Exotic Birds

There are 27 species of Amazon parrots, ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. These robust green birds are medium to large in size with a short, somewhat rounded tail. The different amazon species can be identified by its brilliant splashes of colour, one can see on their heads, napes, necks, wings and... (read more)

As the name suggests the African Grey is primarily grey in colour and commonly found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. They are considered to be one of, if not the best talking parrot. They are extremely intelligent and can learn a variety of words, phrases, voices and even languages. Tests have shown that African Greys can even...(read more)

Cockatiels are originally from Australia, but are kept as household pet in most parts of the world, as they are a highly popular choice for an exotic pet bird as they are great companions, they love to entertain and give their owner love and affection. They are gentle birds and are not as active or destructive as other larger species of...(read more)

There are about 40 species of Cockatoos and are native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. Among them few are suitable to be kept as pets, which includes Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, the Galah, Goffin's, the Major Mitchell, the Red tail Black Cockatoo, Umbrella Cockatoo and the Moluccan. These species of cockatoos make great companions provided...(read more)

Conures are from Central and South America and in some parts of the West Indies and Mexico. People love them as their exotic pet for their great sense of humour and fun-loving and playful personality with a good nature. It's easy to train them to do tricks. They do tend to...(read more)

Eclectus is a beautiful exotic bird, originated from the Cape York Peninsula of Australia, the islands of Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. There are several sub-species of Eclectus including: Solomon Island, Red-Sided, Grand, Biaki, Vosmaeri and McGillvary. Classified among the top three parrots for there talking ability...(read more)

Lorikeets are a colourful bird. There are quite a few different lorikeets which are suitable as exotic pet birds. There are the Tropical Lorikeets which are quite large and then there are the Australian lorikeets which are smaller. Among them Rainbow Lorikeets look very similar to the Eastern Rosella, but what makes them different is...(read more)

Macaws are intelligent, large colorful parrots are native to Mexico, Central and tropical South America. They are the largest birds in the parrot family in length and wingspan. Macaws enjoy eating fruit and nuts. Macaws are highly intelligent birds and as such...(read more)

Did You Know That Nearly  7 out Of 10 Households Have at  Least 1 Pet?

Amazon Parrots

There are 27 species of Amazon parrots, ranging from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean.

These robust green birds are medium to large in size with a short, somewhat rounded tail. The different amazon species can be identified by its brilliant splashes of colour, one can see on their heads, napes, necks, wings and tail feathers.

Amazon parrots are very good at talking and imitating sounds, talents rivaled only by the African Grey Parrot. They are highly intelligent birds, very outgoing and renowned talkers. Research shows that they have the same level of intelligence as of a dolphin, a monkey or a three year old human. Tests also reveled that Amazon Parrots have the ability to talk in context and are also able to categorize things such as colors and number of items.

Amazon parrots are known to bear a number of diverse personalities, they can be very playful, childish and lovable at one time and some times they can be aggressive and stubborn. These different personalities and temperaments are what attract most to humans, as we relate their human like behaviors. A lot a people relate their intelligent behavior as an outcome of their sharing the same domicile with monkeys in forest.

Amazon parrots being a very social bird, enjoys being in the company of people, they adjust well to captivity, adapting easily to their surroundings, cage or aviary and with humans. Amazons being an intelligent bird, you will be able to teach them words and phrases. They love water and always are more than happy to take a shower.

Nature has given Amazon parrots a very strong beak; they make good use of it in their natural habitat, so in captivity you have to make sure that you provide them with chew toys, you also have to make sure that they do not get hold on anything that is toxic and dangerous for their health. Their daily food intake should include parrot pellets, fruits and vegetable and plenty of fresh water (preferable spring or distilled water). Care to be taken for trimming their feathers occasionally at the vet.

An intelligent, lovable and healthy bird, Amazon parrots if fed and kept properly will be you're most beloved friend and companion for life.

African Grey

As the name suggests the African Grey is primarily ... grey in colour and commonly found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa . They are considered to be one of, if not the best talking parrot. They are extremely intelligent and can learn a variety of words, phrases, voices and even languages. Tests have shown that African Greys can even identify colours and objects! It is little wonder that they are such popular pets.

However, owning an African Grey is not for everyone. They like most pet parrots, are very high-maintenance pets, as they require a great deal of personal attention. You must have the time and resources to give these highly intelligent birds a stimulating and healthy environment. They require plenty of stimulating toys to keep them from becoming bored and possibly even restless while confined to their cage. These toys need to be rotated and switched out regularly in order to maintain the bird's interest. An under stimulated and bored African Grey can  quickly become depressed and self destructive. African Greys must not be kept in their cages for extra long periods of time. Your bird will pluck his or her feathers if bored........... so daily play, stimulation and freedom is a must.

