Family: Psittacidae By: Erin Moloney

Psittacidae Phylogeny Cacatuinae (cockatoos, galahs, and cockatiels) Loriculus (hanging parrots) Loriinae (lories and lorikeets) Micropsittinae (Australian pygmy parrots) Nestorinae (kaka and kea) Psittacidae (parrots, parakeets, macaws, lovebirds, and budgerigars) Psittrichadinae (psequet’s parrot) Strigopinae (kakapo)

Distribution approximately 330 extant species and 15 extinct approximately 330 extant species and 15 extinct primarily restricted to the southern hemisphere primarily restricted to the southern hemisphere habitat: tropical and subtropical habitat: tropical and subtropical

Identification large robust bill relatively short neck brightly colored zygodactyl feet prehensile tongue psittacofulvins: unique color pigment in parrots

Size Range Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) length: 100cm length: 100cm weight 1.5 to 2kg weight 1.5 to 2kg native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay) native to South America (Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay) Pygmy Parrots (genus: Micropsitta) length: 8cm length: 8cm weight: 65g weight: 65g native to New Guinea native to New Guinea 6 species 6 species

Natural History relatively long life span relatively long life span –lorikeets – 20+ years –macaws – 70+ years mainly herbivorous mainly herbivorous –seeds, fruits, nuts, nectar, etc. –occasionally will consume grubs and insect larvae –consume clay – neutralizes acidity in food predators – hawks, eagles, falcons, snakes, mustelids, cats, etc. predators – hawks, eagles, falcons, snakes, mustelids, cats, etc.

Behavior Breeding Breeding –monogamous - usually for life –cavity nesters –female incubates eggs while male brings food –altricial chicks –biparental care Social Social –flocks of up to thousands –bright colors help group cohesion –visual and auditory communication eclectus chick cockatoo chicks

Intelligence Intelligence and emotional state of a 3-5 year old child Intelligence and emotional state of a 3-5 year old child –communication capability of a 2-3 year old child capable of capable of –mimicry –communication –intelligent play –tool making –counting –differentiation

Alex and Irene Pepperberg Irene – wanted to understand how birds’ minds worked Irene – wanted to understand how birds’ minds worked purchased Alex in 1972 – Chicago pet store purchased Alex in 1972 – Chicago pet store learned over 100 words learned over 100 words could count to 7 could count to 7 would ask for things – food, walks, etc. would ask for things – food, walks, etc. could differentiate and describe shape, color, size, and number of objects could differentiate and describe shape, color, size, and number of objects Alex intelligence video

North American Parrots Thick-billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) distribution distribution –originally: southern Arizona and New Mexico to Venezuela –currently: Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains in northern Mexico habitat: high elevation coniferous forest habitat: high elevation coniferous forest Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) native distribution: eastern United States native distribution: eastern United States habitat: deciduous forests and forest edges habitat: deciduous forests and forest edges extinct by 1920s extinct by 1920s –habitat destruction –agricultural pest –over hunting for feathers

Thick-Billed Parrots causes of decline causes of decline –habitat loss –over hunting –pet trade conservation conservation –1983: reintroduction in southern Arizona –organizations pay landowners NOT to log forests (The Wetlands Project and The Wildlife Preservation Trust International)

Feral Parrots released pets released pets success due to… success due to… –earlier sexual maturity –no natural predators –can have two chicks at a time problematic pests problematic pests –threaten native species –damage agriculture populations populations Psitacula krameri) –London – rose necked parakeets (Psitacula krameri)  1983: 500  today: 10,000 –Florida – monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) –Chicago – 150 monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) –Phoenix - ~2000 peach-faced lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis)

Feral Parrots – Monk Parakeets Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) popular pet during 1960s popular pet during 1960s – : over 64,000 parakeets were imported into the US for the pet trade 1967: 35,000 feral parakeets 1967: 35,000 feral parakeets 1972: feral populations East Coast through Mid-West and California 1972: feral populations East Coast through Mid-West and California eradication programs: 4,000 to 5,000 parakeets removed in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California eradication programs: 4,000 to 5,000 parakeets removed in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California

Threats Habitat Destruction Habitat Destruction –increasing human populations –deforestation  logging  ranching Over harvesting Over harvesting –hunted  feathers  crop destruction –pet trade Natural History Natural History –monogamous for life –slow maturity rate –one clutch / year –small clutch sizes 1/3 of Neotropical parrots are endangered 1/3 of Neotropical parrots are endangered almost all parrot species listed on CITES Appendix I or II almost all parrot species listed on CITES Appendix I or II

