ANSC 2060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cockatiel, Budgerigar, Azores
Document Summary
Birds are the 3rd most numerous pet in north america. Caged, so relatively easy to care for; fit in small homes, apartments. Largest order, 5,400 species (more than half of all living birds) Found in rainforests of west and central africa. Mimic many noises - phone, dripping faucet, barking dog, etc. All parrots need a lot of stimulating activities to keep from being bored. Can be terribly destructive to themselves and their surrounding. Cavity nesters in the wild, so their desire to chew wood is strong. They need to be provided with destructible toys to satisfy this innate urge. Green bodies, green and black wings, heads yellow with black lines. Can learn to pronounce hundreds of words and phrases. In captivity, budgerigars live an average of five to eight years. The color of the cere (the fleshy part above the beak) differs between the sexes during breeding periods. Reported to occasionally live to 15 if well cared for.
