How Many Toes Does A Parrot Have?
Parrots come in many colors: gray, brown, red, green, yellow,
blue, white, black, and various shades of all of those. Parrots
can be very small, 4 inches (10 centimeters) – or very large,
40” (100 centimeters) . Some parrots learn to talk well, while
others never talk at all.
There are certain things, though, that all parrots have in
common. They all like to live in warm places, for one thing. In
addition, consider the following four similarities.
1. Beak: Every parrot has a curved, hooked beak. The beak is
very strong, and able to inflict a deep wound. Its primary
purpose, though, is to crack open strong nut shells or tear
apart other food. A parrot uses its bill for “transportation”
at times, too, pulling itself to a higher branch or perch with
the strong bill.
2. Body: Every parrot has an upright body. Most birds, by
comparison, have a horizontal body. Parrots’ bodies are upright
like humans.
3. Legs: Parrots have 2 short legs.
4. Toes: How many toes does a parrot have? All parrots have 4
toes on each foot. Parrot toes are zygodactyl. That means the
first and fourth toes are turned backward. The second and third
toes turn forward. Song birds also have 4 toes, but they have 3
toes forward and 1 toe backward.
Useful Parrot Toes
Parrot toes make for awkward walking, but they are very useful
tools. Parrots can use the 2-forward, 2-backward combination as
humans use a thumb and finger, grasping objects tightly between
back and front toes.
The 4 parrot toes produce a foot pattern that lets them grasp
branches and move along a branch. Progress is always sideways
in slow, deliberate steps.
The 4 parrot toes also enable a parrot to grasp food in its
foot. Using its 2 front toes and 1 of the back toes, it holds
the food tightly as it bites off pieces with its beak. A parrot
usually holds the perch with its right foot, and lifts food to
its mouth with the left foot.
Parrot toes are useful for tricks, too. Many parrots delight in
showing off for your praise by dangling upside down from a perch
or the ceiling of their cage, often by only 1 toe! In the wild,
this trick helps them reach food.
Parrot Toes in Training
The first step in training a parrot is to acquaint the parrot
with your touch. Its 8 parrot toes can be your bridge to
success in this. Gently touch those parrot toes for a moment,
and then withdraw your hand. Wait a few second, and then reach
into the cage to touch the toes again. Let your parrot see that
nothing bad happens when you touch its toes. When it accepts
this touch, move on to touch its legs, and work your way up the
parrot. Be sure other family members also touch the bird
frequently so it does not become a one-person parrot.
When you are ready to finger train your bird, those parrot toes
will again be important. Choose the evening, when your parrot
has eaten and is less lively. In a quiet room, open the cage
door slowly, and put your index finger into the cage. Slowly
touch the parrots’ abdomen and it will hop onto your finger,
clinging with its toes to maintain balance. Do not remove it
from the cage the first few days. Simply repeat your finger
training. When it is at ease with the action, slowly pull your
finger with the parrot on it toward the cage door where you
have placed a treat. With patience, your parrot will soon
respond to a “Step Up” command and get on your finger when
asked.
Always remember that a parrot will never step down – only up.
Always hold your finger or a perch above the parrot’s toes.
A clever trick that is quickly learned by a parrot is a cute
wave of those 4 parrot toes. You can also teach it to put its
foot to its beak on command.
Parrot Toes and Toys
It is important to keep parrot toes busy and exercised. Parrot
foot toys are an answer that provides entertainment as well as
exercise. Parrot foot toys are small enough for a parrot to
hold with its foot. The parrot will then chew the toy, getting
great enjoyment out of its destruction!
How Many Toes Does a Parrot Have? Exactly the right number to
walk, climb trees, move along branches, eat food, learn tricks,
and play.
About The Author: ©2007, Anna Hart. An avid reader and
researcher, Anna explores many parrot species, and offers other
interesting parrot information at
http://www.parrots- of-the-world. com If you would like to learn
more about how to train your parrot, you won’t want to miss
Anna’s advice.