Watch Our Animals online: Episode 3 Parrots

Parrots are birds. There are lots of different parrots. They all have short sharp hooked beaks. They live in flocks because many eyes help to find food and there's always someone who can look out for danger. Most parrots stay with the same partner all their lives so it's very sad if one is killed or dies. Parrots love chattering to each other. They make lots of different sounds and the sounds mean different things. Most parrots need tree hollows to breed in. After the female lays the eggs in the nest both parents usually take turns keeping the eggs warm. The chicks are naked and blind when they hatch. The parents may then take turns finding food and keeping the tiny helpless chicks warm. As the chicks get bigger they need more food and the parents may both go off to search for food. This is when the chicks could be in danger from snakes and goannas. Food for parrots is generally seeds and grubs. The parents store food in a sort of sack in the throat. It's called the crop. When their crops are full the parents return to feed their chicks. When they are older some parrots put their young in a creche with other young parrots. They learn more about being a parrot. Some parrots can live to be 50 years old.

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