All Kinds of Pet Birds Trivia Quiz

Answer: Budgie

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), or budgie, is also known as the parakeet. It is a small parrot-like bird that is native to Australia, but is bred in captivity in many other countries for the pet trade. In the wild, budgies are typically green.

They also have a small amount of yellow on their heads, along with black markings on their heads, back, and wings. They have been bred in captivity to be a wide variety of colours, including blue, yellow, and white. Budgies are the third most common pet in the world after dogs and cats.

Answer: False

The cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a small member of the cockatoo family. Like many pet birds, it is native to Australia. The genus name of this bird was given by some of the first Europeans to see it. They thought it was so beautiful that they named it after the beautiful mythical nymphs.

The species name refers to the fact that Australia was once known as New Holland. It is the second-most popular pet bird in the world. As with budgies, they can be bred in captivity. Their species is not threatened, so they can be bred for the pet trade around the world without any issues.

Answer: Africa

There are nine species of lovebird in the genus Agapornis. Eight are endemic to various places in Africa, and one lives in Madagascar. This photo is a peach-faced lovebird (aka rosy-faced lovebird), native to Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.

Despite being native to Africa, some feral populations exist elsewhere. For example, the peach-faced lovebird has been introduced to Phoenix, Arizona. Lovebirds are kept as pets because they enjoy forming bonds with their human owners. They especially like to play games with their human using toys and small balls. Pet lovebirds don't need a lovebird mate because they will bond with their human.

They do need some commitment since they can live up to 20 years.

Answer: Canary

Domestic canaries (Serinus canaria forma domestica) are native to the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. In the 17th century, they were returned to Europe by Spanish explorers where they were bred for royalty and elite members of society to have as pets. Around 1900, pet canaries were taken into coal mines because they were more sensitive to toxic gasses, such as carbon monoxide, than the miners. If the toxic gas levels in the mine went up, the canaries would pass out long before the humans detected a problem, giving them time to escape.

There were some canary cages that were used that had a small attached oxygen bottle to revive the birds if they passed out in the mine. The last canary was used in British mines in 1986. Canaries make a popular pet because of their vibrant colour and the beautiful song of the males. Females typically only make chirps, and do not sing like the males.

Answer: Their ability to fly to great heights to drop their food

Despite being considered a vulnerable species in their native areas of South America, hyacinth macaws (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) are often kept as a pet by parrot lovers. Their striking blue plumage is beautiful. They are also the largest flying bird in the parrot species with a total length of about one metre (3.3 feet) from the top of their head to the tip of their tail. Hyacinth macaws feed on hard nuts such as Brazil nuts and coconuts, as well as various fruits. Both an extremely strong beak and a bone in their tongue help them to break the hard shells and access the nuts inside. Both wild and captive hyacinth macaws have been seen using tools to help them crack into hard nut shells.

They take a piece of wood or a leaf and chew into it to form a cradle for the nut to hold it in place while they are feeding. Hyacinth macaws that are kept as pets are noted for their gentleness in the hands of an experienced bird owner.

They are said to be complex creatures that need lots of stimulation and room to roam. If these needs aren't fulfilled by pet owners, they can become nervous and aggressive.

Answer: No

Cockatoos are native to Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. There are 21 species of cockatoo, including the cockatiel (covered in another question on this quiz). The different species vary in size and colour, but the ones kept as pets are typically one of the eleven species of white cockatoos in the genus Cacatua. All cockatoos have a crest of feathers on their heads that is raised and lowered for a variety of reasons. Cockatoos are a difficult bird to keep because of their social nature and longevity.

They are not usually good at mimicking human voices, so owners sometimes lose interest. The have a very loud screechy call that can be annoying. Their social needs can also be overwhelming for unprepared owners because they constantly need to be stimulated with activities. On average, cockatoos live 30-70 years, so owners need to be prepared for a long-term commitment.

Answer: It was named after a place

There are six species of rosella in the genus Platycercus. That genus name was derived from the Greek word platukerkos which means "broad-" or "flat-tailed". The wild birds are native to Australia. When Europeans first found the birds in an area that was then known as Rose Hill, they called it the rosehill parakeet. That eventually morphed into the rosehiller, then the current name of rosella. Pet rosellas enjoy bathing in small puddles, and eating various fruits, seeds, and vegetables. One thing that pet owners need to consider is that they enjoy spreading and flapping their wings, so cages need to be large enough to allow this behaviour.

Answer: Yes

Pacific parrotlets (Forpus coelestis) are small birds native to South America. They are about 11-14 centimetres (4.3-5.5 in) from the top of their heads to the tip of their tails. They are grey and light green with blue near their eyes and on their back ends.

The Pacific parrotlet is known to be an aggressive bird, so those who keep it as a pet are advised to keep only one at a time, or at most a breeding pair with no other types of birds. Despite its aggressive nature towards other birds, it is valued by pet owners in the US where there has been an official breeding program in place since 1930, long before conservation laws came into effect in 1975 that prevent the importation of wildlife from foreign countries.

Answer: Ring-necked dove

The ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola) is native to Africa, but can now be found in the wild in many warm areas such as the southern US. Pet owners who want a bird that is quieter than a parrot often choose these doves as pets. These doves do best in pairs, and will often successfully mate in captivity. Ring-necked doves cannot climb on the vertical cage bars like parrots, so they fly from perch to perch.

As a result, it is important to have a cage that is large enough to allow the 30 cm (12 inch) birds need to stretch their wings.

Another thing that is important for these birds is grit. Unlike parrots, who crack into their feed shells to eat the softer meat inside, doves eat their seeds whole, so need the grit to digest their feed.

Answer: They can be housetrained and kept indoors

Chickens are not an intuitive pet, but many families are bringing them into their backyards. They need to be kept outside because they cannot be housetrained, and their excrement is quite smelly. Non-rural chickens need an enclosure made of chicken wire to prevent them from wandering out of the yard.

They also need a building or shed where they can go at night to roost. Chickens are a great way to teach children the responsibilities of owning a pet while also getting eggs for the family to eat. Some families even sell the eggs that are laid to help them pay for the chicken feed.

Many North American cities have changed their bylaws to allow backyard chickens, but potential chicken owners should check the bylaws to confirm, and to check on the number of chickens allowed.