Parrots | Psittacidae

Papegaaien | Loros | Papageien | תוכים | Perroquets

The parrots of the New World and Africa make up this family; in Europe it is represented only by escaped cage birds from South America. They are compactly built, with a short neck, a large head and a hooked, strongly arched bill whose upper mandible is hinged movably in the skull — with it they crack hard seeds and haul themselves through the foliage. The foot has two toes forward and two back, giving a grasping grip that carries food to the bill. Green predominates, often with red or yellow on the head and bend of the wing. They are loud-calling, social birds that feed and roost in flocks; most species nest in cavities, but the Monk parakeet alone among parrots builds a large communal stick nest.