African and New World parrots | Psittacidae

Papegaaien | Loros

The parrots of Africa and those of the New World together form this family; in Mexico and Central America it numbers 38 species in fourteen genera, from small parakeets (Brotogeris, Forpus) through the amazons (Amazona) to the large macaws (Ara), such as Scarlet Macaw and Great Green Macaw. The plumage is mainly green, with red, yellow, blue or white on the head, wing or tail; the sexes usually look much alike. In the pine forests of the mountains of northern Mexico live two parrots of the genus Rhynchopsitta that feed mainly on pine seeds. The strong, hooked bill cracks hard seeds and stones, often still unripe, and fruit, blossom and nectar are taken as well; the foot serves as a hand to hold food. The flight is fast and direct, with shallow beats, and comes with shrill, far-carrying calls that nearly always give the birds away before they can be seen. They live in pairs within flocks that move morning and evening between communal roosts and feeding trees, and nest in a tree hole, a few parakeets in a termite nest; usually the female alone incubates and is fed by the male. Several species are threatened by deforestation and capture for the cage-bird trade.