Top 10 largest parrots in the world

We are accustomed to perceive parrots as small birds chirping in a cage. Meanwhile, the parrot family includes about 330 species, and they are all different in character, abilities, and plumage. There are bright and colorful birds, there are inconspicuous, talking, active or phlegmatic.

Some parrots are small, fit in the palm of your hand, while others stand out for their size. Parrots immediately catch the eye, because. it is hard not to notice these bright, cheerful, temperamental birds.

Do you want to know which parrot is considered the largest in the world? We present you a rating of 10 large individuals: a photo with a description of birds.

10 blue macaw

A magnificent bird of pale blue color, with a grayish head, its chest and belly are turquoise. Weighs about 400 g, body length – from 55 to 57 cm. Once lived in Brazil, on the plains with shrubs and individual tall trees, in palm groves and forest plantations.

But now blue macaw does not live in the wild. They are only in collections. There is a chance to revive this species. But even here there is a danger, because. most birds are close relatives, and this contributes to degeneration.

But the best ornithologists are working on saving blue macaws, and they have already made significant progress. So, if by 2007 there were only 90 birds in private collections, by 2014 this number had been increased to 400-500.

9. Great white-crested cockatoo

A dazzling white bird with only yellow underwings and undertail. Paws and tail are greyish-black. On the head is a magnificent crest, which, having risen, forms a crown. It weighs about 600 g, the body length is from 45 to 50 cm, and the tail is 20 cm.

Great white-crested cockatoo prefers forests, mangroves, swamps, cutting areas of the Moluccas archipelago. He lives either in a pair or in a flock, which can include up to 50 individuals. These birds prefer to lead a sedentary lifestyle, but if there is not enough food, they can migrate.

8. Sulphur-crested cockatoo

It can be found in Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania. It grows up to 48-55 cm, weighs from 810 to 975 g, females are 35-55 g heavier than males. It is a beautiful white color with an admixture of yellow. The beak is greyish, as are the paws. Prefers forests of eucalyptus and palm trees, savannas, close to water. Lives in packs of 60-80 parrots.

Sulphur-crested cockatoo become active in the evening or early in the morning, during the day they prefer to rest in the shade, they climb trees perfectly. After dinner, they prefer to take a nap. They feed on berries, buds, seeds, roots, love tender grass sprouts.

At the end of the day, they gather on the lawns and can graze for hours. Live up to 50 years. Often they are kept at home. They cannot reproduce sounds, but they perform tricks well, so they can be found in the circus.

7. Moluccan cockatoo

White birds, but on the neck, head and belly, a pink tint is mixed with white, and the undertail is yellow, with an orange tint, the underwings are also pink-orange. On the head – a tuft 15 cm high. It grows up to 46-52 cm, weighs about 850 g. Lives in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, the number Moluccan cockatoo is constantly declining due to illegal capture, as well as other adverse factors. Birds prefer humid tropical forests. They can live both in pairs and in a flock, which usually has no more than 20 individuals. Cautious, they prefer tall trees for life.

6. Funeral cockatoo

As the name implies, these birds are dark in color, only there is a red stripe on the tail. The female has many yellowish-orange spots. There is a crest on the head. Funeral cockatoo reaches a considerable size: it grows up to 50-65 cm, weighs from 570 to 870 g. It lives in Australia, prefers eucalyptus forests, but can settle in plantings of acacia or casuarina.

Once flocks of parrots numbered up to 200 individuals, but now their groups do not exceed 3-8 birds. In the morning they go for water, and then look for food. At noon, they hide in the trees, and in the evening they come out again in search of food. One of the birds of the flock often becomes a “scout”, i.e. looks for food and water for everyone, and, having discovered this, calls the rest with a cry. Cockatoos feed on eucalyptus seeds, nuts, fruits, and can eat seeds.

It is considered one of the most expensive birds, the export of which is prohibited. They should not be bred at home, because. they are noisy, chew on all objects that come to hand and abundantly secrete powder-powder for cleaning plumage, which pollutes the house and can provoke an asthma attack.

5. Black palm cockatoo

In New Guinea, Australia, the Cape York Peninsula can be found black palm cockatoo. It grows up to 70-80 cm, plus a 25 cm tail, weighs from 500 g to 1 kg.

He is black. He has a rather large and powerful beak, growing up to 9 cm, also black. The cheeks are meaty, sometimes becoming red-scarlet. Females are slightly smaller than males.

Prefers to live in savannas and rainforests, alone or in groups. The black palm cockatoo climbs tree branches well, if excited, makes unpleasant, sharp sounds. Lives up to 90 years, keep their couples for life.

4. Red macaw

Very beautiful parrots, painted mainly in bright red, except for the upper tail and underwings, which are bright blue, only a yellow stripe runs across the wings. They have pale cheeks with a row of white feathers. Their body length is from 78 to 90 cm, and there is also a luxurious tail of 50-62 cm. They weigh up to 1,5 kg. His place of residence is Mexico, Bolivia, Ecuador, the Amazon River, prefers tropical forests, chooses crowns of tall trees for life.

Red macaw feeds on nuts, fruits, young shoots of shrubs and trees, often causing significant damage to plantations, eating crops. Once they were hunted by the Indians, they ate their tasty meat, and arrows and jewelry were made from feathers. Live up to 90 years.

3. Blue-yellow macaw

Very bright, magnificent parrot of bright blue color, which has a breast and belly of bright yellow, with an orange tint, and a black neck. The forehead is green. The beak is also black, very powerful and strong. With the help of his blue-yellow macaw can gnaw through tree branches and peel nuts.

Screams loud and sharp. Inhabits the tropical forests of Brazil, Panama, Paraguay, choosing river banks for life. Its body length is 80-95 cm, it weighs from 900 to 1300 g.

2. Hyacinth macaw

A beautiful, cobalt blue parrot with a gray, bluish long and narrow tail. This is one of the largest parrots, which grows up to 80-98 cm and weighs up to 1,5 kg. Hyacinth macaw screams very loudly, makes a guttural, sharp sound, sometimes a hoarse squeal, which can be heard at a distance of 1-1,5 km.

They live in the outskirts of the forest, in the swampy places of Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia. They live in small flocks, 6-12 individuals each, eat palm nuts, fruits, fruits, berries, water snails. They are in danger of extinction. In 2002, there were about 6 individuals.

1. Owl parrot

Its other name is kakapo. This is one of the oldest living birds, whose homeland is New Zealand. She has a yellow-green plumage, speckled with black. The beak is grey, considerable in size.

Owl parrot cannot fly, prefers to be nocturnal. The body length is relatively small – 60 cm, but it weighs in adulthood from 2 to 4 kg. Prefers forests, where there is high humidity, lives on the ground.

During the day it hides in a hole or crevices of rocks, at night it seeks food – berries or plant juice. If desired, it can climb to the top of a tree and jump from it, using its wings like a parachute.