Читать книгу Birds For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 57

The Pionus (pronounced “pie-oh-nus”) could be the poster child for the underappreciated parrots. Relatively quiet and easygoing, these birds can be excellent choices as companion parrots. They’re not necessarily the best talkers, but they’re quite capable of picking up a few words and phrases. Because of their gentle nature, the Pionus parrots, including the blue-head, white-cap, dusky, Maximillian’s, and bronze-wing, are ideal for any living situation.

Why are these fabulous pets passed by? Probably because their coloration isn’t as striking as other parrots’ — you could even call them plain. Don’t overlook them, though: Pionus parrots have fantastic potential to become wonderful companions. Depending on rarity or popularity, you can purchase these birds starting at $500, with some going for $2,500 or more. With good nutrition, husbandry, and love, their life expectancy can reach 30 to 40 years.

An interesting characteristic of the Pionus is the Pionus snarfle, which sometimes frightens new owners, and even some veterinarians who’ve never heard the sound, into believing that some sort of serious respiratory problem is present. When under stress or excited, the birds occasionally breathe rapidly in and out through their nares, making an impressive ear-catching sound until they calm down. We don’t really know why they do this, but the Pionus snarfle is nothing to worry about other than the need to try to figure out what’s causing the agitation or excitement, and it’s actually often the subject of a good laugh!