Parrot Quiz – Smart and Complex Birds!

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After cats, dogs, and fish, birds are the fourth most popular pet in the United States. It is estimated that around 14 million birds, with a great majority of them being parrots, are kept in captivity. This is not surprising since parrots captivate people with their vibrant colors, energetic behavior, and often comical personalities.

Parrots can make wonderful, though demanding, friends. Folks who are more familiar with other types of pets may find themselves unexpectedly facing challenges when it comes to caring for a parrot. Parrots are intelligent and social creatures with long lifespans that require a significant amount of attention and stimulation. In fact, environmental enrichment is crucial to brain development. Without it, they can literally go insane. Under-enriched parrots may start to develop bad habits and become anxious or frustrated due to lack of engagement, leading to feather plucking and self-harm.

Taking the time to learn all about an animal before you decide to keep one as a pet is highly recommended. We hope that this parrot quiz will help you learn all about these fascinating creatures!

Quiz Questions

What is the scientific name for the parrot?

Passeriformes
Psittaciformes
Anseriformes
Galliformes

What type of beak does a parrot have?

Straight
Hooked
Pointed
Cone-Shaped

What is the average lifespan of a large cockatoo, amazon parrot and macaw?

2-5 years
10-20 years
40-50 years
80-100 years

What is the average weight of a buffy-faced pygmy parrot?

.04 to .06 oz
4 to 6 oz
6 to 8 oz
8 to10 oz

What type of feet does a parrot have?

Two toes forward and two toes backward
Four toes forward and two toes backward
Two toes forward and four toes backward
Four toes forward and four toes backward

What is a common food eaten by parrots?

Seeds
Nectar
Fruit
All of the Above

How many species of parrot are there?

What type of skills does a parrot have?

Language Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Ability to Use Tools
All of the Above

Which of the following contributes to diminishing parrot populations?

Trapping wild parrots for the pet trade
Hunting parrots
Habitat Loss
All of the above

What is the bite force of a large macaw parrot?

25 lb/sq inch
100 lb/sq inch
250 lb/sq inch
500 lb/sq inch

Can parrots see in ultraviolet light? Yes or No?

What types of habitat do most parrots prefer?

Polar/Tundra
Mountain/Forest
Tropical/Subtropical
Desert/Grassland

Where do parrots spend most of their time?

Perched or climbing in tree canopies
Digging or burrowing
Walking or running on the ground
Soaring high overhead in search of prey

Parrots are monogamous breeders. True or False?

True
False

What types of nests do parrots use?

Nests they build in trees
Tree cavities and hollows
Nests dug into cliffs and banks
All of the Above

Some species of parrots live in large colonies of up to 70,000 individuals. True or False

True
False

What color are parrot eggs?

Blue
Brown
White
Yellow

Baby parrots have feathers and down when they are born. True or False

True
False

Parrots do not have vocal chords. True or False?

True
False

Pet parrots require which of the following in enormous quantities?

Attention
Care
Intellectual Stimulation
All of the Above

Parrots who do not receive adequate environmental enrichment in captivity can develop which of the following?

Repetitive swaying or screaming
Feather pulling and self-mutilation
Intense Fear
All of the above

When is World Parrot Day celebrated annually?

May 31st
April 15th
July 31st
August 15th

Can you guess which parrot this is?

Swift parrot
Lorikeet
Cockatoo
Macaw

Can you guess which parrot this is?

Cockatoo
Lorikeet
Macaw
Swift Parrot

The Parrot Trade

The pet parrot trade is a booming industry, with wild birds being captured from their native habitats and sold to exotic pet markets. This has become especially problematic in places like the Amazon rainforest, where species of macaws are particularly vulnerable due to deforestation. Even in countries where laws exist against the capture and sale of wild animals, enforcement is often weak or nonexistent.