The life expectancy of African Greys are up to 65 years, so owning them as a pet is a long term commitment and the bird tends to bond to one person. You can not simply buy one and grow bored of it after a year or two. They can grow up to 14 Inches in size, so the cage size should be a minimum 35" H x 35" L x 35" W, so that the bird can easily stretch its wings, make sure that wingspan are not touching the cage's sides and its head and tail are not touching the cage's top and bottom. They also do not like smoke or strong smells, so do not smoke cigarettes near them and refrain from using perfumes or air fresheners.

African Greys have special dietary requirements, which should be fulfilled by pelleted diet, leafy vegetables, fruits, almonds, nuts and plenty of fresh pure spring or distilled water. Carefully calculated quantities of calcium and vitamin supplements should also be given to them, but an excess of these added vitamins and minerals can also lead to your pet's health problems.

Cockatiel

Cockatiels are originally from Australia, but are kept as household pet in most parts of the world, as they are a highly popular choice for an exotic pet bird as they are great companions, they love to entertain and give their owner love and affection. They are gentle birds and are not as active or destructive as other larger species of parrot family. They are easy to take care of and are also known for their intelligence.

The most prominent feature of a Cockatiel is it's "crest", the group of feathers on top of its head, which gives it a kingly look. Another feature that most cockatiels possess is the orange patches on their cheek.

The life expectancy of these birds is about 15 to 20 years, with some recording life spans of 30 years!!, this has added to their appeal and popularity as pets even further. As said they are gentle birds and they love being talked to by their owner and unlike some other birds, cockatiels actually like to be touched by their owners. They may even persuade you to stroke them by bending their heads down and sometimes they even preen people on their eyebrows and hair!

As cockatiels are playful birds, sufficient cage size is a must to flex its wings and play around, a minimum cage size of 30" H x 25" L x 25" W is recommended.

Cockatiels need a variety of foods in their diet like fresh fruit and vegetables, cooked meats and even table scraps to a degree. Sprouted seeds are also an excellent way to add variety to your bird's diet.

Cockatoos

There are about 40 species of Cockatoos and are native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

Among them few are suitable to be kept as pets, which includes Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, the Galah, Goffin's, the Major Mitchell, the Red tail Black Cockatoo, Umbrella Cockatoo and the Moluccan. These species of cockatoos make great companions provided you have the necessary knowledge and environment to bring up your bird in. The captive breeds make great exotic pet, but don't even think of keeping wild cockatoo as a pet, as they are not adapted to domestic life. So buying an exotic pet from an exotic pet dealer makes a better sense.

The most attractive feature of any cockatoo is the erectile crest that rises immediately when they are excited or alarmed. They have strong and heavy beak, primarily used to crack large seeds, but they love to chew on just about everything! This obviously means that cockatoos can be pretty messy birds so if you are ok with that, you'll love having a cockatoo as a pet.

Goffin's cockatoo is one of the smaller species, as is the lesser sulfur crested cockatoo. The larger ones are the umbrella, Moluccan and greater sulfur crested cockatoo species.

The life expectancy of Cockatoos is about 40 years, but the larger species can live up to 80 years although this is very rare in captivity.

Cockatoos like eating a variety of fresh foods. They also need avian pellet which can make up 50% of the diet. Other parts of the diet can include grains, vegetables and fruit. Seeds are high in fat so keep these as a treat item only.

As cockatoos are large birds, their cage should be big enough to accommodate their size, generally a cage of about 5 to 6 meters in length and 2 to 3 meters wide would be ideal for them. Do keep in mind that the cage should be made of a high grade wire, as cockatoos can easily chew holes through lighter quality wire. Similarly, the frame should be built of steel to avoid the bird chewing the structure away.

Conures

Conures are from Central and South America and in some parts of the West Indies and Mexico. People love them as their exotic pet for their great sense of humour and fun-loving and playful personality with a good nature. It's easy to train them to do tricks.

They do tend to become bored rather quickly in captivity, so a selection of toys is a must as is a stimulating environment. Many owners report being able to play games with their Conures! Games such as "peek a boo" and finger-beak wrestles!

Conures have very strong beaks so keep this in mind when buying toys. Parakeet toys will not do, you will require something much stronger for your Conure.

Did you know that Conures love a bath? If you have some water sitting in a sink there's a good chance your Conure will jump right  in and flutter  around!  Some Conure species will actually fall asleep on their back so don't be alarmed if you see this happen, it's quite normal!

If you wish to own a Conure then do make sure you have the time to give it the attention it needs. A few hours per day is ideal. You will find that your bird will bond exclusively to you and may even go to great lengths to protect you. Conures are known to be great guard birds!

