Commonly Seen Pet Birds

Commonly seen pet birds are parakeets, mynah, mannikins, pigeons, doves, koels, budgerigars, cockatiels, lovebirds, canaries and finches, etc.

Birds serve as a tame and talking companion. The cost of keeping a feathered pet is much less than that for dogs and cats.

Birds appeal to all types of people and are ideal for the house bound and those without gardens. They have long life span compared to many other pets.

Many birds are kept for their talking, singing ability, sports purpose etc. Birds are actually not talking, they are only mimicking the sound by repetition.

Commonly Seen Pet Birds

Commonly seen pet birds are:

1. Parakeets
2. Mynah
3. Manikins (Nuns or Munias)
4. Pigeons and Doves
5. Koels
6. Lovebirds
7. Finches
8. Parrots
9. Budgerigar
10. Cockatiel
11. Macaws
12. Cockatoos
13. Bantams and other Flows
14. Pheasants and Quail

(1) Parakeets

The term parakeets generally applies to long tailed slender bird belonging to the family Psittacidae. In some countries, there is no parrot but only parakeets (parrot like birds).

Parakeets have following features:

• Parakeets, if acquired young can learn to talk quite well and they will develop elaborate vocabulary.
• In training a young bird to talk, it is best to keep it out of hearing distance of other birds of its kind and to patiently repeat over and over the word that is being taught.
• It is best to speak more slowly than normal because the birds have a tendency to speed up the words when they repeat them.
• There is no sex difference in the ability of birds to mimic words.
• The genus Psittacula is made up of the larger parakeets; the males all have red beaks.

Indian Ring Neck Parakeet

• The ring neck parakeet, P. krameri manillensis, is one of the most beautiful of the larger parakeets.
• The Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri), also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that is popular as a pet.
• This non-migrating species is one of few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in ‘disturbed habitats’, and in that way withstood the onslaught of urbanization and deforestation. In the wild, this is a noisy species with an unmistakable squawking call.
• As is the case with all Psittacula (Afro-Asian Ringnecked Parakeet) species, the Rose-ringed Parakeet is sexually dimorphic.
• The adult male sports a black neck-ring and pink nape-band while the hen and immature birds of both sexes either show no neck rings, or display shadow-like pale to dark grey neck-rings and light (lighter coloured than surroundings) nape-bands.
• The birds are about 17 inches long with a long, tapering tail that makes up about half the body length.
• The primary colour is pastel green.
• Males have a narrow, black band above the nostrils that connects the eyes; below the beak is a black band that goes down the throat and then spreads out and back, making a black band below the cheek.
• There is a light blue band above the black, and a light rose band below the blue.
• The tail and flight feathers show some yellow; some blue tinting may appear on the nape of the neck and down the back.
• The beak is red; an orange ring surrounds the eye.
• Females are a duller green and lack the black, blue, and rose-coloured rings.
• Young ring necks are dull in colour, and it may take two or three years before the males develop their beautiful colour markings.
• Indian ring neck parakeets make excellent pets and are good talkers; ring necks are being bred in blue and yellow forms.
• An African subspecies, the African ring neck, P. k. krameri is smaller and lighter in colour.

Malabar Parakeet

• The Malabar (or blue-winged ) parakeet, P. columboides is another beautiful bird.
• The male is primarily gray. A black band completely circles the neck; a blue band is below the black band and changes to a light green.
• The wings and tail feathers are dark blue with a yellow tinge to the tips; yellow also appears on the vent and underside of the tail.
• Males have a red beak, and there is a tinge of green around the eyes. Females have a black head and do not have the collar.
• The Malabar Parakeet also known as the Blue-winged Parakeet, (Psittacula columboides) is endemic to the Western Ghats of southern India.
• The species is evolutionarily close to Layard’s parakeet (Psittacula calthropae) endemic to Sri Lanka.
• They breed in the dry season after the northeast Monsoon and the chicks fledge before the southwest Monsoon in June.
• They nest in holes in trees, especially old woodpecker and barbet nests.
• The birds begin breeding in December and eggs are laid in December and January.
• The usual clutch was 4 eggs which hatch after about 23 days.
• The female initially broods with the male bringing food and later the male takes over.

