Untitled Document
 Parrots
are highly intelligent birds. They can
learn to imitate sounds and repeat words and phrases. This is why many
people keep them as pets at home. If fact, about
250,000 parrots are imported to the U.S. every
year as pets. This week, let’s learn more about these amazing birds!
There are more than 300 different species of parrots in the
world. Wild parrots live in the forest of tropical zones including South America,
Australia, and New Guinea. A few live in Africa and mainland Asia, too.
Parrots have large heads and short necks. Most parrots are green,
especially the ones from
South America. Some American parrots are mostly blue or yellow. Small
parrots live 10 to 15 years.
Larger parrots such as macaws and cockatoos live for more than
75 years. Parrots are known to mimic people and noises they hear.
 However,
wild parrots do not imitate. Only pet parrots will do it. The African
gray parrot mimics sounds the best.
Sadly, some parrots are endangered. This is because
thousands are brought to Europe and North America as pets.Many parrots
die during this journey. About two million parrots are illegally traded each year.
Habitat destruction is another reason
for their endangerment. |
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