which, with fruit, are their principal food. In the lories the tongue is longer and has a brushlike tip for feeding on nectar.
Most parrots are tropical, with only a few species reaching northern and southern temperate areas. The areas of greatest diversity include South America, Australia, and New Guinea and adjacent islands. Relatively few species inhabit Africa or mainland Asia.
The predominant body color in the family is green, but there are many exceptions. Some American parrots are predominantly blue or yellow, and many have touches of red in the plumage as well. The most colorful parrots are the lories, in which reds and greens predominate, but blue, purple, brown, yellow, and black also appear. The cockatoos are mostly white or black, with touches of yellow, red, or pink.
Virtually all parrots are hole-nesters, using holes in trees, termite mounds, rock cavities, or ground tunnels. The main exception is the monk parakeet of temperate South America, which builds large nests of sticks. In most populations, these are communal nests, with each pair having its own entrance to a structure that can become large and heavy enough to break the branches on which it is placed. In the mid-20th century, many monk parakeets were imported to the United States as cage birds. Some escaped, and many owners, finding their pets unbearably noisy, simply released them. Well adapted to the temperate climate, they bred and formed colonies in several parts of the United States, but in most areas an effort was made to destroy the feral populations, as this species is known to be a serious pest in agricultural areas of its native habitat.
The ability of many parrots to imitate the human voice and other extrinsic sounds is one reason for their popularity as pets. The best of these is the African gray parrot, a 30-cm (12-in) gray bird with a short red tail. Experiments have shown that individuals of this species may have cognitive abilities equal to those of porpoises and primates. Among American parrots the best talkers are the amazons.
The heavy demands of the cage-bird trade, together with loss of habitat, have resulted in many species of parrots becoming endangered. Thousands of parrots are brought into Europe and North America annually, both legally and illegally, and many do not survive the journey. In most countries the capture, export, and import of parrots are strictly regulated, but the laws are difficult to enforce. Ideally, only those parrots that have been bred in captivity should be kept as pets.
Life Expectancy:
5-100 years
Weight:
156 grams
Height:
8.4-100 cm
Color:
Predominant body color in the family is green
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Peafowl
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Peacock or Peafowl, common name for three members of the pheasant family. Although these birds are more commonly called peacocks, that name is properly applied only to males; females are called peahens. Two species are Asian: the common or Indian peafowl, and the green peafowl. The third species, the Congo peafowl, is known only from the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). The Asian peacocks are noted for their resplendent trains of long upper tail coverts, which conceal their relatively short tails, and are raised and spread in strutting displays.
The feathers are generally iridescent green and gold and are ornamented with eyelike markings of a rich color, known as peacock blue. The same blue also appears on the head, neck, breast, and crest of the common peacock; in the green peacock the head, neck, and underparts are green. The peahens have no trains and are less colorful than the males. Peafowl build their nests on the ground or in the low branches of trees. The birds subsist on an omnivorous diet of worms, insects, small snakes, and seeds.
The common peafowl has been domesticated in many parts of the world, and there are feral populations in the Hawaiian Islands. A white variety has been produced by selective breeding.
The Congo peafowl is the only true pheasant found in Africa. It was first discovered as a feather in the hat of a local African in 1913, but the first whole birds, two old taxidermic mounts that had been misidentified as immature common peafowl, were found in 1936 in Belgium. It is known only from parts of central and eastern DRC, where it is protected by law. It is smaller and less ornate than the Asian species.
Life Expectancy:
15-40 years
Weight:
2700 grams
Height:
213 from head to tail
Color:
mostly blue with green.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Pheasant
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Pheasant, common name for about 50 species of birds, including such well-known birds as the peafowl and jungle fowl. All pheasants except the Congo peafowl of Africa are native to Asia, but several species have been introduced elsewhere. The best-known species is the common pheasant, often called the ring-necked pheasant because of the white ring on the neck of males of several of the 34 subspecies.
