History and origin of parrots

By,
V.Shanmukha
priya,
3
rd
year,
Aeronautical
engineering,
MIT,
Chennai.
Parrots
Introduction
Parrots, also known as psittacines are birds of the roughly
372 species in 86 genera that make up the order
Psittaciformes found in most warm and tropical regions.
Parrots have a pan-tropical distribution with several species
inhabiting the temperate Southern Hemisphere as well.
The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South
America and Australasia.
Characteristic features of a parrot
Characteristic features of a
parrot
Characteristic features of parrots
include a strong curved bill, an
upright stance, strong legs, and
clawed feet. Most parrots are
predominantly green, with other
bright colors, and some species are
multi-colored.
Origin and evolution
Origin and evolution
Researchers are still unsure about the origins
of parrots. The diversity among Psittaciformes
in South America and Australasia suggests that
the order may have come from Gondwanaland,
with the center found in Australasia. The
scarcity of the bird's fossil record, however,
may cause difficulty in proving this.
Evolution
Evolution
A single mm fiagment fiom a laige lowei
bill founu in ueposits fiom the Lance Cieek
Foimation in Niobiaia County Wyoming is
thought to be the oluest paiiot fossil anu is
piesumeu to have oiiginateu fiom the Late
Cietaceous peiiou which makes it about
million yeais oluTheie have been stuuies
though that establishes that this fossil is
almost ceitainly not fiom a biiu but fiom a
nonavian uinosaui with a biiulike beak
Origin
Origin
Europe is the origin of the first presumed parrot
fossils. The first is a wingbone of Mopsitta
tanta, uncovered in Denmark and dated to 54
mya (million years ago).The climate at this
time was tropical, consistent with the Paleocene-
Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Parrot species
Parrot species
The phylogeny of the parrots is still
under investigation, and no definite
answers are available for sections
of the phylogeny. The classification
as presented reflects the current
status, and is subject to change
when new studies resolve some of
the open questions. For that reason,
this classification should be treated
with care.
Phylogeny

Parrots

Psittacidae

Cacatuidae

Strigopidae

Other birds
Phylogentic relationship between the three parrot families
based on the available literature
Distribution
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
including Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean,
South Asia, southeast Asia, southern regions of North
America, South America and Africa. Some Caribbean and
Pacific islands are home to endemic species. By far the
greatest number of parrot species come from Australasia and
South America.
European parrots
European parrots
European Parrots? Europe is the site of more extensive
records from the Eocene (58 to 36 million years ago).
Several fairly complete skeletons of parrot-like birds have
been found in England and Germany. Some
uncertainty remains, but on the whole it seems more likely
that these are not true ancestors of the modern parrots, but are
a related group which evolved in the Northern Hemisphere
but have since died out.
Morphology
Morphology
The most obvious physical
characteristic that characterises
parrots is their strong, curved,
broad bill. The upper mandible is
prominent, curves downward, and
comes to a point. It is not fused to
the skull, which allows it to move
independently, and contributes to
the tremendous biting pressure
these birds are able to exert.
Behavior
Behavior
There are numerous difficulties in studying wild parrots,
as they are difficult to catch and once caught they are
difficult to mark. Most wild bird studies rely on rings
or some form of wing tag, but parrots will chew them
off. The parrots also tend to range widely and as a
consequence there are many gaps in science's knowledge
of their behavior.
Parrots have a strong, direct flight. Most species spend
most 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 ground
parrots often walk with a rolling gait.
Diet
Diet
The diet of parrots consists of seeds, 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 be
explained 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 held
between the mandibles and the lower mandible
crushes the husk, whereupon the seed is rotated in
the bill and the remaining husk is removed.
Sound and imitation
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 are
known for their superior ability to imitate sounds and
human speech. This ability has made them prized as pets
from ancient time to now.
Pet parrots
Pet parrots
Parrots are kept as pets, particularly
conures, macaws, amazons, cockatoos,
african grays, lovebirds, because of their
rich and varied coloration. Sometimes the
wings of such birds are clipped, but many
people keep flighted pet parrots. Some
parrots species including cockatoos,
amazon parrots, african gray parrots and
the larger macaws have very long life-
spans of up to 80 years.
Zoos
Scarlet Macaw riding a tricycle at a
show in Spain
Zoos
Parrot species are found in most zoos, and a
few zoos participate in breeding and
conservation programs. Some zoos have
organized displays of trained parrots and other
birds doing tricks
Culture
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 for
decoration.
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 and
nationalism. A parrot is found on the flag of
Dominica.
Threats and conservation
Threats and conservation
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.
Threats and conservation
Parrots are persecuted for a number of
reasons; in some areas they may (or have
been) hunted for food, for feathers, and
as agricultural pests.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Hence we should try to protect the parrot species
which are becoming endangered because of our
irresponsibility and lack of care. Otherwise we
may have to lose one of the beautiful species of
birds in this world.