Blossom Headed Parakeet

• Blossom-headed Parakeet (Psittacula roseata) is a parrot which is a resident breeder in northeast India eastwards into Southeast Asia.
• It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit and blossoms which make up its diet.
• Blossom-headed Parakeet is a bird of forest and open woodland. It nests in holes in trees, laying 4-5 white eggs.
• This is a green parrot, 30 cm long with a tail up to 18 cm. The male’s head is pink becoming pale blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks.
• There is a narrow black neck collar and a black chin stripe.
• There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped yellow.
• The upper mandible is yellow and the lower mandible is dark.
• The female has a pale grey head and lacks the black neck collar and chin stripe patch.
• The lower mandible is pale. Immature birds have a green head and a grey chin.
• Both mandibles are yellowish and there is no red shoulder patch.
• The different head colour and the yellow tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala).
• Blossom-headed Parakeet is a gregarious and noisy species with range of raucous calls.

Plum Headed Parakeet

• The Plum-headed Parakeet (Psittacula cyanocephala) is a parrot which is a resident breeder in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
• The Plum-headed Parakeet is a mainly green parrot, 33 cm long with a tail up to 22 cm. The male’s head is red, becoming purple-blue on the back of the crown, nape and cheeks. There is a narrow black neck collar and a black chin stripe. There is a red shoulder patch and the rump and tail are bluish-green, the latter tipped white. The upper mandible is orangish-yellow and the lower mandible is dark.
• The female has a grey head, corn-yellow upper-mandible and lacks the black neck collar, chin stripe and red shoulder patch. Immature birds have a green head and both mandibles are yellowish.
• The different head colour and the white tip to the tail distinguish this species from the similar Blossom-headed Parakeet

(2) Mynah

There is two common mynah species seen:

• Gracula religiosa (Hill Mynah)
• Acridotherus tristes (common Mynah)

Hill Mynah

• Gracula religiosa: The Mynah bird is native to Asia and India. It is primarily black.
• There is a white patch on its wings; the bill is orange.
• A bare, yellow skin patch extends from below the eye back toward the nape of the neck; its legs are yellow. It feeds primarily on fruits.
• The Mynah bird is noted for its ability to mimic the human voice and other sounds.
• Hill Mynah is well known for its talking and mimicking skills.
• The voice of Mynah comes close to duplicating human tonal qualities.
• A myna’s sex is immaterial with regard to its power of mimicking and indeed it is often difficult to decide their sex.
• Keeping Mynah birds can be more time consuming than keeping other species of birds because of their diet.
• They consume fruits, and because of this, their cage needs to be cleaned at least once a day.

The common Myna

• The Common Myna or Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) also sometimes spelled Mynah, is a member of family Sturnidae, (starlings and mynas) native to Asia.
• An omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct, the Myna has adapted extremely well to urban environments.
• The myna has been introduced in many other parts of the world and its distribution range is on the increase.
• It is a serious threat to the ecosystems of Australia.
• The Common Myna is an important motif in Indian culture and appears both in Sanskrit and Prakrit literature
• The Common Myna is readily identified by the brown body, black hooded head and the bare yellow patch behind the eye.
• The bill and legs are bright yellow. There is a white patch on the outer primaries and the wing lining on the underside is white.
• The sexes are similar and birds are usually seen in pairs.

