Family: Family: PsittacidaePsittacidae

By: Erin Moloney

Psittacidae PhylogenyPsittacidae PhylogenyCacatuinae (cockatoos, galahs, and cockatiels)

Loriculus (hanging parrots)

Loriinae (lories and lorikeets)

Micropsittinae (Australian pygmy parrots)

Nestorinae (kaka and kea)

Psittacidae (parrots, parakeets, macaws, lovebirds, and budgerigars)

Psittrichadinae (psequet’s parrot)

Strigopinae (kakapo)

DistributionDistribution approximately 330 extant species and 15 extinctapproximately 330 extant species and 15 extinct primarily restricted to the southern hemisphereprimarily restricted to the southern hemisphere habitat: tropical and subtropicalhabitat: tropical and subtropical

IdentificationIdentification

large robust billrelatively short neck

brightly colored

zygodactyl feetprehensile tongue

psittacofulvins: unique color pigment

in parrots

Size RangeSize RangeHyacinth Macaw Hyacinth Macaw

((Anodorhynchus hyacinthinusAnodorhynchus hyacinthinus)) length: 100cmlength: 100cm weight 1.5 to 2kgweight 1.5 to 2kg native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia, and native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia, and

Paraguay)Paraguay)

Pygmy Parrots Pygmy Parrots (genus: (genus: MicropsittaMicropsitta))

length: 8cmlength: 8cm weight: 65gweight: 65g native to New Guineanative to New Guinea 6 species6 species

Natural HistoryNatural History relatively long life spanrelatively long life span

– lorikeets – 20+ yearslorikeets – 20+ years– macaws – 70+ yearsmacaws – 70+ years

mainly herbivorousmainly herbivorous– seeds, fruits, nuts, seeds, fruits, nuts,

nectar, etc.nectar, etc.– occasionally will occasionally will

consume grubs and consume grubs and insect larvaeinsect larvae

– consume clay – consume clay – neutralizes acidity in neutralizes acidity in foodfood

predators predators – hawks, eagles, – hawks, eagles, falcons, snakes, mustelids, falcons, snakes, mustelids, cats, etc.cats, etc.

BehaviorBehavior

BreedingBreeding– monogamous - usually monogamous - usually

for lifefor life– cavity nesterscavity nesters– female incubates eggs female incubates eggs

while male brings foodwhile male brings food– altricial chicksaltricial chicks– biparental carebiparental care

SocialSocial– flocks of up to thousandsflocks of up to thousands– bright colors help group bright colors help group

cohesioncohesion– visual and auditory visual and auditory

communicationcommunication

eclectus chick

cockatoo chicks

IntelligenceIntelligence Intelligence and Intelligence and

emotional state of a 3-emotional state of a 3-5 year old child5 year old child– communication communication

capability of a 2-3 year capability of a 2-3 year old childold child

capable of capable of – mimicrymimicry– communicationcommunication– intelligent playintelligent play– tool makingtool making– countingcounting– differentiationdifferentiation

Alex and Irene PepperbergAlex and Irene Pepperberg

Irene – wanted to Irene – wanted to understand how birds’ understand how birds’ minds workedminds worked

purchased Alex in purchased Alex in 1972 – Chicago pet 1972 – Chicago pet storestore

learned over 100 learned over 100 wordswords

could count to 7could count to 7 would ask for things – would ask for things –

food, walks, etc. food, walks, etc. could differentiate and describe shape, could differentiate and describe shape,

color, size, and number of objectscolor, size, and number of objects

Alex intelligence video

North American ParrotsNorth American Parrots

Thick-billed ParrotThick-billed Parrot((Rhynchopsitta pachyrhynchaRhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha))

distributiondistribution– originally: southern Arizona and New originally: southern Arizona and New

Mexico to VenezuelaMexico to Venezuela– currently: Sierra Madre Occidental currently: Sierra Madre Occidental

Mountains in northern MexicoMountains in northern Mexico habitat: high elevation coniferous foresthabitat: high elevation coniferous forest

Carolina ParakeetCarolina Parakeet((Conuropsis carolinensisConuropsis carolinensis))

native distribution: eastern United Statesnative distribution: eastern United States habitat: deciduous forests and forest habitat: deciduous forests and forest

edgesedges extinct by 1920sextinct by 1920s

– habitat destructionhabitat destruction– agricultural pestagricultural pest– over hunting for feathersover hunting for feathers

Thick-Billed ParrotsThick-Billed Parrots

causes of declinecauses of decline– habitat losshabitat loss– over huntingover hunting– pet tradepet trade

conservationconservation– 1983: reintroduction in 1983: reintroduction in

southern Arizonasouthern Arizona– organizations pay organizations pay

landowners NOT to log landowners NOT to log forests forests (The Wetlands Project (The Wetlands Project and The Wildlife Preservation Trust and The Wildlife Preservation Trust International)International)