In the United States, legislation such as the 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) have helped reduce the illegal trafficking of wild birds across borders. However, there are still many legal loopholes that allow for some species to be imported into the country without proper documentation or regulation. As a result, it remains difficult to estimate just how much impact this trade is having on bird populations worldwide.

Smarty Pants

The African grey parrot Alex is renowned for its remarkable intelligence, but other members of the psittacine tribe are also demonstrating their intellectual prowess. The greater vasa parrots (Coracopsis vasa) have been observed using simple tools to achieve their desired outcome. In this case, researchers noted that male vasas would use date pits and small rocks to grind cockle shells, eating the powder afterward before offering a regurgitated calcium-rich snack as an offering to females prior to mating. This shows a level of understanding and problem-solving ability rare among animals not at the top of the food chain, further cementing parrots' place as one of nature’s smartest creatures.

Parrot Feet

Parrots' feet are a significant evolutionary adaptation that has allowed them to become one of the most successful groups of birds. This special foot arrangement, with two toes facing forward and two backward, is called "zygodactyl" and gives parrots an advantage in terms of grasping power. They can cling to branches or other surfaces far more securely than many other bird species.

This unique formation also contributes to their ability to crack even the toughest nuts with their beaks by providing additional leverage for prying open hard shells. Parrot feet give these birds remarkable stability when climbing up trunks or around branches. They don't need to make frequent stops as some smaller birds do in order to regain balance because their claws firmly grip whatever surface they are on.

These features demonstrate why parrots have been so successful at surviving and thriving in wild habitats around the world!

Habitat

Parrots are incredibly adaptable animals and have managed to colonize many different habitats throughout the world. While the majority of parrot species live in tropical and subtropical regions, some parrots can be found living outside of these areas. For example, Keas inhabit the alpine regions of New Zealand, where they nest in ground burrows. The endangered maroon-fronted parrot is even more remarkable as it dwells at an altitude of 6,000 feet in the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains of Mexico. This shows just how unique and resilient these birds truly are!

Threats

The illegal pet trade is a major contributor to the decimation of parrot populations across the world. A recent study found that 99 percent of African grey (Psittacus erithacus) parrots in Ghana had been lost due to habitat destruction caused by logging. This has created a significant threat to one of the most iconic species. One hundred sixteen species of parrot are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or worse!

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Similar losses have been observed all over the globe due to persistent poaching and deforestation activities. It is essential that action be taken at both local and international levels in order to protect these beautiful birds from becoming extinct. Conservation initiatives such as reforestation programs need to be implemented in order to restore habitats and provide safe havens for threatened bird species. Additionally, legislation needs to be passed that bans poachers from capturing wild birds for profit or personal gain. Ultimately, it will take concerted efforts from everyone involved if we are going to save our beloved feathered friends!

Taste Glands

Parrots do have some taste glands in their throats, but the majority of their taste buds are on the roofs of their mouths - about 300. Though that may not seem like a lot compared to the 10,000 taste buds that humans possess, parrots still demonstrate preferences for certain types of food. They tend to enjoy sweet tastes such as fruits and seeds and dislike bitter flavors. Parrot owners can use this knowledge to provide them with nutritious meals that they will actually enjoy eating!

A Parrot in Every Size

Parrots are incredibly diverse in terms of size and shape. The smallest parrot is the buff-faced pygmy, which weighs just an ounce and is about the same size as a grown human's finger. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there's the hyacinth macaw, which can reach up to 3.5 feet long from beak to tail. Nothing beats New Zealand’s flightless kakapo! The males can weigh up to nine pounds (the same as an average adult housecat).

In conclusion, parrots are amazing creatures that bring joy and color to our lives. They have incredible intelligence that allows them to be taught a wide variety of behaviors and tricks, as well as form strong emotional bonds with their owners. Parrots can live for many years if they are properly cared for and given the attention they deserve. Whether you decide to adopt one or just admire them from afar, these beautiful birds should be appreciated!

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About the Author

Heather Hall

Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.