The pheasant originally introduced into Europe, probably by the Romans, was a ringless race from the east side of the Black Sea. A ring-necked Chinese race was introduced into North America in the late 18th century, and later introductions of this race in Europe have created a mixed population with neck and other plumage colors varying between the two original kinds. A Mongolian race as well as the “black-necked” race from Europe have also been introduced in North America, but their racial characteristics tend to be genetically obscured by the more abundent Chinese ringnecks.
In addition to the latter, an iridescent green subspecies from Japan has been successfully introduced in the Hawaiian Islands. In all of the subspecies of the common pheasant, the male has a naked red face and wattles, two short “horns” of feathers at the back of the crown, and a very long, barred tail. Body color is highly variable; for example, the rump of the Chinese ringneck is pale whitish green, that of the Mongolian race maroon. Males are about 90 cm (about 35 in) long. Females, which are buffy below, mottled with brown and black above, are about 63 cm (about 25 in) long.
In North America and Europe many common pheasants are reared on game farms and released for hunting. They do best in open country and are especially abundant in the grainfields of the prairie states and provinces, although they are also found in the eastern states south to North Carolina. A white-winged subspecies from a more arid region of Asia has been successfully introduced into the southwestern United States.
The males of many other pheasant species have bright, ornamental plumage and are readily bred in captivity; some of these have been liberated, but none has succeeded as well as the common pheasant. For example, there are populations of the well-named golden pheasant, of central and southern China, in Great Britain, and of the kalij pheasant of the Himalayas, on the island of Hawaii.
Life Expectancy:
18 years
Weight:
1315 grams
Height:
76-90 cm
Color:
Mostly red with gold and brown.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Rosella
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
A rosella is one of 5-8 species of colorful Australian parrots in the genus Platycercus. Platycercus means "broad-" or "flat-tailed", reflecting a feature common to the rosellas and other members of the broad-tailed parrot tribe.
Rosellas are native to Australia and some nearby islands, where they inhabit forests, woodlands, farmlands, and suburban parks and gardens. They are confined to the coastal mountains and plains and are absent from the outback. Introduced populations have also established themselves in New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
Rosellas range in size from 25-38 cm (9.8-15 in). Their diet consists mainly of seeds and fruit. Because of their strikingly colorful plumage, several species are widely kept as pets. Legend has it that early settlers first encountered the Eastern Rosella at Rose Hill, now a Sydney suburb. They called it a "Rose Hiller", which eventually became "rosella".
There is also a second story that the name is derived from 'Rosetta', the first name of the wife of George Fife Angas, a settler in Australia, but he forgot to cross his T's (leaving them appearing as lowercase L's), hence "rosella".
Life Expectancy:
15-20 years
Weight:
129 grams
Height:
25-38 cm
Color:
Mostly green, yellow, crimson and gold
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Sparrow
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Sparrow, common name originally given to about 23 species of a family of passerine birds found in Eurasia. The name was later applied to more than 50 American species of a different family.
The best-known American sparrow is probably the song sparrow, found throughout most of North America. There are nearly 40 subspecies, ranging in length from 12 to 17 cm (4.7 to 6.7 in), with the largest in Alaska and the smallest around San Francisco Bay. In all the upper surface is some shade of brown, more or less streaked, and the underparts white or buff, streaked with black or brown. The song sparrow's nest, composed of grasses and rootlets lined with fine grasses and long hair, is often placed on the ground. The eggs are variable in color and form; the ground shade is whitish, thickly marked with reddish-brown or lilac.
Another familiar species is the chipping sparrow, 13 cm (5.25 in) long, smaller than most song sparrows. It has a black-streaked, brown back; pale-gray underparts; and (in spring and summer) a bright reddish-brown cap. It is well known for its habit of lining its round, compact nest with horsehairs. Its song, often heard even in the heat of the day, is a simple trill.