Feral ParrotsFeral Parrots released petsreleased pets success due to…success due to…

– earlier sexual maturityearlier sexual maturity– no natural predatorsno natural predators– can have two chicks at a can have two chicks at a

timetime problematic pestsproblematic pests

– threaten native speciesthreaten native species– damage agriculturedamage agriculture

populationspopulations– London – rose necked parakeets London – rose necked parakeets ((Psitacula krameriPsitacula krameri))

1983: 5001983: 500 today: 10,000today: 10,000

– Florida – 2800+ monk parakeets Florida – 2800+ monk parakeets ((Myiopsitta monachusMyiopsitta monachus))– Chicago – 150 monk parakeets Chicago – 150 monk parakeets ((Myiopsitta monachusMyiopsitta monachus))– Phoenix - ~2000 peach-faced lovebirds Phoenix - ~2000 peach-faced lovebirds ((Agapornis Agapornis

roseicollisroseicollis))

Feral Parrots – Monk Feral Parrots – Monk ParakeetsParakeets

Monk ParakeetsMonk Parakeets((Myiopsitta monachusMyiopsitta monachus))

popular pet during 1960spopular pet during 1960s– 1968-1972: over 64,000 1968-1972: over 64,000

parakeets were imported into parakeets were imported into the US for the pet tradethe US for the pet trade

1967: 35,000 feral 1967: 35,000 feral parakeets parakeets

1972: feral populations East 1972: feral populations East Coast through Mid-West and Coast through Mid-West and CaliforniaCalifornia eradication programs: 4,000 to 5,000 parakeets removed eradication programs: 4,000 to 5,000 parakeets removed

in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and Californiain New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California

ThreatsThreats Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

– increasing human increasing human populationspopulations

– deforestationdeforestation logginglogging ranchingranching

Over harvestingOver harvesting– huntedhunted

feathersfeathers crop destructioncrop destruction

– pet tradepet trade Natural HistoryNatural History

– monogamous for lifemonogamous for life– slow maturity rateslow maturity rate– one clutch / yearone clutch / year– small clutch sizessmall clutch sizes

1/3 of Neotropical parrots 1/3 of Neotropical parrots are endangeredare endangered

almost all parrot species almost all parrot species listed on CITES Appendix I listed on CITES Appendix I or IIor II

Pet TradePet Trade parrots can be sold for parrots can be sold for

$200 to $10,000 each$200 to $10,000 each ~ 800,000 parrot ~ 800,000 parrot

chicks are removed chicks are removed from the wild each from the wild each yearyear

75% mortality rate – 75% mortality rate – stress, disease, rough stress, disease, rough handling, crushing, handling, crushing, dehydration, etc.dehydration, etc.

1998-2000: over 1 1998-2000: over 1 million parrots traded million parrots traded worldwideworldwide

US imports decliningUS imports declining– 1990: 150,0001990: 150,000– today: 17,000 today: 17,000

US-Mexico border US-Mexico border significant smuggling significant smuggling pointpoint

ConservationConservation

United States EffortsUnited States Efforts

25 listed by the U.S. 25 listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Endangered Species ActAct

Wild Bird Conservation Wild Bird Conservation Act – 1992Act – 1992– prohibits import of wild prohibits import of wild

parrotsparrots– except countries with except countries with

approved management approved management and conservationand conservation

International EffortsInternational Efforts CITESCITES

– 40 on Appendix I40 on Appendix I– all other parrot species on all other parrot species on

Appendixes II or IIIAppendixes II or III– cockatiels and cockatiels and

budgerigars not regulatedbudgerigars not regulated IUCN Red Listed SpeciesIUCN Red Listed Species

– 95 species listed95 species listed

ReferencesReferences Allaby, M. “Psittacidae”. Allaby, M. “Psittacidae”. Dictionary of ZoologyDictionary of Zoology. 1999. Oxford University Press. . 1999. Oxford University Press.

Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-Psittacidae.html>.Psittacidae.html>.

““Birds: Thick-billed Parrot”. Animal Bytes. 2008. San Diego Zoo. Accessed 19 Birds: Thick-billed Parrot”. Animal Bytes. 2008. San Diego Zoo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2008. <http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-thick-Mar. 2008. <http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-thick-billed_parrot.html>. billed_parrot.html>.

““Carolina Parakeet”. Carolina Parakeet”. All About BirdsAll About Birds. 2007. Cornell Ornithology Lab. Accessed . 2007. Cornell Ornithology Lab. Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. 18 Mar. 2008. <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/conservation/extinctions/<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/conservation/extinctions/carolina_parakeet>. carolina_parakeet>.

