Image: A parrot enjoying his snackImage by: Jef Poskanzer
Text by: Tanya Munshi
Do different breeds of birds have different dietary requirements? The answer is yes. That is why a prior knowledge of the species of birds is very important before getting home a pet. You wouldn’t want to get an exotic bird home and find that his dietary requirements are more expensive or not easily available than you thought.
Let’s take the example of the parrot family – the psittacines. There are six classifications of birds all depending on their dietary habits.
Florivores are those birds whose main dietary source is plants. For example, the Red-faced parrot, military macaw and the blue and gold macaw. Macaws are brightly coloured long-tailed parrots from Central America and South America. They are known to be one of the largest and the most colourful of parrots. Their diet includes seeds, fruits, nuts and berries
Granivores are those birds whose main dietary source is seeds and grains. They fall under the category of florivores. For example Hyacinth macaw, small Australian parakeet (Budgerigar) and small grey Australian parrot (cockatiel). Their diet entails seeds and grains.
Nectarivores are those birds, such as the Small Australasian Parrots (Lorikeet), whose main dietary source is nectar. They too fall under the category of florivores. Their diet includes nectar, pollen and seeds.
Frugivores are those birds whose main dietary source is fruits. They fall under the category of florivores. Birds like the blue-throated macaw and the green-winged macaw’s diet includes flowers, fruits, nuts and seeds.
Omnivores are those birds whose main dietary source is both plants and animals. Birds like red-tailed Amazon and sulpher-crested cockatoo thrive mainly on insects, seeds, and fruits.
Let’s take the example of the parrot family – the psittacines. There are six classifications of birds all depending on their dietary habits.
Florivores are those birds whose main dietary source is plants. For example, the Red-faced parrot, military macaw and the blue and gold macaw. Macaws are brightly coloured long-tailed parrots from Central America and South America. They are known to be one of the largest and the most colourful of parrots. Their diet includes seeds, fruits, nuts and berries
Granivores are those birds whose main dietary source is seeds and grains. They fall under the category of florivores. For example Hyacinth macaw, small Australian parakeet (Budgerigar) and small grey Australian parrot (cockatiel). Their diet entails seeds and grains.
Nectarivores are those birds, such as the Small Australasian Parrots (Lorikeet), whose main dietary source is nectar. They too fall under the category of florivores. Their diet includes nectar, pollen and seeds.
Frugivores are those birds whose main dietary source is fruits. They fall under the category of florivores. Birds like the blue-throated macaw and the green-winged macaw’s diet includes flowers, fruits, nuts and seeds.
Omnivores are those birds whose main dietary source is both plants and animals. Birds like red-tailed Amazon and sulpher-crested cockatoo thrive mainly on insects, seeds, and fruits.
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