Singing parrots (Psephotus haematonotus)

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Singing parrots (they are also called songbirds) are common in Australia. They feel great both in natural and anthropogenic landscapes, and therefore in this country they can be found almost everywhere. Singing parrots can nest in houses, like our swallows and sparrows, and feed in fields and farms, pecking at scattered grains and eating leftover food that people feed animals.

Psephotus haematonotus (the Latin name for these birds) is a special kind of parrot, distinguished primarily by melodic singing. I must say that only males sing. Females, calling to each other, make sounds resembling a whistle. However, this whistle has many shades and is also quite melodic. But the songs of males resemble the trills of our forest birds with a rich set of iridescent sounds.

Singing parrots are quite small, much smaller than most of their counterparts. Adult bird sizeup to 27 cm. Males are distinguished by a color in which the predominant color is bright green, in addition, they have a bright red rump. The female has a simpler color (brown). Such color variations are purely natural. In captivity, singing parrots with pastel colors are increasingly common (color mutation, the result of the work of breeders).

The popularity of singing parrots is due to their peaceful disposition, undemanding food and, of course, a pleasant voice. “But even a talking parrot sings!” you say. It sings, but its singing is the result of imitation of other birds, and not always a successful imitation. But the singing parrots have natural singing, the voice was given to them by Mother Nature.

I must say that, while listing the other advantages of these birds, we forgot about one more, no less important thing - singing parrots are quite capable of breeding even in cages. Usually, enclosures are built for this (usually corner ones), which take up little space. In such an aviary, if it is spacious enough, you can also accommodate other birds. As an option - budgerigars. Only males sing in budgerigars. By the way, they are also able to copy other birds. The only thing that can not be done is to place several pairs of singing parrots in one enclosure - during the mating season, the males will definitely put up fights.

As far as nutrition is concerned, a standard cockatiel and budgerigar cereal mix (from a pet store) will do for singing parrots. In addition, the presence of greens, berries, fruits, feed is mandatory in the diet.animal origin, pure water. This is important for birds of all ages.

For breeding, it is better to use a separate aviary with a standard nesting house installed in it for small parrots. The bottom of the house is covered with sawdust or covered with soft, tender hay. A pair of parrots can raise three or even four broods per year. However, this is too exhausting for the female, so after the second brood grows up, the nest box is removed for several months.

Only the female incubates eggs (5-8 eggs), rarely getting up from the clutch. All three weeks (as long as incubation lasts), the male feeds his girlfriend. He also forces the female to return to the abandoned nest, if suddenly she decides not to warm up in time. The chicks leave the nest one month after birth. For the same amount of time, their parents feed them, and from two months old, young animals can be planted separately.