Parakeets: Birds Faithful To Their Partner
The parakeet’s international recognition and popularity is due not only to its small size and beauty, but also to its sociable, cheerful and intelligent nature. Next, we invite you to discover some curiosities and the most striking characteristics of these birds.
5 interesting facts about parakeets
We suggest that you learn more about parakeets through 5 interesting facts about their appearance, behavior and lifestyle. Below, we’ll reveal some really surprising aspects.
There are many types of parakeets
The Australian or common parakeet is recognized as the primitive or ancestral parakeet. However, the expansion of captive breeding has spawned different breeds or subtypes of parakeets.
Currently, about 16 types of parakeets are known, which are divided between the green and blue lineage. In the blue lineage, there is a predominance of blue and white colors in its body; in the green lineage, green and yellow stand out in the plumage.
The most popular types of these birds as pets are : common parakeet, cinnamon parakeet, Ino parakeet, opaline parakeet, albino parakeet and lutino parakeet.
His life expectancy depends on the care he receives
The life expectancy of a parakeet is estimated to be between 6 and 10 years, and it can vary slightly depending on the breed we analyze. But some specimens can live up to 15 years in a highly favorable environment.
In reality, the length of time a parakeet can live in captivity will fundamentally depend on the environment and the care provided by its caregiver. If we want our parakeets to accompany us for many years, we must invest in their quality of life.
Your body language is very varied
Parakeets sing very well and learn some words, but they also use their bodies to express their emotions and communicate with the environment. Parakeets’ body language is very varied and complex, incorporating a wide range of postures and actions.
Below, we will summarize some of the most common postures in the body language of these birds :
- Wings open. When a parakeet remains with its wings spread, we can interpret this position in several ways. If it’s a really hot day, your bird is probably hot and wants to cool off.
- Jump. It is very common to see parakeets jumping between the perches or bars of their cage. This is an excellent sign and means your bird feels happy and active, enjoying its environment.
- Standing on one leg is also a relatively common position in parakeets and means a state of relaxation.
- Lateral tail and raised plumage. Parakeet females demonstrate these characteristics with the arrival of the mating period.
- Feathers crushed against the body. If your parakeet crushes its feathers against its body, it means it is scared or uncomfortable with some situation or stimulus from its environment.
- Clean your plumage. Parakeets like to groom their bodies and plumage. If your bird spends some time out of its day cleaning itself, this is an excellent sign that it feels comfortable and safe in your home.
- Silence / immobility. Silence and immobility are often signs that something is not right, as healthy parakeets are generally active and cheerful. A bird that doesn’t sing, jump, move, or eat can get sick. Furthermore, it is possible for a parakeet to become “mute” or inert because it is afraid.
They are monogamous and form stable couples.
Like lovebirds, these birds are monogamous and form stable couples throughout their lives. If your partner dies, a parakeet can then find a new company. However, many of these birds go through grief over their partner’s death and may end up dying too.
When adopting a parakeet as a pet, the ideal is to adopt a couple and not a single bird. A single parakeet will have enormous loneliness.
These birds develop better and lead a happier life when accompanied. Regarding reproduction, we must emphasize that parakeets will only generate chicks from their eggs if the caretaker provides a nest.
They can develop diseases very similar to ours.
Parakeets are very sensitive birds that can get sick easily if not properly cared for. In fact, these birds can suffer from diseases very similar to those that people also develop.
Asthma, diabetes, depression, bronchitis and anemia are among the pathologies that humans and parakeets can develop. It must be clarified that this does not mean that these birds can transmit these diseases to people.
