Crimson Wing Parrot
The Crimson Wing Parrot is one of the most striking and beautiful parrots, but they are not very common pets. The crimson parrot is very easy to take care of and as long it has a large cage and can fly around a bit, they do not mind being kept in captivity.
There are color differences between the male and female crimson wing parrots. The males have completely black shoulders and upper back with a deep blue lower back. The rest of their bodies (body, tail and head) are a striking green. They also have a crimson patch on their wings, which is their namesake. The females are also very color, but their colors are a little duller. They do not have the ‘black cloak’ that males have on their upper back and shoulders. The blue on their lower back tends to be more pale and they usually have a pale green area on their lower abdomen. Both genders have grey under-wings with white tips.
Crimson Wing Parrot on Branch
The Crimson wing parrot is sometimes confused with the Australian King Parrot because they are of very similar temperament, size and habitat. A major difference between the two is that the crimson parrot will eat while hanging upside down. A lot of crimson parrots that were bred in captivity stop feeding upside down. These parrots are not picky when it comes to eating, but they really enjoy parrot pellets that are made for Cockatiels and other smaller birds.
Crimson parrots love to fly and that is why many people do not think they are suitable as a pet. They need an aviary or very large cage so that they can stretch their wings and fly around a bit. If they have enough space to fly around they are will put on a great show because they are very acrobatic fliers. You can keep then in smaller cages as long as you keep two things in mind. First, provide a perch for your feathered friend; the more the merrier. Crimson parrots love to hop from perch to perch when they become restless or bored. Second, you have to keep him warm. Do not forget that these parrots come from a very warm climate and if they are kept too cool they may develop health problems.
These parrots can grow to be quite large when fully grow, between 15 and 17 inches (38 and 43 inches). Crimson parrots are able mimic any other parrot and they also speak quite well; however, they are not as good as the African parrot or the Yellow Parrot. Crimson parrots are pretty quiet and only squawk when they feel threatened.
Crimson Wing Parrot's Wings
Crimson wing parrots play well with other parrots because they are social birds. They prefer to live in pairs and a couple of crimson wing parrots can often be heard chatting quietly with each other in their cage. There is a chance that a male will become aggressive towards the female, so it is a good idea to have a place to hide the female away when the male gets into one of his moods. As the male gets older it will become less aggressive (the can live to be up to 50 years old). You could also keep two males or two females together. That will avoid the aggression problems.
Many species of parrots love water and the crimson parrot is no different. An area of the cage where the crimson can bathe is much appreciated by your bird and showering your feathered friend occasionally will be great too.
Like I said earlier, people shy away from the crimson wing parrot because of the amount of space they need. It really is a shame because they are wonderful birds. They have a calm displacement and they are generally not annoying squawkers, but at the same time they are not brilliant talkers either. They are gorgeous birds and they would make a fine addition to any aviary.
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Parrot Lighting Guidelines
Birds have better vision than humans and so they have to make sure that they are not exposed to light that will harm their sensitive eyes. In the wild, birds make sure that they are exposed only the type of light that suits them, that they are not exposed to light for too long and they are only exposed to light at certain times of day. Parrots grow up and develop in the full spectrum of the sun’s light and they require it for their metabolism and behavioral development. This becomes important if you buy a parrot that is really young and is still growing; the light that you provide your feathered friend will affect his physical and emotional well being. Proper parrot lighting is critical.
Studies have shown that parrots can distinguish between many more shades of color when they are in sunlight. This helps them with their mating rituals, spotting potential danger and foraging for food. As you can imagine, it is not always easy to find a berry in the dense undergrowth of the rainforest, so being able to distinguish shades is critical.
This does not mean that you have to keep your parrot outside in the sunlight for hours and hours and each day; there is an easier and more convenient way of providing the right light to your parrot. The easier way is have a full-spectrum light source near your feathered friend’s cage. A full-spectrum light has all of the wavelengths of light that are useful to plants and animals, from infrared to near ultraviolet. Sunlight is a full-spectrum light. The term full-spectrum is not a scientific name it is just a commercial name that lets you know that the light source is comparable to natural sunlight. Many beginner parrot keepers place their parrot cages near a sunny window instead of buying a full-spectrum light. Although it is a good idea, unfortunately, windows in homes filter out UVA and UVB light rays and those are critical to your parrots development and overall well being.
The reason your parrot needs full spectrum light is the synthesis of Vitamin D3. Your parrot synthesizes Vitamin D3 when sunlight strikes its body and it is regulated by the parrots natural internal processes. This vitamin helps your parrot absorb Calcium from its diet, which is essential for strong bones and beak. Too little Calcium causes a parrot’s bones to become brittle and they will break easily. On the other hand, too much Calcium may cause kidney problems, including kidney stones. You do not have to worry much about the Calcium levels in your parrot as long as he is getting full spectrum light which lets his body synthesize Vitamin D3 as needed. Vitamin D3 also has a role in the glandular system of your feathered friend and that guarantees healthy and consistent feather growth, and reproductive and molting cycles.
You need to place the full spectrum light within three feet of your parrot and it needs to be on at the same time every day. Since the light source is very close to your parrot, you have to ensure that he cannot reach the light fixture and destroy it or hurt himself by chewing through cables. Each breed of parrot requires the light to be on for different amounts of time. You will do well to follow the recommended time exposure to the light because diverging to far from it may cause your bird to be aggressive or depressed. Most species require 2 to 4 hours of daily exposure. The smaller species, such as, parakeets or canaries can get by with only 1 to 2 hours per day. If you have a large parrot, such as an African parrot then you will need to give them 4 to 6 hours full spectrum light a day.
Do yourself a favor and buy a timer for your full spectrum light set up. That way the task is automated and you do not have to worry about it. If you live far north or south of the equator then you will have to make sure that your parrot has access to sunlight or a full-spectrum light for 7 to 12 hours a day. Parrots are mostly found near the equator where the sun shines for roughly 12 hours a day all year long. They also spend time in the shade, so they will be in the sunlight between 7 and 12 hours on any given day. Your feathered friend needs that many hours of light to control their metabolic rate, regular their internal clock and maintain healthy endocrine function. All of those things are vital to your parrots overall, long-term health.
Your parrot is sensitive to its immediate environment and you it is job, as a responsible parrot owner, to make sure that your bird’s surroundings are healthy and positive. Your parrot’s surroundings include everything from the size of the cage, the location of the cage, the type of light they’re exposed to, the types of toys you provide and the variety in your parrot feeding regimen. As you have learned in this article full spectrum light is vital to the health of your parrot and it is something that you do not want to neglect. The proper parrot lighting will help keep your bird healthy and happy for many years to come.
Ryan Benson is the author of The Ultimate Parrot Training Secrets. In this eBook you will find information on how to care for your parrot and make sure that it stays healthy and happy for life. – required reading for anyone that is considering a parrot.
YES, Ryan! I Absolutley Want To Learn The Secrets Of Raising And Keeping A Vibrant, Happy And Healthy Parrot For Life!
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