Parrot Species Trends

One thing that I’ve noticed as a behavioralist is trends in my clients and the birds I work with. It also helps if I also have that same species in my full-time care to assess trends. One thing I’ve found specifically with the pineapple green cheeks, and I mean any kind of pineapple (cinnamon, high red, hybrids) that they get overstimulated far easier and stay for longer. Rosie seems to be on the calmer side of it where she does these little “dances” and maybe a nibble if she gets too worked up (which “too worked up” is extremely easy to do like just walking in the room and trying to immediately handle her). But I’ve met pineapples that quickly pace, turn spastic, even will have seizures from getting so worked up. A lot develop nibbling and biting habits due to this and owners not understanding the behavior.

This isn’t a speak for all, but it’s interesting to see trends in the clients I’m presented with. We all know that hybrid birds, most commonly seen in macaws, have this level of behavioral concern that usually attributes to the hybridization. It also makes us think what about some of the genetic colorations and different “paint jobs” within the same species without hybridization and how those genetics can affect behavior.

In captivity, we breed often for appearance, especially “exotic” appearances of a species. We want to push genetics and understand the breeding of parrots that we started doing full time since just 1992. But these colors aren’t seen often in the wild, even most hybrids, so we also have to ask ourselves why?

It’s an interesting topic I’m always trying to research more into and learn about! We definitely see coloration based medical concerns and behavioral concerns in some domesticated species through different breeds, but parrots are completely different species not breeds, so how can coloration affect every single species. A lot of science there to catch up on!