History and Origin of Parrots

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History and origin of parrots

By,V.Shanmukhapriya,

3rdyear,

Aeronauticalengineering,MIT,

Chennai.


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Parrots


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Introduction Parrots, also known as psittacines arebirdsof the roughly

372speciesin 86generathat make up theorderPsittaciformes found in most warm and tropical regions.Parrots have a pan-tropical distribution with several speciesinhabiting the temperate Southern Hemisphere as well.The greatestdiversityof parrots is found inSouthAmericaandAustralasia.


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Characteristic features of a parrot


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Characteristic features of a

parrot Characteristic features of parrots

include a strong curvedbill, an

upright stance, strong legs, andclawed feet. Most parrots arepredominantly green, with otherbright colors, and some species are

multi-colored.


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Origin and evolution


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Origin and evolution

Researchers are still unsure about the origins

of parrots. The diversity among Psittaciformes

in South America andAustralasia suggests thatthe ordermay have come from Gondwanaland,

with the center found inAustralasia. The

scarcity of the bird's fossil record, however,

may cause difficulty in proving this.


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Evolution


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Evolution


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Origin


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Origin

Europeis the origin of the first presumed parrot

fossils. The first is a wingbone ofMopsitta

tanta, uncovered in Denmark and dated to 54mya(million years ago).The climate at this

time was tropical, consistent with thePaleocene-

Eocene Thermal Maximum.


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Parrot species


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Parrot species

The phylogeny of the parrots is stillunder investigation, and no definite

answers are available for sectionsof the phylogeny. The classificationas presented reflects the currentstatus, and is subject to change

when new studies resolve some ofthe open questions. For that reason,this classification should be treatedwith care.


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Phylogeny

Parrots

Psittacidae

Cacatuidae

Strigopidae

Other birds

Phylogentic relationship between the three parrot familiesbased on the available literature


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Distribution


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Distribution

Most parrot species are tropical but a few species, like this

Austral Parakeet, range deeply into temperate zones.

Parrots are found on all tropical and subtropical continents

includingAustraliaand the islands of thePacific Ocean,

South Asia,southeast Asia, southern regions ofNorth

America,South AmericaandAfrica. Some Caribbean and

Pacific islands are home toendemic species. By far the

greatest number of parrot species come fromAustralasiaand

South America.


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European parrots


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European parrots

European Parrots? Europe is the site of more extensiverecords from the Eocene (58 to 36 million years ago).

Several fairly complete skeletons of parrot-like birds havebeen found in England and Germany. Someuncertainty remains, but on the whole it seems more likely

that these are not true ancestors of the modern parrots, but area related group which evolved in the Northern Hemispherebut have since died out.


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Morphology


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Morphology

The most obvious physicalcharacteristic that characterisesparrots is their strong, curved,broadbill. The upper mandible isprominent, curves downward, andcomes to a point. It is not fused to

the skull, which allows it to moveindependently, and contributes tothe tremendous biting pressurethese birds are able to exert.


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Behavior


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Behavior

There are numerous difficulties in studying wild parrots,as they are difficult to catch and once caught they aredifficult to mark. Most wild bird studies rely on ringsor some form of wing tag, but parrots will chew them

off. The parrots also tend to range widely and as aconsequence there are many gaps in science's knowledgeof their behavior.

Parrots have a strong, direct flight. Most species spendmost of their time perched or climbing in tree canopies.They often use their bills for climbing by gripping or

hooking on branches and other supports. On the groundparrots often walk with a rolling gait.


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Diet


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Diet

The diet of parrots consists ofseeds, fruit, nectar,

pollen, buds, and sometimes insects e.g.

cockroaches and to a lesser degree animal prey.

The evolution of the large and powerful bill can beexplained primarily as an adaptation to opening

and consuming seeds. All true parrots except the

Pesquet's Parrot employ the same method to

obtain the seed from the husk; the seed is heldbetween the mandibles and the lower mandible

crushes the husk, whereupon the seed is rotated in

the bill and the remaining husk is removed.


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Sound and imitation


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Sound and imitation

Parrots do not have vocal cords, so sound is accomplished by

expelling air across the mouth of the bifurcated trachea.

Different sounds are produced by changing the depth and

shape of trachea. African Grey Parrots of all subspecies areknown for their superior ability to imitate sounds and

human speech. This ability has made them prized as pets

from ancient time to now.


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Pet parrots


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Zoos

Scarlet Macaw riding a tricycle at a

show in Spain


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Zoos

Parrot species are found in most zoos, and a

fewzoos participate in breeding and

conservation programs. Some zoos have

organized displays of trained parrots and otherbirds doing tricks


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Culture


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Culture

Parrots have featured in human writings,

story, art, humor, religion and music for

thousands of years. Recent books about parrots in human culture

include Parrot Culture.

In ancient times and currently parrot feathers

have been used in ceremonies, and fordecoration.


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Culture

Currently parrots feature in many media.

There are magazines devoted to parrots as

pets, and to the conservation of parrots. Parrots have also been considered sacred.

The Moche people of ancient Peru

worshipped birds, especially parrots.

Parrots are used as symbols of nations andnationalism. A parrot is found on the flag of

Dominica.


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Threats and conservation


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A large number of parrot species are in decline, and

several species are now extinct. Of the 350 or so living

species of parrot 130 species are listed as near

threatened or worse by the IUCN. There are numerous

reasons for the decline of so many species, the principal

threats being habitat loss and degradation, hunting,

and for certain species, wild-bird trade.


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Parrots are persecuted for a number of

reasons; in some areas they may (or have

been) hunted for food, for feathers, andas agricultural pests.


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Conclusion


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Conclusion

Hence we should try to protect the parrot specieswhich are becoming endangered because of our

irresponsibility and lack of care. Otherwise wemay have to lose one of the beautiful species of

birds in this world.

History and Origin of Parrots

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