Cockatoo owners often record their pets dancing to music. Now, researchers have catalogued many of their complex dance moves.
Articles on Parrots
Displaying 1 - 20 of 26 articles
Trees are invading the open, grassy habitat of the endangered golden-shouldered parrot – giving predators cover to lie in wait.
Let’s cast the holly, snowmen and reindeer aside to decorate our homes with Aussie Christmas crafts instead. How about Christmas beetle baubles, paper parrots and ornamental echidnas?
New research reveals how parrots and finches develop their extraordinary colours – and shows that evolution is an ongoing process.
Urgent action is now needed to protect these vulnerable populations and ensure the night parrot doesn’t become extinct.
Norfolk Island green parrots are self-medicating with pepper tree bark and leaves, to rid themselves of parasites. But is there more to it? Birds are known to indulge in alcohol and take stimulants.
A wonky skull. Enlarged ear chambers. Asymetrical ears. It looks like the elusive night parrot has traded off vision for excellent hearing
The only other species known to do this are humans and chimpanzees.
The pet trade has spurred a wave of bird imports, leading to escapes or even deliberate releases of exotic species into the wild. New research reveals the threat they now pose to native birds.
Social media platforms have enabled wildlife traders to connect as never before. Some operate legally, within the boundaries of international laws. Others are less scrupulous.
Corvids and parrots might be the superstars of the bird world - but other species like gulls, geese and even chicken have shown some impressive skills too.
The paradise parrot was rediscovered by Cyril Jerrard, a Queensland grazier, in December 1921. But its return was fleeting.
‘Shape shifting’ animals are evolving to deal with heat – by changing the size of their ears, tails, bills and other appendages.
Move over, bin chickens: bin cockies are here, and scientists say they’re confirming the cultural intelligence hypothesis.
For the past 50 years, international animal cognition research has focused on how tool use is related to animal intelligence. But new research casts doubt on long-held assumptions.
Kea were able to correctly guess the most probable scenarios, by evaluating various physical and social cues. Previously, only great apes and humans were known to be able to understand probability.
The newly discovered Heracles inexpectatus stood nearly a metre tall. And its fossil bones sat undiscovered on a museum shelf for more than a decade before its hefty status was finally appreciated.
Here’s how climate change affects recovery efforts for the elusive western ground parrot.
Models suggest that the effects of climate change will devastate the already threatened Timneh Parrot.
The last Carolina parakeet died in a zoo a century ago. A scientist tries to unravel some of this bird’s lasting mysteries.
Top contributors
-
Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Biology, Australian National University
-
Honorary Professor in Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University
-
Associate Professor in Wildlife Conservation, Edith Cowan University
-
Research Director and Curator, Australian National Wildlife Collection, CSIRO, Canberra, CSIRO
-
Affiliate, University of Kent
-
Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
-
Professor of Environmental Science, Australian National University
-
Postdoctoral Fellow in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
-
Distinguished Professor of Ecology, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
-
Deputy Director and ARC Future Fellow, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, Adelaide University
-
Senior Lecturer, Public Sector Management, School of Business, UNSW
-
Post-doctoral fellow, Australian Landscape Trust, Calperum Station, James Cook University
-
Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England
-
Professor of Ecology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
-
Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University