(3) Manikins (Nuns or Munias)

• There are different species like black headed munia-Lonchura malacca, white backed munia-Lonchura striata, spotted munia-Lonchura punctulata.
• Munias are very popular as cage birds. During the breeding season the cock sings weakly for his mate. Munias are very sociable birds.
• Lonchura is a genus of the estrildid finch family, and includes munias (or minias), mannikins, and silverbills.
• They are resident breeding birds in Africa and in South Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines.
• The name mannikin is from Middle Dutch mannekijn ‘little man’ (also the source of the different bird name manakin.
• Some of the Lonchura species were formerly placed in Spermestes. Others have been placed in a genus of their own.
• They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds and grasses.
• Several species have been noted to feed on algae such as Spirogyra.
• The nest is a large domed grass structure into which 4-10 white eggs are laid. Some species also build communal roosting nests for overnight rest.
• The species in this genus are similar in size and structure, with stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10-12 cm in length.
• Plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white, with the sexes similar, but duller and less contrasted for immature birds.
• The similarities within this group and the existence of subspecies with differing vocalisations and plumage mean that some races may be elevated to species status.
• African and Indian Silverbill are now usually considered distinct species, and the two races of Black-throated Munia are often also split.
• The munias are popular in the bird trade and many freed or escaped birds have formed feral colonies in different pockets across the world.
• The Red Munia Estrilda amandava and Green Munia Estrilda formosa also take the name munia, but are in the Estrilda genus.

(4) Pigeons and Doves

Pigeons and Doves group of birds is classified in the family Columbidae. The pigeons and dove have fairly uniform appearance.

The term ‘dove’ tends to be reserved for smaller birds, but this does not apply in every instance.

Most species eat seed, but a few genera subsists largely on fruit.

Common Pigeons and Doves are:

• Blue rock pigeon: Columba livea
• Spotted Dove: Streptopelia chinensis
• Fancy pigeons

(5) Koels (Eudynamys Scolopacea)

The true koels, Eudynamys, are a genus of cuckoos from Asia, Australia and the Pacific.

Koels are large sexually dimorphic cuckoos which eat fruits and insects and have loud distinctive calls. They are brood parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other species.

In New Zealand the Long-tailed Koel is known as the Long-tailed Cuckoo. Two other species, the White-crowned Koel and the Dwarf Koel, are also known as koels but are in their own monotypic genera.

The male is all black, about the same size but slimmer than the crow. The female is brown, profusely spotted and barred with white.

Male’s loud sound is monotonus calls – kuo kuo kuo and the female has metallic clicking call which carries a long way.

(6) Lovebirds

Lovebirds are a group of small short tailed parrots occurring in Africa and on certain offshore islands. Nine species form the genus, and all are characterized by their unusual breeding behaviours.

Love birds collect nesting materials, with which they line the nest site, carrying it either in their beak or tucked in among the feather of the rump, depending upon the species concerned. in spite of their name lovebirds can prove extremely aggressive, especially when breeding, and for this reason it is safer to keep pairs on their own.

They are highly attractive and rewarding bird to keep. features of love birds are:

• The genus group Agapornis are referred to as lovebirds and are native to Africa.
• There are nine species, three species are fairly common.
• Lovebirds are very hardy and long-lived.
• They make excellent pets and tame readily if obtained at a young age; older birds may become aggressive.
• Determining the sex of lovebirds is difficult.

(7) Finches

The birds of Finches particular group are categorised by their dependence on seed as a major item in their diet. Thus they are described as ‘hardbills’ possessing beaks able to crack seeds, dehusking them before swallowing the inner kernel.

These birds do not become tame or learn to talk like parrots and certain softbills.

Many species will nest, however, either indoors or in garden aviaries and can be accommodate together successfully in mixed groups.

Finches ranks among the least expensive and most freely available birds.

The Bengalese (or society) Finches

The Bengalese (or society) finches, Lonchura striata domestica, are probably derived from the white-backed munia, Lonchura striata. These small birds are about 4 inches long.

The white-backed munia is found in India and Ceylon. It is primarily brown with very dark, almost black, head and breast; the rump and underside are white.

There are about eight different varieties of the domesticated Bangalese or society finch.

The categories are self chocolate, pied chocolate, dilute chocolate and white, white with brown eyes, self fawn, pied fawn, dilute fawn and white, and white with ruby eyes.

(8) Parrots

The order Psittaciformes consists of approximately three hundred and thirty species, which are mainly confined to tropical regions. They have sharply curved upper beak that fits over their lower bill

The degree of curvature depends on the species concerned, and this in turn reflect its function.