Conures aren't the best talkers when it comes to exotic birds but they can be taught to speak a few words. They can also learn tricks quite well.

Conures are around 10"-15" long and can live up to 30 years. Most Conures are red and green, green and blue, orange and green, green and gold or just gold.

Popular species of Conure include half moon conures, blue crown conures, nanday conures and green cheeked conures.

Fruits and vegetables should be a very important part of your Conures diet. A bird pellet diet with a calcium supplement will give them the proper nutrition.

The recommended minimum measurements for the smaller birds are 20" H x 24" L x 16" W. Larger species should have a cage at least 40" H x 44" L x 26" W. The cage should be square or rectangular with horizontal bars, so the birds can climb. The bars must be close enough, so that there is no possibility of the bird getting his head caught between the bars.

You can buy your exotic pet birds from any good trusted exotic pet breeder or pet store.

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The Oyster Shells are the excellent source of calcium and phosphorous necessary for all caged birds.
Aids in the formation of strong bones and cartilage. Also helps develop firm egg shells.  10 oz             

 Iodine deficiency is a common disorder of Birds. Prevent this disorder in your pet by simply adding this iodine solution
to your bird’s fresh water daily.

Most seed lack this essential ingredient, which is required for the normal activity of the thyroid gland.
Deficiency may result in goiter.

Directions: Add 10 drops per ounce of water.

Eclectus

Eclectus is a beautiful exotic bird, originated from the Cape York Peninsula of Australia, the islands of Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. There are several sub-species of Eclectus including: Solomon Island, Red-Sided, Grand, Biaki, Vosmaeri and McGillvary.

Classified among the top three parrots for there talking ability, rivalling the Amazon parrots and the African Grey in clarity of speech and scope of vocabulary. They tend to repeat words, phrases and interesting sounds learned from their human companions.

The male Eclectus usually has red underwings and a translucent green body. Some subspecies have more red color on them. Vosmaeria males have a yellow band on the tail. Females are normally yellow, red and mauve. Sometimes they are red and have a royal blue underside and  underwings with  maroon colored  wings.

Beaks are orange/yellow on the males and black on the females.

In the USA, Eclectus can fetch well over $1000 so they are quite an expensive bird. You must ensure that you have adequate facilities, time and patience before deciding to keep an Eclectus as a pet.

They have a large wingspan so the cage must be made big enough to accommodate this. Daily exercise is a must, this should be kept in mind, and so their cage must be wide enough so that they can flap their wings vigorously. You should provide for a bigger cage if the bird is going to spend a good deal of time in side the cage. Many owners let the Eclectus out of the cage for several hours a day to ensure they receive adequate stimulation and socialization.

Eclectics can live up to 30 years so they are a long term commitment. They can be taught to talk and are able to imitate people. They are fun loving birds which can be a little rowdy at times, but that is half the fun! They will also tend to mimic what they hear on TV which can be amusing when visitors come into your house and hear your bird quoting lines from Terminator 2!

Eclectus enjoy eating pellets, fruit, vegetables and legumes. Eclectus love to eat and many owners can't believe the amount and speed at which they eat their food!

Eclectus are very playful birds and love toys and handing upside down in the cage. They love to be around their owner and bond well.

They are intelligent and observant and are rarely fearful.

Eclectus are a joyful bird to keep as a pet provided you are aware of its demands and needs for a happy and healthy existence.

Lorikeet

Lorikeet is a colourful and playful bird. There are quite a few different lorikeets which are suitable to be kept as pet birds. There are the Tropical Lorikeets which are quite large and then there are the Australian lorikeets which are smaller. Among them Rainbow Lorikeets look very similar to the Eastern Rosella, but what makes them different is the Lorikeets' blue head.

Lorikeets are beautiful, playful energetic birds. They love dancing to music which many owners find quite amusing! Your lorikeet will form a special strong bond with you provided you give it a loving and comfortable home.

You should be aware that lorikeets are messy birds. They will make a mess when they eat and their cage becomes soiled on a regular basis. You must be prepared to clean it up on a regular basis to ensure that your bird stays happy and for hygiene reasons too.

They do require a special diet which should consist of fruit, nectar mix and vegetables.

Some of the types of lorikeets include:

Rainbow Lorikeet.
Green Naped Lorikeet.
Blue Lorikeet.
Red Collared Lorikeet.
Perfect Lorikeet.
Black Winged Lorikeet.

The larger tropical lorikeets have a greater talking ability than the smaller Australian lorikeets. If you get a talker, it will bring you a lot of fun and laughs!

