Fun Thick-Billed Parrot Facts For Kids

Make way for the Thick Billed Parrots! This parrot species from Arizona and New Mexico is one of the only native parrot species in North America.

The only other species, the Carolina Parakeet, is now extinct. This bird lives in Mexican countries, and more specifically, in the tree where old woodpecker holes exist.

They make their nest in already made hollows and can be found in high-elevation green pine forests. However, their population even in places like New Mexico is less than 1600.

They have seen a major decline in their population due to various human interventions, such as climate change, and habitat loss. This is why they have been declared an Endangered species by the IUCN Red List, and it is also illegal to have these birds as pets.

Their primary diet is pine seeds, which are often found on many pine trees. They are also very social creatures and will be seen taking flight in flocks to wherever the pine is.

They are nomadic and follow the flock in search of pine seeds. Read all about these endangered birds, and do not forget to check out the sociable weaver and hoopoe for more fun facts.

Thick-Billed Parrot Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Thick Billed Parrot?

The Thick-billed Parrot is a type of bird.

What class of animal does a Thick Billed Parrot belong to?

The Thick-billed Parrot belongs to the class of birds.

How many Thick Billed Parrots are there in the world?

The Thick-billed Parrot population is less than 1600 in the world.

Where does a Thick Billed Parrot live?

The Thick-Billed parrots are now endemic to Mexico. It used to be found in Arizona and New Mexico in the past, but due to habitat loss, the Thick Billed parrots are now extinct from those locations.

What is a Thick Billed Parrot's habitat?

The Thick-billed Parrot's habitat is in tropical and coniferous rainforests and mountains. They live in the Mexican forests and mountains, most often found living in a tree cavity or old woodpecker holes.

Who do Thick Billed Parrots live with?

The bright green Thick-Billed Parrots live in small flocks and are not migratory. The Thick Billed Parrots are highly social and will enjoy interacting with a lot of other birds and creatures.

How long does a Thick Billed Parrot live?

The Thick-Billed Parrot's lifespan is about 35-40 years. That makes them one of the longest-living species of parrots!

How do they reproduce?

The Thick Billed Parrots reproduce all year round, usually in a clutch of four eggs or less. This parrot species, however, has a low fertility rate, which means that very few eggs hatch.

What is their conservation status?

They are marked as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. This puts them in the same ranks as the Hyacinth Macaw, which is the biggest breed of parrot in the world - and also the most expensive to own. The Thick Billed Parrot is also categorized as a Macaw.

Thick-Billed Parrot Fun Facts

What do Thick Billed Parrots look like?

These bright green birds are most prominently green, red, and yellow. They have a thick curved bill, with red color on their heads and shoulders.

They have a black tail and have a pouch in their throat which stores food for them, which in turn helps them feed their population. The females are moderately smaller than the males and have less prominent markings on their bodies. They have very piercing yellow eyes, that used to be orange when they were juveniles.

How cute are they?

The Thick Billed Parrots are some of the cutest species around if you can look past the population and their unique eyes. They also have very sharp claws and a wicked bite, so while it is OK to admire them, make sure you do not get too close!

How do they communicate?

The Thick Billed Parrot sound is their major means of communication. This species can caw, trill, and various other noises to express themselves. You can visit them in any nearby zoo, and hear them trilling.

How big is a Thick Billed Parrot?

Thick Billed Parrots are 15 in (38 cm) in length, which makes them four times the size of the smallest parrot species in the world, called the Pygmy Parrot. The Thick Billed Parrot's wingspan is also more than 15.7 in (40 cm) from tip to tip.

How fast can a Thick Billed Parrot fly?

The Thick Billed Parrots are not known for their flight speed, and it has not yet been recorded anywhere.

How much does a Thick Billed Parrot weigh?

This species does not weigh too heavily, with its weight being between 11.1-13.1 oz (315-370 g)

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no specific male or female name for the population of this species.

What would you call a baby Thick Billed Parrot?

There is no particular name for the Thick Billed Parrot babies.

What do they eat?

The Thick Billed Parrot diet includes pine seeds and other seeds like acorns. This endangered bird is also nomadic, meaning flocks will take flights towards sources of food - which are mostly seeds.

Are they dangerous?

No, this bird family is not dangerous at all. They are very friendly birds and spend most of their time in their nest. This nest, more often than not, is not theirs. However, they should still be avoided because they are very protective of their flocks, and so can become aggressive.

Would they make a good pet?

The Mexican Thick Billed Parrot as a pet is not completely unheard of, especially when their numbers were abundant. However, now, it is illegal to have the Thick Billed Parrot in Mexico as your pet due to its status as an endangered bird.

In addition to this, they are also very social animals, and can not tolerate living alone in the same place for a long period. They require company and extensive flight times, which is something they can not have as a domestic pet.

Did you know...

The Thick Billed Parrot in Arizona had been extinct, until the late 1980s. The government had attempted to reintroduce this species back into the forests of Arizona, but the attempt had failed.

However, in 2020, the government of Arizona plans another attempt to reintroduce them into the wild, so that they may be seen more frequently outside a zoo. There is great hope for the Thick Billed Parrot reintroduction.

The Thick Billed Parrot's adaptations

The Thick Billed Parrots have, as the name suggests, a very thick bill. This is one of the most prominent adaptations that help them survive in North Mexico eating pine seeds.

These pine seeds are exceptionally hard and a normal bill from one of the birds will do nothing to break them. These pine seeds can only be broken by the birds such as the Thick Billed Parrots, who have large beaks.

Why is the Thick Billed Parrot endangered?

Two of the most prominent threats the flocks of this species face are climate change and habitat loss. Due to deforestation, the population of these birds has fallen so much that now you can see these birds only in a zoo. Spotting these birds in the wild has become a thing of rarity.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including a cockatoo, or mountain quail.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Thick-billed parrot coloring pages.