Favorite "obscure" parrot?

[colla-voce]

If you have a parrot that you have to keep explaining to people ("Oh, he's an African violet-naped conure. Yes, yes I said African. One of a kind, really."), I want to hear about what attracted you to that species and what it's like to live with them. Or just talk about your favorite little-known parrot if you don't own one!

 

[Mizzely]

Everyone that I know thinks all my birds are obscure species

 

[Lady Jane]

When I mention to others that I have an African Grey almost all of them think of a Congo. Well no guys it is a Timneh Grey.

Huh???

 

[Lyzzi]

Lesser and Greater Vasa.

 

[RedFeather]

Great billed parrot! Gorgeous with those scalloped feathers and reminds me strongly of my Alexandrine, but sadly only 2 pairs I know of in Canada. I would love one...

My WC pionus always gets some puzzled looks, but then most people in my experience can only identify finches, cockatiels, budgies and B&G macaws.

 

[sodakat]

Right there with you, Shawna. No one has a clue what I'm talking about and if I try to explain by giving another parrot as an example for size, they have no clue what THAT parrot is.

 

[Sierra_N_Fids]

My Red Bellied parrot, also my sisters Solomon Island Ekkie- people have actually asked us if he was fake before. Yep we walk in the the pet store with a fake bird hehe =)

 

[Somebirdie]

A lady at work asked what kind of bird I had, I said a Black Cockatoo. She then replied with "OH! Those are the really bright and colourful ones aren't they?!" I assume she meant macaws....I was confused...being called BLACK Cockatoos and all.

 

[Lady Jane]

You really have to be a bird person to understand what we are talking about. Almost no one knows that Parakeets are Parrots considered hookbills.

 

[Sadieladie1994]

Gang Gang. Don't see too many of those around. But you can find info about them on cockatoo board or heading.

Want obscure parrots....go to "other" parrots on most boards as that is where we call home

It's kind of fun explaining about Greater Vasa's and how Petoskey got his name. Tidbit....they LOVE to eat and are the least fussy parrot (next to an ekkie) in regards to eating. I can bribe him to do many things now. We have to go to behavior or something like that to get out of the "other" category. Their feathers feel like a greys feathers.

I am just tickled that your brought this up. There is someone else here who would love a Vasa and I told her Pet could be hers when I am gone (or pretty darn close to it).

 

[colla-voce]

Great billed parrot! Gorgeous with those scalloped feathers and reminds me strongly of my Alexandrine, but sadly only 2 pairs I know of in Canada. I would love one...

My WC pionus always gets some puzzled looks, but then most people in my experience can only identify finches, cockatiels, budgies and B&G macaws.

Those are so cool! I've heard great billed parrots have really winning personalities, too, but I wouldn't know from experience lol. And your pi would never get a puzzled look from me, just adoration. Don't tell the other birds but I think pionus are the prettiest parrots, their feathers are so iridescent and jewel toned and... *swoon*. Plus who can resist those big sweet eyes!

 

[Sadieladie1994]

You really have to be a bird person to understand what we are talking about. Almost no one knows that Parakeets are Parrots considered hookbills.

Try talking about a hemipenis, or why they have a yellow head with no feathers at certain times of the year.

 

[JAM]

Quite a few people I've met out and about whilst I have M-Star and/or Millow with me have been totally surprised when I tell them they are lorikeets. They assume all lorikeets are rainbows and don't realise they come in many forms let alone that they are a parrot.

 

[Somebirdie]

Try talking about hemipenises.

I've tried to explain this to people when sexing reptiles. They just don't get it hahaha

 

[Sadieladie1994]

Quite a few people I've met out and about whilst I have M-Star and/or Millow with me have been totally surprised when I tell them they are lorikeets. They assume all lorikeets are rainbows and don't realise they come in many forms let alone that they are a parrot.

Even parrot people are not as aware of lories. Love reading about them.

 

[JAM]

Even parrot people are not as aware of lories. Love reading about them.

I have to admit I didn't either till I looked into getting one and then educated myself as we were about to become a lory owner. They're indeed fascinating as are all of the other parrot species.

The lories are little celebirdies at our local Petbarn, the staff love seeing them come in and the customers all love seeing them interact and are always asking questions about them.

 

[HelenVanessaDavies]

Hmm I'd have to go with princess of wales parakeet

 

[MommyBird]

People have no idea what a "budgie" is and "budgerigar" confuses them even more.
Sorry I just cannot call them parakeets.

 

[ortegah]

I have a St. Thomas Conure AKA Brown Throated Conure. They are very hard to find. She just so happens to be our very first bird ever We didn't know she was rare or unheard of though at the time.

 

[Chantilly Lace]

Definitely my Pionus, no one can figure out what she is.