the parrots that eat dirt?
Flocks of thousands of parrots were observed coming to the banks of a
river near the rain forest to eat dirt apparently. It was also observed that
they were very picky in their choice of the dirt they ate. They
overwhelmingly favored smooth clay .Some research went into the
reasons for such a puzzling habit.
It was found that parrots eat fruit that contain seed that are not normally
eaten by other animals. The parrots are well equiped with a strong jaws
and powerful beaks to eat seeds and get the nutrients from these seeds
These seeds however do contain alkaloids that make them bitter and
often poisonous if they are cracked open.
The question of how parrots can after survive eating poisonous
alkaloids has been pretty much answered. It is by eating clay.In the
parrot's stomach even a small amount of clay will bind the alkaloids and
keep them from being poisonous to the parrots
river near the rain forest to eat dirt apparently. It was also observed that
they were very picky in their choice of the dirt they ate. They
overwhelmingly favored smooth clay .Some research went into the
reasons for such a puzzling habit.
It was found that parrots eat fruit that contain seed that are not normally
eaten by other animals. The parrots are well equiped with a strong jaws
and powerful beaks to eat seeds and get the nutrients from these seeds
These seeds however do contain alkaloids that make them bitter and
often poisonous if they are cracked open.
The question of how parrots can after survive eating poisonous
alkaloids has been pretty much answered. It is by eating clay.In the
parrot's stomach even a small amount of clay will bind the alkaloids and
keep them from being poisonous to the parrots
There's no doubt that parrots in captivity eat all kinds of food, both bird and human foods and undoubtedly not all of it is good for them.
Table food is not suitable for a parrot. Parrots cannot digest dairy products for instance. Salt. Alcohol, chocolate and avocados and
rhubarb are just plain poisonous for parrots.. The parrots\ digestive system is very different from the human one. Parrots use their
tongues to move food to the esophagus, but from there it does not fall into the stomach. The food falls into a cavity called the crop where it
is broken down and moistened so that the parrot can swallow it. Parrots produce very little saliva. From the crop the food is then moved
down to the proventriculus (equivalent to the stomach), also known as the true stomach, where it is further digested. The food is then
passed on to the grizzard where it is ground into small particles so that the nutrient can be absorbed by the small intestine. There
secretions from the liver and pancreas enter the intestine to help in the final breakdown of the food. Parrots in captivity apparently eat and
favor seeds and that leads to a problem of obesity among parrots. The interesting question is what do parrots eat when left to their own
devices?
To answer this question we can look to parrots in the wild and see what types of food they forage for and favour above all that is available
to them.
Table food is not suitable for a parrot. Parrots cannot digest dairy products for instance. Salt. Alcohol, chocolate and avocados and
rhubarb are just plain poisonous for parrots.. The parrots\ digestive system is very different from the human one. Parrots use their
tongues to move food to the esophagus, but from there it does not fall into the stomach. The food falls into a cavity called the crop where it
is broken down and moistened so that the parrot can swallow it. Parrots produce very little saliva. From the crop the food is then moved
down to the proventriculus (equivalent to the stomach), also known as the true stomach, where it is further digested. The food is then
passed on to the grizzard where it is ground into small particles so that the nutrient can be absorbed by the small intestine. There
secretions from the liver and pancreas enter the intestine to help in the final breakdown of the food. Parrots in captivity apparently eat and
favor seeds and that leads to a problem of obesity among parrots. The interesting question is what do parrots eat when left to their own
devices?
To answer this question we can look to parrots in the wild and see what types of food they forage for and favour above all that is available
to them.
Some parrots like the rainbow lorikeet and blue lorikeet eat nectar mainly. The blue and red lory prefers pollen, fruit
and insects.
The red shouldered macaws, sun conures, king parrots ,palm cockatoos,and blue eyed cockatoos eat nuts,fruit,
berries and flowers. Lovebirds, Senegal parrots, parrotlets and macaws eat seed
There's over 300 types of parrots and each has adapted to its environment in the wild. In the wild parrots enjoy a wide
variety of foods and that does include seeds, grains,vegetables, insects. Parrots do seem to prefer seed and nuts
above all although they are fairly rare foodstuff in the wild. Seeds and nuts do not make for an optimal diet for parrots
however.
Wild parrots live in the greenery of assorted forests and are surrounded by edible greenery such as leaves , buds,
shoots, stems.
They have access to fruits and berries that they also favour Green foods do make up the majority of the wild parrots
diet, even their protein is derived from vegetables.
Wild parrots spend much time foraging for a very varied menu for their food intake. It is clear that feeding a parrot is
not as simple a matter as feeding a cat or a dog. Captive parrots do require a varied diet of fruit , nuts, seeds,
vegetables, and certain people foods such as pasta and rice, Even some plants and flowers are good for them ,e.g.,
ferns, geranium, pansies.
In the wild, young parrots are taught by other parrots what to eat, where to find it and how to recognize the good chow.
Captive parrots have to rely on people to teach them and people will often look to the diet of wild parrots as a nutritional
guide. That is not bad in itself so long as it is understood that captive parrots are nowhere near as active as wild parrots
and insects.
The red shouldered macaws, sun conures, king parrots ,palm cockatoos,and blue eyed cockatoos eat nuts,fruit,
berries and flowers. Lovebirds, Senegal parrots, parrotlets and macaws eat seed
There's over 300 types of parrots and each has adapted to its environment in the wild. In the wild parrots enjoy a wide
variety of foods and that does include seeds, grains,vegetables, insects. Parrots do seem to prefer seed and nuts
above all although they are fairly rare foodstuff in the wild. Seeds and nuts do not make for an optimal diet for parrots
however.
Wild parrots live in the greenery of assorted forests and are surrounded by edible greenery such as leaves , buds,
shoots, stems.
They have access to fruits and berries that they also favour Green foods do make up the majority of the wild parrots
diet, even their protein is derived from vegetables.
Wild parrots spend much time foraging for a very varied menu for their food intake. It is clear that feeding a parrot is
not as simple a matter as feeding a cat or a dog. Captive parrots do require a varied diet of fruit , nuts, seeds,
vegetables, and certain people foods such as pasta and rice, Even some plants and flowers are good for them ,e.g.,
ferns, geranium, pansies.
In the wild, young parrots are taught by other parrots what to eat, where to find it and how to recognize the good chow.
Captive parrots have to rely on people to teach them and people will often look to the diet of wild parrots as a nutritional
guide. That is not bad in itself so long as it is understood that captive parrots are nowhere near as active as wild parrots
Good food for parrots
Seeds: sunflower, wheat, corn,rice, mustard,lentil
Fruit: fresh and ripe bananas,apples, cherries, peaches, pears, kiwis. Nuts, almonds, cashews are also very
appreciated by parrots.
Vegetables: lettuce, carrots, cabbage.
Drink: water should always be available (preferably bottled), a good mix is 3/4 water and 1/4 orange juice.
Seeds: sunflower, wheat, corn,rice, mustard,lentil
Fruit: fresh and ripe bananas,apples, cherries, peaches, pears, kiwis. Nuts, almonds, cashews are also very
appreciated by parrots.
Vegetables: lettuce, carrots, cabbage.
Drink: water should always be available (preferably bottled), a good mix is 3/4 water and 1/4 orange juice.
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