| When trying to choose a pet parrot, many people are | | | | to be about 12 inches long (i.e. top of head to tip of tail). |
| completely overwhelmed by the vast number of | | | | They originate from Australia. They come in three |
| different types of parrots that there are to choose | | | | main colors - grey, white, and creamy yellow. |
| from (i.e. over 350 different species). Therefore, rather | | | | Regardless of color, they all typically have orange |
| than trying to look at every possible species of parrot, | | | | patches on their cheeks. |
| it is much easier if you decide which parrot type or | | | | Macaws |
| group you like the look of, and then limit your choice to | | | | The Macaw is difficult to categorize in terms of size, |
| parrots from within just that one group. | | | | because they vary so much - from as small as 12 |
| All parrots belong to one main group of birds called | | | | inches long, right up to 39 inches long. They originate |
| Psittacines. Birds in this group share the following | | | | from Central and South America. They come in a |
| characteristics - a very erect stance, a curved beak, | | | | wide variety of colors, which is evident from the |
| and four toes on each foot. This main group of birds | | | | names given to some of the Macaw species - Scarlet |
| sub-divides into 10 parrot types, which are - | | | | Macaw, Red and Yellow Macaw, Blue and Gold |
| - Parrotlets. | | | | Macaw, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Maroon Macaw, |
| - Lovebirds. | | | | Greenwing Macaw, Red and Green Macaw, Red and |
| - Parakeets. | | | | Blue Macaw, Red Fronted Macaw, and the Red |
| - Conures. | | | | Crowned Macaw. |
| - Cockatiels. | | | | Amazons |
| - Macaws. | | | | The Amazon is a medium sized parrot. It varies in size |
| - Amazons. | | | | from 12 to 16 inches long. It originates from Central and |
| - Cockatoos. | | | | South America, and from a few Caribbean Islands. |
| - Caiques. | | | | They are predominantly green, with various brightly |
| - Poicephalus parrots. | | | | colored cheeks, crown and shoulders. |
| Parrotlets | | | | Cockatoos |
| The very cute Parrotlet is the tiniest of the parrot | | | | The Cockatoo is a medium-to-large parrot. It can grow |
| species. It only grows to be about 6 inches long. This | | | | to be anything between 12 and 27 inches long. It |
| parrot species originates from Central and South | | | | originates from Australia, and parts of North Western |
| America, and it comes in a variety of colours, including | | | | Asia. The most common color is white, but there are |
| dark-green, blue-green, and bright green. | | | | some variations that are tinged with pink or yellow, and |
| Lovebirds | | | | with a different coloured crest. |
| This small species of parrots has a short, thick body. It | | | | Caiques |
| grows to be about 5 or 6 inches long. It originates from | | | | The Caique is a stocky, medium sized parrot. It grows |
| Africa. Although they are primarily green, they do | | | | to be about 11 inches long. It originates from the |
| come in a massive range of color combinations, which | | | | Amazon Rainforest. It comes in a variety of color |
| are simply too numerous to mention. | | | | combinations, which includes blue, black, green, yellow, |
| Parakeets | | | | white, and orange. |
| These small parrots originate from South Eastern Asia. | | | | Poicephalus Parrots |
| They range in size from 7 to 12 inches, which is | | | | The Poicephalus parrot is a small-to-medium sized |
| measured from the top of their head to the tip of their | | | | parrot. It varies in size between 5 and 13 inches long. It |
| tail. They come in all sorts of different colors, and | | | | originates from Africa. It comes in a variety of color |
| different color combination's. Typical colors are white, | | | | combination's including: |
| yellow, dark green, light blue, and violet. | | | | - Grey, with a blue or green chest, and yellow |
| Conures | | | | markings on the head and wings. |
| The Conure is a small-to-medium sized parrot, which | | | | - Emerald green, with black wing feathers, and red or |
| grows to be about 11 inches long. It originates from | | | | orange markings on the head, wings and socks. |
| South and Central America. It comes in a variety of | | | | - Green and orange, with a grey head. |
| color combination's, including the following: | | | | - Olive green, with a wine coloured head. |
| - Mainly green, with a red head and wings, and yellow | | | | - Fawn brown, with a red chest (male) or with a |
| tail. | | | | orange or green chest (female). |
| - Mainly yellow and red, with a dark head. | | | | Hopefully, this brief article has made it a lot easier for |
| - Mainly lime green, with a tan head, and a light maroon | | | | you to pick the perfect parrot for you, because you |
| tail. | | | | have now only got 10 main types of parrots to choose |
| - A multi-colored breast, with a tan head, and a lime | | | | from, rather than over 350 different parrot species. |
| green back. | | | | Whichever one you choose, I am sure you won't be |
| Cockatiels | | | | disappointed, because they are all fantastic in my |
| These are small-to-medium sized parrots. They grow | | | | opinion! |