Integrating recent literature with their own extensive field studies, Alan Bond and Judy
Diamond provide an accessible account of the life of wild parrots – how they perceive their
surroundings, how they express emotions, how they play, think, learn, socialize, and
communicate, and how they adapt to a rapidly changing world.
University of Chicago Press
Available July 2019
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People establish close and supportive relationships with parrots, even though these
amusing and curious birds remain thoroughly wild creatures. Parrots evolved in the
forests of the Southern Hemisphere as versatile foragers, making use of a wide range
of resources. To understand these unique
birds, the authors focus on the psychology and ecology of wild parrots, documenting their
sophisticated cognition, astonishing vocal abilities, complex social networks, and
extensive play behavior. Interspersed among the chapters are short vignettes – field notes
of the natural history and behavior of various species, ranging from the rarest
to some of the most widely distributed parrots. Through this composite approach, the
book highlights how the behavior of captive parrots is grounded in the birds’ wild ecology
and evolution. Nearly all large parrots are rare, threatened, or endangered, and the
survival of many of them remains uncertain. Their individual vulnerability depends on a
complex set of ecological and behavioral traits, requiring a full understanding
of their field biology to manage their populations. Spanning across the global
distribution of parrot species, the authors present surprising insights into their
intelligence, flexibility, and resilience.
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