Ehrlich, D., Dobkins, D., and Wheye, D. “Feral Birds”. Ehrlich, D., Dobkins, D., and Wheye, D. “Feral Birds”. Birds of StanfordBirds of Stanford. 1988. . 1988. Standford University. Accessed 25 Mar. 2008. Standford University. Accessed 25 Mar. 2008. <http://www.stanford.edu/group/<http://www.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Feral_Birds.html>.stanfordbirds/text/essays/Feral_Birds.html>.

Owen, J. “Feral Parrot Population Soars in U.K., Study Says”. Owen, J. “Feral Parrot Population Soars in U.K., Study Says”. National National Geographic NewsGeographic News. 8 July 2004. National Geographic Society. Accessed 22 Mar. . 8 July 2004. National Geographic Society. Accessed 22 Mar. 2008. <http://2008. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0708_040708_feralparrots.html>.news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/07/0708_040708_feralparrots.html>.

““Parrot Trade”. Parrot Trade”. Wildlife TradeWildlife Trade. 2008. World Wildlife Fund. Accessed 28 Mar. . 2008. World Wildlife Fund. Accessed 28 Mar. 2008. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/trade/faqs_parrot.cfm>. 2008. <http://www.worldwildlife.org/trade/faqs_parrot.cfm>.

““Pet Trade Dangers: Poaching Major Threat to Parrots”. Pet Trade Dangers: Poaching Major Threat to Parrots”. Science DailyScience Daily. 31 May . 31 May 2001. Accessed 25 Mar. 2008. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/052001. Accessed 25 Mar. 2008. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010529234701.htm>. /010529234701.htm>.

Roberson, D. “Parrots Psittacidae”. Roberson, D. “Parrots Psittacidae”. Bird Families of the WorldBird Families of the World. 20 Feb. 2008. . 20 Feb. 2008. Creagrus at Monterey Bay. Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. Creagrus at Monterey Bay. Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. <http://montereybay.com/creagrus/parrots.html>. <http://montereybay.com/creagrus/parrots.html>.

““Thick-billed Parrot”. 2002. National Audubon Society. Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. Thick-billed Parrot”. 2002. National Audubon Society. Accessed 18 Mar. 2008. <http://audubon2.org/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=204>. <http://audubon2.org/watchlist/viewSpecies.jsp?id=204>.

HUMMINGBIRDSHUMMINGBIRDS

CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION Hummingbirds are in Hummingbirds are in

the order the order Apodiformes, meaning Apodiformes, meaning “without feet”“without feet”

The Order consist of 3 The Order consist of 3 Families:Families:

-Hemiprocmidae -Hemiprocmidae (Tree swifts)(Tree swifts)

-Apodidae-Apodidae(Swifts)(Swifts)-Trochilidae-Trochilidae(Hummingbirds)(Hummingbirds)

Trochilidae Trochilidae

325-340 species of 325-340 species of HummingbirdsHummingbirds

Geographic Geographic RangeRangeHummingbirds are Hummingbirds are only found in the New only found in the New World in the World in the Neoarctic and Neoarctic and Neotropics.Neotropics.

Most species are Most species are found in the tropical found in the tropical and subtropical and subtropical region region

Anatomical FeaturesAnatomical Features Hummingbirds have Hummingbirds have

characteristically small characteristically small feet.feet.

Family includes the Family includes the smallest bird in the world- smallest bird in the world- Bee Hummingbird Bee Hummingbird ((Mellisuga helenae )Mellisuga helenae )

Have taken flight to Have taken flight to extreme!extreme!

Wingbeats range 70-80 Wingbeats range 70-80 beats per second in small beats per second in small hummers, 10-15 beats for hummers, 10-15 beats for giant hummersgiant hummers

Long slender billLong slender bill

Feeding habitsFeeding habits

Hummingbirds are Hummingbirds are nectivores and nectivores and insectivoresinsectivores

Specialization has Specialization has co-evolved with co-evolved with certain certain hummingbirds and hummingbirds and flowersflowers

Hummingbirds will Hummingbirds will also feed on sap also feed on sap during scarce timesduring scarce times

ReproductionReproduction

Hummingbirds are Hummingbirds are polygynouspolygynous

Birds will breed Birds will breed during peak season during peak season of nectarof nectar

Only females are Only females are involved in parentinginvolved in parenting

Clutch size average Clutch size average are 2 eggs are 2 eggs

Atricial chicksAtricial chicks

Response to Response to climate climate changechange--Some species of Some species of hummingbirds migrate hummingbirds migrate while others move toward while others move toward higher elevations in higher elevations in response to seasonal response to seasonal changes changes

-Rufous hummingbird has -Rufous hummingbird has been documented to fly been documented to fly distances of more than distances of more than 5000 miles round trip!5000 miles round trip!

--Torpor is used in some Torpor is used in some hummingbirds to save hummingbirds to save energy during low energy during low temperature conditions temperature conditions

Hummingbirds found in AzHummingbirds found in Az

Anna’s Hummingbird

Costa’s Hummingbird

Black- chinned Hummingbird

Rufous Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird