They are extremely common as cagebird pets in the UK, though I don't know if popularity has waned somewhat from their heyday of the 1950-60's. At that time they were very popular, particularly with folk who couldn't keep e.g. a cat or dog. The ideal pet bird.
What are your top five favourite parrot species ?
- Thread starter Onychorhynchus coronatus
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Carlos M
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My favorite parrots are:
- Ara macao - It’s my favorite macaw species, I just love them.
- Ara ararauna - I think it’s the most beautiful macaw. It’s colors are just amazing.
- Amazona guatemalae - Because I liked its scientific name
- Amazona auropalliata - Because it’s a beautiful bird, and sadly it’s endangered.
- Ara militaris - This macaw intrigues me a lot, mostly because of its odd distribution
They went to ACTP and then some went to Pairi Daiza, so they are the birds from Al Wabra.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
My favorite parrots are:
- Ara macao - It’s my favorite macaw species, I just love them.
- Ara ararauna - I think it’s the most beautiful macaw. It’s colors are just amazing.
- Amazona guatemalae - Because I liked its scientific name
- Amazona auropalliata - Because it’s a beautiful bird, and sadly it’s endangered.
- Ara militaris - This macaw intrigues me a lot, mostly because of its odd distribution
Thank you for your post @Carlos M !
I imagine you've seen Ara macao in the wild in your country ?
I certainly have had the privilege to see these in the forests of Guatemala and I can definitely see why you love them as they are a beautiful species indeed (and very threatened too).
Blue and gold macaw is another gorgeous species and one that I've seen in the wild, they are fascinating to watch and like with the toucan I never get bored with seeing them.
The millitary macaw I've seen in the wild too and I also find them fascinating and beautiful species.
A bit of nationalism towards Amazona guatemalae ? fair enough
this is another bird that I've lucky enough to see in the wild in your country in the beautiful Tikal National park.Amazona auropalliata another one I've seen in the wild and another one that I love too. Unfortunately I've seen this bird being sold in the illegal pet trade in Mexico and Guatemala an awful lot.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Oh right, I wasn't aware of that.
Are their needs in captivity very different from those of budgies ?
Yes, I can definitely imagine that sense of anticipation and tension to see them. I would be feeling exactly the same in that position.
For me the spix macaw is actually one of the reasons that I chose to be a conservation biologist so a very symbolic species to me indeed.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Oh I see, so you worked at Al Wabra ?
That is awesome !
I wasn't aware that Al Wabra is being dismantled and I thought they were still going strong in terms of their ex-situ programes.
It is mostly dismantled, there should be some species left (mostly antelope species). There is still funding for ex-situ programs in honour of the deceased sheik Saoud who build out Al Wabra. His dream was to see the Spix macaw fly free again in their natural habitat in his lifetime. Unfortunately he died too young to see it succeed. But fortunately he has had a major influence in saving the species. Lots of breeding success, even after breaking up the most successfull breeding pairs. That in combination with artificial insemination has saved some underrepresented bloodlines. Also he bought a very large patch of land in the native habitat of the Spix macaw. His family is providing funding to support the noble cause of bringing back the Spix to the wild.
I have been there for a research internship about Beira antelope, one of the many special species at that moment.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
That is a great shame, sometimes it takes more than a human lifespan to see these changes within conservation but he certainly did his utmost to help the ex-situ effort with the species and that is what counts in the end.
Hopefully that land will one day soon have spix macaw flying on it, that would be the best outcome possible indeed.
The beira antelope , wow , that is a very beautiful little species, are you working on a PhD ?
No PhD, was a 3 month research as part of my veterinarian education. Indeed a beautiful species, but unfortunately they all died in the end. They seem to be more susceptible as other antelope species to some diseases.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Interesting, I can't say I know much about the species but it is very sad that they are so susceptible to diseases and dying in captivity.
Not necessarily in order:
- Hyacinth Macaw
- Yellow-Collared Macaw
- Red Fronted Macaw
- Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo
- Dusky Lory
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your comment @Paleoarchontas!
The dusky lory is a really very striking bird, I love the contrast of the black, brown, red and orange plumage and can definitely see why it is one of your favourites.
The Caranby's black cockatoo is an interesting choice, why this bird in particular ?