Long billed Corella uses its upper mandible to dig for roots. Another well-known characteristic of parrots is their potentially long lifespan.

The parrots have the ability to mimic the sounds, including that of human voice. Parrots obtained in young can be easily tamed and devoted to their owners.

(9) Budgerigar

The Budgerigar or Common Pet Parakeet (Melopsittacus undulatus), often called a budgie or parakeet, is a small parrot and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus.

A small long-tailed predominantly green and yellow bird with black scalloped markings on the wings and shoulders in the wild, the Budgerigar has been bred extensively with a profusion of colour forms resulting.

(10) Cockatiel

Cockatiel is a another member of the parrot family from the arid interior Australia.

The distinctive crest of the Cockatiel can be held erect or lowered, which is a feature otherwise peculiar to the cockatoos. nevertheless, unlike cockatoos has evolved a long tail and is of slimmer proportion overall.

They also have very different call notes, cockatiels possess an inoffensive voice, compared with the harsh screeches of the cockatoos.

(11) Macaws

Macaws is characterized by large area of essentially bare facial skin on either sided of the head.

Though the posses fearsome beaks, macaws can prove very gentle, but never take any chance with an unknown birds. They are not usually mimics, but are certainly intelligent birds.

Macaws show a strong tendency to become one-person pets, and this can present a great problem when purchasing a tame adult bird that is used to its surrounding. They have long potential lifespan and mature slowly.

(12) Cockatoos

All cockatoos can be instantly recognized by their crests, which are raised when the birds are excited or alarmed.

Most cockatoos are white but some are pink or black. They have extremely strong, heavy bills. The largest is the Black Palm cockatoo of 28 inches.

The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita, is a relatively large white cockatoo found in wooded habitats in Australia and New Guinea. They can be locally very numerous, leading to them sometimes being considered pests. They are well known in aviculture, although they can be demanding pets.

(13) Bantams and other Flows

Bantams are small fowls, which is in some instance have larger counterparts, such as the Rhode Island Red.

They are valued as foster parents, being capable of hatching the eggs for waterfowl’s, pheasants and similar birds. There is also a considerable interest in exhibition bantams.

The light breeds of bantam weigh up to about 8050 gm. They are generally active and lively.

The various Mediterranean breeds such as the Minorca, feature in this group as well as the popular old English Game bantams.

Heavy breeds of bantam tend to prove the best broodiness.

These include the Australorps, which are black in colour and Marans which lay brown eggs.

Fancy breeds is the third category that are primarily kept for their decorative appearance. The include the Polish, Silkie, Frizzle etc.

Bantams have become increasingly popular as pets as well as for show purposes because they are smaller and have more varied and exotic colors and feather patterns than other chickens.

They are suitable for smaller backyards as they do not need as much space as other breeds.

Bantam hens are also used as laying hens, although Bantam eggs are only about one-half to one-third the size of a regular hen egg.

The Bantam chicken eats the same foods as a normal chicken, wheat and grains. Bantam hens are also renowned for hatching and brooding purpose.

Bantams clutch a variety of eggs from quail up to two goose eggs, and are known as fearsome mothers, with a high success rate in rearing any egg hatched.

(14) Pheasants and Quail

Pheasants and Quail birds spent much of their time on the ground and although some can be kept satisfactorily at liberty, the majorities are housed in aviary surrounding.

Grass provides a natural base for an aviary, and will be eaten by most birds in this group.

They will often spend considerable period of time walking close to the perimeter of the aviary, it is often recommended to construct paths of sand around the end and plant up the central area. Example for quails are bobwhite quail, Gambel‘s quail Japanese quail.

Pheasant are maintained as aviary birds in their own right. They are not suitable for being kept indoor, however, unless their enclosure is usually spacious.

Pheasants are referred to any member of the subfamily of Phasianidae in the order Galliformes.

Pheasants are characterized by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails.

Males are usually larger than females and have longer tails. Males play no part in rearing the young. Pheasants typically eat seeds and some insects.