The white-crowned sparrow is seen in the eastern United States only as a migrant, but in the west it breeds from Alaska and Canada south to New Mexico in the mountains and to California on the coast; it is a familiar nesting bird even in downtown San Francisco. Depending on the subspecies, it is 16 to 19 cm (6.5 to 7.5 in) long, with a puffy white crown striped with black (buff streaked with dark brown in immature birds), a gray and brown streaked back, gray underparts, and a bright-pink or yellow bill. It is one of the world's most thoroughly studied wild bird species, and much has been learned about its physiology, local song dialects, and migration.
Life Expectancy:
2-10 years
Weight:
27 grams
Height:
40 cm
Color:
Mostly brown.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Toucan
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Toucan, common name for members of the bird family distinguished by colorful, enormous but lightweight beaks, that inhabit tropical America. The family includes six genera and about 40 species.
Toucans range in size from 18 to 63 cm (from 7 to 25 in). The body is short and thick; the tail is rounded, varying in length in the different species from half the length to almost the whole length of the body. The neck is short and thick. At the base of the full width and depth of the head is a huge, brightly colored beak, measuring in some of the larger species more than half the length of the body.
The tongue of the toucan is long, narrow, and singularly frayed on each side, possibly to add to its sensibility as an organ of taste. The legs are strong and rather short, with large scales. The toes are arranged in pairs, with the first and fourth turned backward. Males and females are alike in color. The plumage in the genus containing the largest toucans is generally black, with touches of white, yellow, and scarlet. In the smaller aracari toucans, the underparts are yellow, crossed by one or more black or red bands, and the edges of the upper half of the beak are prominently saw-toothed. The toucanets are mostly green, with blue markings.
Toucans usually live in pairs or small flocks. They feed chiefly on fruit, and can manipulate small berries at the tip of the bill with great dexterity. They also eat small birds and lizards. They lay white, glossy eggs in hollows of trees, making little if any nest for them. The young are hatched completely naked, without any down.
Life Expectancy:
6-20 years
Weight:
130-680 grams
Height:
18 to 63 cm
Color:
Mostly black with white
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Waxbill
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
It is a small bird, 11 to 13 centimetres in length with a wingspan of 12 to 14 centimetres and a weight of 7 to 10 grams. It has a slender body with short rounded wings and a long graduated tail. The bright red bill of the adult is the colour of sealing wax giving the bird its name. The plumage is mostly grey-brown, finely barred with dark brown. There is a red stripe through the eye and a reddish stripe along the centre of the belly. The cheeks and throat are whitish and there is often a pinkish flush to the underparts. The rump is brown and the tail and vent are dark. Females are similar to the males but are paler with less red on the belly. Juveniles are duller with little or no red on the belly, fainter dark barring and a black bill.
Similar species include the Black-rumped, Crimson-rumped and Black-lored Waxbills. The Black-rumped Waxbill is black rather than brown on the rump and has a pale vent (area underneath the tail). The Crimson-rumped Waxbill has a dark bill, red rump and some red on the wings and tail. The Black-lored Waxbill (found only in the Democratic Republic of Congo) has a black rather than red stripe through the eye.
The Common Waxbill has a variety of twittering and buzzing calls and a distinctive high-pitched flight-call. The simple song is harsh and nasal and descends on the last note.
Distribution and habitat
Native range
There are about 17 subspecies distributed widely across much of Africa south of the Sahara. They are present in most parts of East, Central and Southern Africa except for regions of desert or dense forest. In West Africa they are more local with the main population centred on Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast. Common Waxbills inhabit open country with long grass and rank vegetation. They are often found near water in marshes and among reeds. They can be tame and will enter gardens, parks and farmland.
Introduced range
Birds have often escaped from captivity or been deliberately released. Breeding populations have become established in many places where the climate is sufficiently warm. They are now found on many islands around Africa: Saint Helena, Ascension Island, the Cape Verde Islands, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues and the Seychelles. They may possibly be native on some of these islands. In Europe the Common Waxbill has become widespread in Portugal and is spreading through Spain. There are small populations on Madeira and Gran Canaria and it has recently appeared on Tenerife and the Azores. In the Americas waxbills are found in Trinidad, several parts of Brazil and there are a few on Bermuda. In the Pacific there are populations on New Caledonia, Efate Island in Vanuatu, Tahiti and the Hawaiian Islands.