When it comes to cockatoos I prefer the darker species like the palm cockatoo over the various ones with white feathers and crests, and the Carnaby’s black cockatoo is both a beautiful bird with its jet black colouration with patches of white and it’s large size, in addition to its status as endangered, which I think gives more of a cause to like it.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, definitely agree, I'm the same actually, the endangered status of a species adds to the appeal of a species to me and makes me more interested in it.
Confirmation please regarding "golden parakeet": are you referring to Guaruba guarouba?
Assuming you are, I agree that they are delightful birds and one of my favourite parrots although I've always known the species as Queen of Bavaria conure
Yes I am. Gorgeous birds. I saw one at Zoo Veldhoven at few years back (the same day I also saw my first Tucumán amazon, which is also a species I'm quite fond of).
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Yes, thats the one @Tim May.
Here in Brazil it is called the "guaruba" or "ararajuba" which is originally from the Tupi Guarani indigenous language meaning "yellow parrot".
I would say that this species is actually my favourite parrot of them all, I find them absolutely beautiful in terms of their colours and their temperament.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
My own favourite parrots would be in this order :
1. The Queen of Bavaria conure - A very striking and beautiful species in terms of its plumage (the colours of the Brazilian flag) and of conservation concern as a vulnerable species. The temperament / disposition of these birds that I've seen in zoos is very sweet and loveable and frankly they just make me smile.
2. The red fronted macaw - Beautiful plumage but admittedly not the most colourful of the macaws, however, I have a dear memory of one of these birds at Edinburgh zoo and I am alarmed at their decline in the wild in Bolivia.
3. The Spix macaw - This is a very significant bird species to me as I read a book when I was much younger on this species and was so moved by its plight that I resolved to become a conservationist one day. Now I am so I guess the book and the macaw it was written on was a big influence.
4. Black winged lorikeet - Another significant bird as I remember feeding one of these in a zoo and being quite struck by its beauty and how endearing its temperament was.
5. Scarlet macaw - Just a very beautiful bird and emblematic to me of Mexico and Central America, have had the priviledge of seeing these in the wild on a number of occasions.
Worth mentioning as it is strange but only one of these birds I have seen in the wild and only four of them I have seen because the Spix macaw still on my "To see" list.
1. The Queen of Bavaria conure - A very striking and beautiful species in terms of its plumage (the colours of the Brazilian flag) and of conservation concern as a vulnerable species. The temperament / disposition of these birds that I've seen in zoos is very sweet and loveable and frankly they just make me smile.
2. The red fronted macaw - Beautiful plumage but admittedly not the most colourful of the macaws, however, I have a dear memory of one of these birds at Edinburgh zoo and I am alarmed at their decline in the wild in Bolivia.
3. The Spix macaw - This is a very significant bird species to me as I read a book when I was much younger on this species and was so moved by its plight that I resolved to become a conservationist one day. Now I am so I guess the book and the macaw it was written on was a big influence.
4. Black winged lorikeet - Another significant bird as I remember feeding one of these in a zoo and being quite struck by its beauty and how endearing its temperament was.
5. Scarlet macaw - Just a very beautiful bird and emblematic to me of Mexico and Central America, have had the priviledge of seeing these in the wild on a number of occasions.
Worth mentioning as it is strange but only one of these birds I have seen in the wild and only four of them I have seen because the Spix macaw still on my "To see" list.
As with waterfowl, my favourite Psittacines tend to be species I’ve worked with:
*Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
*Scarlet Macaw
*Redrump Parrakeet
and two that I haven’t worked with:
*Patagonian Conure — harmoniously coloured and very graceful, especially in flight
*Rainbow Lorikeet — colourful, playful and fun to be around.
*Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
*Scarlet Macaw
*Redrump Parrakeet
and two that I haven’t worked with:
*Patagonian Conure — harmoniously coloured and very graceful, especially in flight
*Rainbow Lorikeet — colourful, playful and fun to be around.
Onychorhynchus coronatus
Well-Known Member
Thank you for your reply @FBBird !
There are a couple here that haven't been mentioned in previous lists so I'll focus on these.
The blue crowned hanging parrot is a gorgeous little Psittacine indeed, I've never seen one I don't think, so what are they like to work with ?
To me they seem like they could be quite shy and sensitive birds in terms of temperament.
The red rumped parakeet is such a stunning looking parrot, the colours of the plumage remind me of those of the aurora borealis, just beautiful !