Ideally you would want a male bird who has been hand reared from aviary parents. You should do you due diligence when it comes to buying a lorikeet and you should ultimately know where it came from and where its parents came from (even its grandparents if possible).

It is not recommended to mix lorikeets with other parrot species. This is due to the special feeding requirements of the lorikeets.

Lorikeets are really fun birds to own provided you have the time and space for one. Your bird will surely reward you with years of entertainment and love!

Macaws

Macaws are intelligent, large colorful parrots are native to Mexico, Central and tropical South America. They are the largest birds in the parrot family in length and wingspan.

Macaws enjoy eating fruit and nuts.

Macaws are highly intelligent birds and as such need constant stimulation when they are kept as pets. Failure to provide this simulation can lead to physical and mental anguish and suffering.

Macaws live for 50 years on average although recordings of up to 100 years of age have been noted. Macaws mate monogamously for their entire life in the wild. In captivity on their own they will tend to bond with one person.

Pet macaws may display behaviour such as screaming, biting and feather plucking. Because they do not normally pluck their feathers in the wild it is thought that this behaviour is brought upon through unsuitable surroundings and lifestyle in captivity.

The Blue Gold Macaw is probably the most recognizable bird in the Macaw family. Their wings are a blue green colour and the front of their body is yellow.

Scarlet Macaws are another popular bird. They have a bright red plumage. It is thought that Scarlet Macaws are more intelligent than other Macaws and as such they require extra stimulation or else they can become aggressive.

The Severe Macaw is a little smaller than the two mentioned above. It is mostly green in colour. They tend to be easier to train than the larger Macaw birds. They are also cheaper to buy.

Shop Bird.com

The Oyster Shells are the excellent source of calcium and phosphorous necessary for all caged birds.
Aids in the formation of strong bones and cartilage. Also helps develop firm egg shells.  10 oz             

 Iodine deficiency is a common disorder of Birds. Prevent this disorder in your pet by simply adding this iodine solution
to your bird’s fresh water daily.

Most seed lack this essential ingredient, which is required for the normal activity of the thyroid gland.
Deficiency may result in goiter.

Directions: Add 10 drops per ounce of water.

Lovebirds

It's fascinating to see colorful birds flying all over the sky. Isn't it? Well....if it had always been your wish to pet a bird like a love bird.....you have certainly visited the right place. Now, the question that can come to your mind is that how to take care of your lovebirds? Your query will be answered very soon in this article.

Lovebird is a general name that is used for any nice species of the Agapornis genus. The name has a Greek origin and in Greek it means agape 'love' and ornis 'bird'. These birds are affectionate and social in nature. They belong to the family of parrots. The continent of Africa has eight species where as Madagascar has a Grey-headed lovebird.

The name Lovebird originally comes from the monogamous and strong pair bonding of these parrots. These parrots can spend long time periods by sitting next to one another. In some other languages, the name of the bird suggests its monogamous nature. For example, in French, the lovebird is commonly known as "les ins?parables" whereas in German, it is called "die Unzertrennlichen". In both languages, it means 'the inseparables'.

As far as the size of the lovebirds are concerned, the size of one bird varies distinctly from the other. The general size can range somewhere in between 13- 17cm in length. Their weight varies in between 40-60gm.

Throughout the world, the lovebirds are considered to be the smallest birds in the family of the parrots. They have a stocky body structure and are specifically characterized by a blunt and short tail. However, their beak is quite sharp and large.

The lovebirds that are little wild in nature have a green colored body. However, the upper part of their body can have different range of colors based upon the type of the species.

The Black-cheeked Lovebirds, Masked Lovebirds and Fischer's Lovebirds usually have a distinct white ring in the area surrounding their eyes. The 'Madagascar Lovebird', Red-faced Lovebird, and Abyssinian Lovebird are sexually 'dimorphic' in nature. Multi colored mutant varieties are produced by careful breeding of those species that are well-known in aviculture.

The kind of voice apparatus that the lovebirds have, helps them in producing different sounds and voices. They are even capable of imitating human voice. Though they are not considered to be excellent talkers, yet their voice texture is quite amazing. There are even some lovebirds that are never capable of talking at all throughout their lives. 

The lovebirds have a lifespan ranging in between 10-15 years. As mentioned earlier, they have nice species, among which only eight of them are suitable as pets.

As far as breeding the lovebirds is concerned, the best way to do so is by keeping them in the colony system. This type of breeding is mostly practiced for the African love birds. Another breeding system is popularly known as the 'cabinet system'.  

By now you must be aware of the different characteristics of a lovebird. So if you are planning to keep lovebirds as your pet, go ahead and do so. All you need to do is take care of its health and food habits. After all nothing can be better than keeping colorful and affectionate birds like lovebirds as your pet. Isn't it?