Birds For Dummies. Gina Spadafori

      

One of the more interesting pet birds and certainly among the most beautiful, Eclectus have a few characteristics that make them less than suitable for beginners. They can be more sensitive to their environment than many other parrots, and you may need to feed them a higher percentage of fresh fruits and vegetables to keep them healthy. Seed-only diets are particularly hard for the Eclectus parrot to survive on for long, one of the reasons why the Eclectus rarely did well in captivity until humans developed a better understanding of optimal nutrition for these wonderful birds.

      Unlike many companion birds, with the Eclectus, the female is more often the “boss” — and certainly more beautiful (at least if you like red). Four common subspecies of Eclectus parrots are available for the pet trade — the red-sided, vosmaeri, grand, and Solomon Island. Prices start at around $1,000 and can go up to $2,500 for these showstoppers.

      Pionus parrots

The Pionus (pronounced “pie-oh-nus”) could be the poster child for the underappreciated parrots. Relatively quiet and easygoing, these birds can be excellent choices as companion parrots. They’re not necessarily the best talkers, but they’re quite capable of picking up a few words and phrases. Because of their gentle nature, the Pionus parrots, including the blue-head, white-cap, dusky, Maximillian’s, and bronze-wing, are ideal for any living situation.

      Why are these fabulous pets passed by? Probably because their coloration isn’t as striking as other parrots’ — you could even call them plain. Don’t overlook them, though: Pionus parrots have fantastic potential to become wonderful companions. Depending on rarity or popularity, you can purchase these birds starting at $500, with some going for $2,500 or more. With good nutrition, husbandry, and love, their life expectancy can reach 30 to 40 years.

      An interesting characteristic of the Pionus is the Pionus snarfle, which sometimes frightens new owners, and even some veterinarians who’ve never heard the sound, into believing that some sort of serious respiratory problem is present. When under stress or excited, the birds occasionally breathe rapidly in and out through their nares, making an impressive ear-catching sound until they calm down. We don’t really know why they do this, but the Pionus snarfle is nothing to worry about other than the need to try to figure out what’s causing the agitation or excitement, and it’s actually often the subject of a good laugh!

      Macaws

      Macaws can be sought-after pet birds, treasured for their stunning looks and, increasingly, for their companionship potential. You can find a range of personality types and prices within the collection of birds known as macaws. The large macaws can live up to 80 or even 100 years, while smaller macaw species can hit 40 years — a long time to have a pet. No macaw is particularly suited for apartment living — their caging requirements take up a lot of space, and they’re not quiet.

      Here’s the breakdown on these popular parrots:

       Blue-and-gold: The most popular pet among the macaws, the blue-and-gold shares with his relatives the desire to physically and socially express his opinion about a lot of things, sometimes to the dismay of those he lives with. Blue-and-golds are fine for educated beginners, as long as the owner understands the occasional social-climbing drives these birds attempt and knows how to deal properly with the situation. In the right hands, blue-and-golds make beautiful and enjoyable companions. The price range for blue-and-golds runs from $800 to $2,500.

       Scarlet: Popular in show-biz as well as pet homes for their stunning looks, scarlet macaws sport a long tail and red, yellow, and blue feathers (primarily red — hence, the name). Like the blue-and-gold, the scarlet can be opinionated. In reality, these labels of being “opinionated” likely are merely some normal manners of expression that can also be seen in their wild counterparts. Although the scarlet macaw may have a reputation for becoming “bitey,” this behavior has a purpose and can be properly directed with appropriate intervention. Scarlet macaws are probably not the best birds for beginners, but they’re fine companions for experienced bird lovers. Prices range from $2,500 to $3,500.

       Military: Overshadowed by the blue-and-gold and scarlet macaws, military macaws are, in our opinion, underrated and underappreciated as companions. Slightly smaller than their blue-and-gold counterparts, these birds seem to be much more active, busier little guys, and they can make wonderful pet birds. Good training and guidance can help avoid some of the common problem behaviors they may demonstrate. Prices typically range from $1,200 to $1,800.

       Green-wing: These birds are the second largest of the Ara genus macaws. (All the common large macaws, except the hyacinth, belong to the genus Ara.) The green-wing macaw is an impressive individual, indeed. Although these birds are large and very strong, they can learn to be quite fearful, especially in the face of forceful or frightening experiences. The best advice for anyone with a green-wing macaw: Take your time and don’t force your attention. If the bird says “no,” stop and reassess your behavior. (This is good advice for any companion bird or animal with whom we share our lives.) For the experienced bird lover, though, green-wing macaws, like most other macaw species, can be wonderfully rewarding friends. Prices range from $1,200 to $1,800.

       Hyacinth (see Figure 2-7): So special, this guy’s in a class of his own — in scientific classification (Anodorhynchus), as well as price. The domestically raised hyacinth macaw is often known as the “gentle blue giant” and is the largest of all commonly available parrots. In spite of their immense size, these birds are dramatically gentle and easily handled by most people. The birds can be quite noisy, however, and their huge beaks give them major destructive potential. As with the green-wing macaw, you need to be willing to negotiate behavior and even change your own behavior instead of defaulting to force. The price? Are you sitting down? $10,000 and up.

       Small macaws: The “mini macaws” include the yellow-collared, Hahn’s, noble, red-bellied, severe, and Illiger’s. Small macaws are taxonomically quite different from their larger counterparts, but they’re similar in that they can be enjoyable companions. Prices range from about $700 to about $2,000, depending on the species.

      Photograph by Brian L. Speer, DVM

FIGURE 2-7: Macaws such as the amazingly gorgeous hyacinth are beautiful and friendly, but they have minds of their own and must be met with on their own terms.

      Toucans, mynahs, and some others

      Toucans and mynahs are two species that took a big hit when laws were passed banning importations. They aren’t commonly bred and raised in captivity, and their available numbers in the pet world have fallen steadily. They’re fascinating birds to live with, however, and stunningly beautiful. Although not easy to keep, we know much more today about how to successfully keep toucans and related family birds.

      The mynah’s main claim to fame is mimicry, and they’re good at it. (One horrible myth that seems to follow them is that you have to split their tongues for them to talk — not true!)

      Toucans can’t talk and largely are kept as attractive aviary species because of their striking looks. And if you haven’t yet “played catch” with a toucan, try tossing a blueberry for one when you have the chance! Their skill at fielding a toss is legendary. Expect to pay anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000 for one of these colorful birds.

      Chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, peafowl, and turkeys

Chickens’ popularity as backyard birds has risen astronomically in the past two decades. Although