Parrots make up a group of birds with very well-defined characteristics: they are small to medium in size; their beaks are hooked and their upper jaws are mobile, articulating with the skull by means of a sort of bisagra; the tongue is fleshy and in some species such as the Australian ones, it has the shape of a brush to facilitate the ingestion of flower nectar; also, the neck and feet are short, the latter being adapted to balance themselves on branches and manipulate fruit and seeds - their basic food.

Parrots are gregarious birds. The color of their plumage is either partially or totally green, though it may be combined with other bright tones. Generally, they nest in the holes in trees and their hatchlings are born featherless. Unfortunately, this group of birds also includes the largest number of species in danger of extinction, mostly because of the loss of their natural habitat and their illegal trafficking as pets or decorative items.

Around the world, there are approximately 358 species of the order named Psittacids (Psittaciforms) that includes what we commonly call parrots, parakeets, cockatoos and macaws. These attract our attention because of their ability to vocalize and imitate the sounds around them. They are especially valued for their ability to reproduce the human voice (they can put together sentences ranging from sublime poetry to the grossest of insults).

That is why, ever since ancient times, they have been prized as companion animals. The ancient Maharajah of Nawanagar, India, had a 115-year old parrot that traveled with him to the four corners of the world, to the extent that the bird had an international passport. For his part, King George V (1865-1936) of England always had a parrot perched on his shoulder whenever he read official documents. When the King fell ill, the parrot was grief-stricken and only recuperated when he was allowed to be beside his beloved King once again.

Among the psittacids we find in the Bay of Banderas region, there are at least four species: the Orange-Fronted Parakeet (Aratinga canicularis), the Mexican parakeet, (Forpus cyanopygius,), the Lilac-Crowned Parrot (Amazona finschi) and the Military Macaw (Ara militaris). Of the four species, only the last two are in any serious danger. Despite that, the extermination of its natural areas continues on, even though the commercialization of some species is permitted.

The Orange-Fronted Parakeet gets its common name from the patch on its head. It also has blue feathers on its head and a wide yellow streak in the eye. The large blue patch on the wings is very noticeable. It can be found just about anywhere around the bay, but mostly in the surrounding tropical forest, the mangroves and the urban areas. It is a resident species distributed all along the Pacific slopes, from central Sinaloa to northeastern Costa Rica. Most often, it builds its nests in termite nests found high up in trees. Its size varies between 22.5 and 25 centimeters. In the state of Jalisco, it may be "hunted" from July to November.

The Mexican parakeet is small in size, ranging from 12.5 to 14 centimeters in total body length. It is green with a squat body, although it does have blue patches on the wings and the tail. These birds fly in large groups that are quite noisy. We can watch them all around the bay, and their geographical distribution is limited to Mexico's Pacific Ocean slopes, from southern Sonora to the state of Colima, which is why it is deemed to be an endemic species. When they perch on tree branches, they blend into the foliage and when they scatter away in all directions, it looks like an untimely, massive defoliation.

The Lilac-Crowned Parrot is endemic to the western part of the country. It is characterized by its dark red, matte forehead while the rest of its head is either lilac or light blue in color. Most of its plumage is bright green. Its total body length varies between 30.5 and 34.5 centimeters. It lives year round in the mountainous regions, though it can be found at sea level as well.

The Military Macaw lives along the coastal plains of the Gulf, the plains and the northwestern Sierras, the coastal plain of the Pacific, and to the southern Sierra Madre. It nests in cavities found in live or dead trees. In the western part of the country, its reproductive season starts with the selection of nesting sites between October and November, and ends with the hatchling leaving the nest, around January to March. The species is endangered because of the destruction and modification of its natural habitats as tree cutting to make way for parched agricultural land eliminates the spaces it uses for nests.

Also, its illegal trafficking as a pet and its hunt, whether for human consumption or to stuff it as a decorative item, have depleted the species and eliminated it from various regions of Mexico. Today, there are two large populations in the country: the one in our state of Jalisco and the one in Tamaulipas. Recent research has determined that in the area of Cajón de Peñas (about one hour south of Vallarta) would be an adequate area in which to establish a wildlife refuge for the protection of the Military Macaw.

On the other hand, there is a pair of Psittacids that are not originally Mexican, but they are widely spread as decorative birds. The first is the famous Australian parakeet, the Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Curiously, its scientific name means "the singing parakeet with undulating stripes", in reference to its lyrical abilities and the series of stripes that mark part of its head and back. Also, its common name in English is a corruption of the word "betcherrygah" used by Australian aborigines to designate the bird as a "good parrot".

This is one of the most widely domesticated parrots whose variety of plumage coloring is very extensive. The difference between the sexes is based on the plumage, the feet and the beaks. In females, the beak color ranges from light to dark brown; the feet and the legs are pink. On the other hand, the males have blue beaks, feet and legs.

Finally, the Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), like the specimens of its group, uses its strong beak as a prehensile hook or "third foot". For their part, this Australian bird's wings are narrow and pointed but its conspicuous feature is a crest of yellow feathers that give it an appearance worthy of a member of royalty. These birds are extremely intelligent and easy to train, they emit sounds without melody but they can be taught to whistle certain tunes. They are very sociable, with a good character, and they may live anywhere from 15 to 20 years

cupul@pvmirror.com