Fun Hanging Parrot Facts For Kids

Parrots are one of the most pleasing birds to admire when they're zooming over your head.

There are several different species of parrots out there, and in this article, we will be looking at a family of little parrots scientifically called the Loriculus genus of parrots, commonly called hanging parrots.

The genus contains 14 bird species, almost all of which can be distinguished from the other using the special coloring on its head, which also serves as the root of the common name of some of these species, as it does for the blue-crowned hanging parrot (Loriculus galgulus), the orange-fronted hanging parrot (Loriculus aurantiifrons), and the yellow-throated hanging parrot (Loriculus pusillus).

All of the bird species in this genus are tiny when compared to other species of parrot, the species in the Loriculus genus are thus sometimes considered a part of the informal group known as parakeets.

The hanging parrot, however, has short tail feathers, unlike most other parakeets.

The bird species in the Loriculus genus have a bright green coloring, and a lot of them have a red rump. The rump is the region just preceding the short tail feathers of a bird, separate from the wings.

The male and female of most hanging parrot species can be distinguished from one another by the red rump seen in females, or by other colorings of the body such as the crown (bird-talk for forehead), or the tail feathers.

The shrill calls of this species can be heard far from its nest and all the way down to the ground when it's in flight, these mischievous birds will often try and imitate the calls of other birds or even humans!

When you're done reading these amazing hanging parrot facts, make sure to check out our article on the Amazon parrot and the black parrot.

Hanging Parrot Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a hanging parrot?

The hanging parrot is a type of bird.

What class of animal does a hanging parrot belong to?

All parrots belong to the class Aves, the class of birds and historically related to the word "aviation".

How many hanging parrots are there in the world?

While the exact number of all parrots in this genus is not known, some species, such as the Flores hanging parrot and the Bismark hanging parrot, are far more scarce in the wild than most of the others, which are commonly found in the Indian subcontinent and the Southeast Asian islands.

Where does a hanging parrot live?

It lives in tropical forests and may sometimes venture into small villages near its forest.

What is a hanging parrot's habitat?

These birds can be found in the temperate and tropical forests and shrublands of the Indian subcontinent, usually seen hanging upside down from a tree branch!

Who do hanging parrots live with?

Outside of the breeding season, this species can be found in groups of four to five. During the breeding months, which may vary for different species, they are seen in pairs. Like their parrot's cousins, these tiny screechers do not usually "hang" out with other species of birds.

How long does a hanging parrot live?

In the wild, this species is seen to live for around 30 years.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding pair nest in the cavities of dead trees so the male can fertilize the female's eggs. She will then incubate the eggs after laying them for around 20 days, and the young leave the nest they called their home after about a month.

What is their conservation status?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species marks most birds in this genus as species of Least Concern (including the Philippine hanging parrot and the blue crowned hanging parrot), but four (Loriculus Catamene, Loriculus exilis, Loriculus tener, and Loriculus pusillus) are marked as Near Threatened, and one (Loriculus flosculus) as Vulnerable.

Hanging Parrot Fun Facts

What do hanging parrots look like?

The hanging parrot has a large bright green plumage (outer feather pattern), with one or more distinct patches of another bright color on its crown, rump, or tail. The coloring of the rump develops over time in the young.

While the male and female may appear identical at the first glance, a few dissimilarities become clear on closer inspection.

For example, the male blue-crowned hanging parrot has a darker blue crown patch, a red rump, and an orange-red throat.

These features are missing in the crown, rump, and throat of the female. These little variations and patches of color can also be used to distinguish between different birds in the hanging parrot genus, not just between male and female birds of the same type.

How cute are they?

These birds are extremely cute and are often kept in captivity as a result. Their tiny size (they are usually only 5 in (13 cm) in length) and exotic range of colors on their throat and crown plumage make them attractive and cute looking birds.

How do they communicate?

They use their shrill calls to communicate with one another.

How big is a hanging parrot?

They are quite tiny in size at just 5 in (13 cm) in average length, making them almost three times smaller than Meyer's parrot, and half the size of a Senegal parrot.

How fast can a hanging parrot move?

While the exact flight speed of this bird is not known, they are swift in the air due to their small size and weight.

How much does a hanging parrot weigh?

They usually weigh somewhere in the range of 0.7-1.2 oz (20-34 g) as adults!

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both the male and female hanging parrot can be referred to by the same name. The broad term for a male and female bird, if used, would result in the male being called a hanging cock, and the female a Hanging Hen.

What would you call a baby hanging parrot?

A baby parrot can be called a chick.

What do they eat?

Their diet consists mostly of fruits, nuts, seeds, nectar, flowers, and buds. When kept in captivity, the diet can be modified to include the most nutritious fruits and nuts possible, such as apples, figs, and pomegranate.

Are they dangerous?

No, they would rather hang off their tree and screech at you than attack you. When provoked, they will simply take flight to getaway.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, absolutely. They are a very intelligent genus of birds that often has a funny and quirky personality and expresses it by mimicking your voice and that of other birds.

They are pleasing to look at due to their stunning bright coloration. The blue-crowned hanging parrot and the vernal hanging parrot are perhaps the most common pets from this group of lovely little parrots.

Did you know...

Even though this bird is not the most sociable, flocks of up to individuals can be found in parts of their habitat which are especially rich in food sources. What a sight to behold that would be!

Different types of hanging parrot

There are fourteen different types of hanging parrots, usually distinguishable from little coloration differences. A common favorite is the blue-crowned hanging parrot. Which one's yours?

Do hanging parrots talk?

No, none of the birds in this genus are known to talk, however, they are quite adept at mimicking whistles and tunes that you recite to them. Check out our pages on the palm cockatoo and the monk parakeet which are parrots that can be trained to talk to you!

Learn more about some other birds from our sun parakeet facts and Mockingbird facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our free printable Hanging parrot coloring pages.