9781422274989

cartoon image. The parrot of the human imag- ination, confined to its perch, its birdseed, and its doting pet owner is actually a vastly different creature than the parrot of the forest or moun- tainside. In our haste to find an imprint of our own habits and feelings elsewhere in nature, we’ve forced “ Polly ” into an extremely simplified stereotype. To the average pet owner, he or she may be little more than a good comedian, some- thing between a complicated toy and a friend, or an annoyance whose ear-splitting, early-morn- ing shrieks wakes us too early and makes the baby start screaming. We may claim to fancy parrots, but most of us remain unaware of the variety and scope of this family of more than 300 species with their many physical variations and com- plex strategies for survival. Few of us are aware that there are parrots that can last through harsh winters without migrating, winging their way across vast fields of snow. Few of us are aware that there is a parrot species than can construct

What exactly sets this bird so favorably apart from others that can be kept in captiv- ity and tamed? And why does it occupy such an important place in the literature, art, and music of so many cultures? One of the easiest answers is that the parrot is adept at deceiving us. It will often adapt to a life of shoulder perch- ing even though it might prefer the wild. It can mimic human ideas and feelings by memorizing phrases from the languages we speak, even if it does not often understand their meanings. Another reason why the parrot attracts us is that the breathtaking, almost shocking plumage of conflicting colors possessed by many species delights and perplexes the human eye. Such exhibitionism of appearance might well be criti- cized in the context of human society, but when it is confined to the animal world, we marvel at its boldness and energy. Whatever our reasons for valuing parrots, most of our compliments condemn them to a

This caninde macaw keeps its magnificent blue and gold plumage carefully preened. Natural balance make it a superb acrobat that can perform almost any necessary maneuver at the outermost tip of a branch. and specially adapted toes

The beak of this black-capped lory may look typically parrot- like, but it is actually much weaker than the beaks of seed- and nut- eating parrots. The tongues of lories are covered with erectile tissue ideal for licking viscous liquids.

4