Reproduction
The nest is a large ball of criss-crossed grass stems with a long downward-pointing entrance tube on one side. It is built in a cavity, usually low down amongst dense vegetation. A rudimentary second nest ("cock's nest") may be built on top where the male sleeps. Four to seven white eggs are laid. They are incubated for 11 to 13 days and the young birds fledge 17 to 21 days after hatching. Both parents take part in incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. The timing of the breeding season varies in different parts of the world. Nests may be parasitized by the Pin-tailed Whydah which lays its eggs in the nests of estrildid finches. In captivity they will breed in an aviary and can raise four broods in a year.
Feeding
The diet consists mainly of grass seeds but insects are also eaten on occasions, especially during the breeding season when more protein is needed. The waxbills typically forage in flocks which may contain hundreds or even thousands of birds. They usually feed by clinging to the stems with their long, spindly claws and picking from the flower heads but they will also search for fallen seeds on the ground. They need to drink regularly as the seeds contain little water.
Life Expectancy:
5 years
Weight:
7 to 10 grams
Height:
11 to 13 cm
Color:
Mostly black and crimson.
Breed Details
Breed Name:
Zebra finches
Breed Category:
Bird
Description:
Zebra finches are a hardy, inexpensive to maintain, long-lived, active and attractive bird. They will breed even in a relatively small cage. They are quiet at night; they don't smell. They come in several color patterns and get along well with each other and with many other cage birds. They are good for beginners, but are nevertheless favorites of many advanced aviculturists.
Zebras will be active most of the daytime. They will flitter and twitter and preen themselves and each others. Adults will feed their young and the young birds will screech for food as though they were starving. Still, there will be some quiet periods during the day when the birds perch singly or in small groups and snooze or just look around. Zebras will bathe daily or even twice daily. They will eat on and off all day, only slacking off about an hour before they go to roost for the night. At night they seem to prefer a closed place, often roosting together in their nest with eggs, fledglings or in a spare nest of the fledglings use up all the room.
Zebras are curious, finding a new item in the cage, they will be on it and, if possible, in it within minutes. Zebra finches get along well with other birds as well as with people. They are also a tough bird that lives for years without disease. they have been known to live from six to ten or even twelve years.
In the nest, juveniles are quite hairy and when the nest is lined with feathers, the newly hatched birds are frequently indistinguishable from their bedding. For the first 8 or 10 weeks after leaving the nest, the juveniles look like females except that their bills are brown-black and gradually become coral or orange as they mature.
The diet of the zebra finch is simple. Basically, the diet is millet seed. Standard finch mixture seems to supply the required elements for healthy zebras. Supplements that may be enjoyed are honey, oranges, mineral grit, green foods such as lettuce, spinach, celery tops, egg food, and occasional soaked seeds. A cuttlebone should be kept in the cage and a vitamin powder included in the diet.
Zebra finches love to have bathing water close by at all times. 1/2 inch of water in a dish is sufficient. Keep all water clean and fresh, as zebras may bath in their drinking water and drink their bathwater.
Do not spray strong pesticides or other toxic chemicals in the room with your birds. Be aware that the fumes from a Teflon pan left to overheat on the stove can kill your birds within minutes. Should a bird get loose in the house, do the following: Turn off ceiling fans and close the drapes on any large picture windows if possible. Remove cats or dogs from the area, cover any large open containers of water (i.e. shut toilet lids). Take a pistol grip sprayer with clean water in it and squirt the bird until he is wet enough that he can no longer fly well. You should then be able to pick him up with a net or your bare hand. Yes, he may nip you, but that tiny finch beak cannot do you any real harm.
Life Expectancy:
5-15 years
Weight:
20 grams
Height:
12 to 13 cm
Color:
Usually gray.