Pet Trade parrots can be sold for $200 to $10,000 each parrots can be sold for $200 to $10,000 each ~ 800,000 parrot chicks are removed from the wild each year ~ 800,000 parrot chicks are removed from the wild each year 75% mortality rate – stress, disease, rough handling, crushing, dehydration, etc. 75% mortality rate – stress, disease, rough handling, crushing, dehydration, etc : over 1 million parrots traded worldwide : over 1 million parrots traded worldwide US imports declining US imports declining –1990: 150,000 –today: 17,000 US-Mexico border significant smuggling point US-Mexico border significant smuggling point

Conservation United States Efforts 25 listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act 25 listed by the U.S. Endangered Species Act Wild Bird Conservation Act – 1992 Wild Bird Conservation Act – 1992 –prohibits import of wild parrots –except countries with approved management and conservation International Efforts CITES CITES –40 on Appendix I –all other parrot species on Appendixes II or III –cockatiels and budgerigars not regulated IUCN Red Listed Species IUCN Red Listed Species –95 species listed

References Allaby, M. “Psittacidae”. Dictionary of Zoology Oxford University Press. Accessed 18 Mar Allaby, M. “Psittacidae”. Dictionary of Zoology Oxford University Press. Accessed 18 Mar “Birds: Thick-billed Parrot”. Animal Bytes San Diego Zoo. Accessed 19 Mar “Birds: Thick-billed Parrot”. Animal Bytes San Diego Zoo. Accessed 19 Mar “Carolina Parakeet”. All About Birds Cornell Ornithology Lab. Accessed 18 Mar < “Carolina Parakeet”. All About Birds Cornell Ornithology Lab. Accessed 18 Mar < Ehrlich, D., Dobkins, D., and Wheye, D. “Feral Birds”. Birds of Stanford Standford University. Accessed 25 Mar < Ehrlich, D., Dobkins, D., and Wheye, D. “Feral Birds”. Birds of Stanford Standford University. Accessed 25 Mar < Owen, J. “Feral Parrot Population Soars in U.K., Study Says”. National Geographic News. 8 July National Geographic Society. Accessed 22 Mar < Owen, J. “Feral Parrot Population Soars in U.K., Study Says”. National Geographic News. 8 July National Geographic Society. Accessed 22 Mar < “Parrot Trade”. Wildlife Trade World Wildlife Fund. Accessed 28 Mar “Parrot Trade”. Wildlife Trade World Wildlife Fund. Accessed 28 Mar “Pet Trade Dangers: Poaching Major Threat to Parrots”. Science Daily. 31 May Accessed 25 Mar < “Pet Trade Dangers: Poaching Major Threat to Parrots”. Science Daily. 31 May Accessed 25 Mar < Roberson, D. “Parrots Psittacidae”. Bird Families of the World. 20 Feb Creagrus at Monterey Bay. Accessed 18 Mar Roberson, D. “Parrots Psittacidae”. Bird Families of the World. 20 Feb Creagrus at Monterey Bay. Accessed 18 Mar “Thick-billed Parrot” National Audubon Society. Accessed 18 Mar “Thick-billed Parrot” National Audubon Society. Accessed 18 Mar

HUMMINGBIRDS

CLASSIFICATION Hummingbirds are in the order Apodiformes, meaning “without feet” Hummingbirds are in the order Apodiformes, meaning “without feet” The Order consist of 3 Families: The Order consist of 3 Families: -Hemiprocmidae (Tree swifts) -Apodidae(Swifts)-Trochilidae(Hummingbirds)

Trochilidae species of Hummingbirds species of Hummingbirds

Geographic Range Hummingbirds are only found in the New World in the Neoarctic and Neotropics. Most species are found in the tropical and subtropical region

Anatomical Features Hummingbirds have characteristically small feet. Hummingbirds have characteristically small feet. Family includes the smallest bird in the world- Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae ) Family includes the smallest bird in the world- Bee Hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae ) Have taken flight to extreme! Have taken flight to extreme! Wingbeats range beats per second in small hummers, beats for giant hummers Wingbeats range beats per second in small hummers, beats for giant hummers Long slender bill Long slender bill

Feeding habits Hummingbirds are nectivores and insectivores Hummingbirds are nectivores and insectivores Specialization has co- evolved with certain hummingbirds and flowers Specialization has co- evolved with certain hummingbirds and flowers Hummingbirds will also feed on sap during scarce times Hummingbirds will also feed on sap during scarce times

Reproduction Hummingbirds are polygynous Hummingbirds are polygynous Birds will breed during peak season of nectar Birds will breed during peak season of nectar Only females are involved in parenting Only females are involved in parenting Clutch size average are 2 eggs Clutch size average are 2 eggs Atricial chicks Atricial chicks

Response to climate change Response to climate change - Some species of hummingbirds migrate while others move toward higher elevations in response to seasonal changes -Rufous hummingbird has been documented to fly distances of more than 5000 miles round trip! - Torpor is used in some hummingbirds to save energy during low temperature conditions

Hummingbirds found in Az Anna’s Hummingbird Costa’s Hummingbird Black- chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Broad-tailed Hummingbird