uncommon bird species

[Giantmoa]

what are some rare/unusual bird species you've heard of? or that are just not too common in the pet trade? I keep running into species that I've never heard of (like the kakarki??) and I wonder what experiences people have had with the lesser known parrots out there.... just curious ^_^

[skeetersunconure]

i love hawk headed parrots but apparently they are not to commen

[a.susz]

red sided parakeet. i am a groomer so i see alot of different bird types, this is one i have only seen once and didnt even know the name of it! looks like a rosella, but is all green(same color as an eclectus) with red sided wings, and an orange beak. beautiful fun birds. cant even find pictures online.

[Natacha]

I've seen a lot of common and less common birds.

One I'd love to see but haven't yet is a Black palm cockatoo...not that common in Canada

[a.susz]

natacha i agree, have only seen video of a black palm, they are so mysterious looking.

[TheNzJessie]

uncommon birds in new zealand that u pay an arm and a leg for are ones that i see a lot of people have in the states and canada , eg african greys, senegals, we dont even have cape parrots in the country as my knowledge goes, have never heard of the Meyers parrot in new zealand. but birds i dont see a lot of Americans and Canadians owning are rainbow lorikeets which u can pick up in new zealand for as little as $100 and you can pay up to $10,000 for an African grey but birds that are more expensive overseas u can get cockatoos for anywhere between $400 $1200 and can pick up a breeding pair for about $1400-$1500 blue and gold macaws run from $10,000 from the breeders

(note that these prices are new Zealand dollars)

[Kim S]

I have had Kakariki's in my aviari. They are not that rare here in Europe.
Kakariki's come in green, yellow and pied. They are very active happy go lucky birds that use your aviary as a playgym. They can fly like nothing I have ever seen. They are truly acrobats in the sky!
I love the sounds they make, the souds like little goats, "be-e-e-e-e-e".
You just cant keep them with the rest during breedingseason, they become really hormonal and start pestering other birds.
Picture of one of my own:


And I have had barred parakeets (not sure how rare they are over there, but quite common here).
They are beatifull birds, and they act just like little parrots. But they didnt really feel at home in my aviary. I think the budges were too much noise for them. Barred parakeets lookt to me like very shy and easily scared birds. Huddled up in a corner, I never saw them much.


The most bautifull, but rare,birds I have ever seen are the hyacinth macaw and the red tailed black cockatoo. The first you all know. The latter is absolutely beautifull! The female looks like she has stars all over her body.

[Natacha]

The most bautifull, but rare,birds I have ever seen are the hyacinth macaw and the red tailed black cockatoo. The first you all know. The latter is absolutely beautifull! The female looks like she has stars all over her body.

I've heard of the red tailed black cockatoo and have seen pictures before. I would also like to meet one.

I also wanted to meet a hyacinth macaw and have had the chance to do so. The first year I attended the Canadian Parrot Conference (two years ago), they had three on site - two belonged to people and the third one was brought by one of the vendors, who wanted to show him off (I had also met this bird in the actual pet store prior to this). At the Conference, I got to hold him a bit..he got heavy after a while



However, with his price tag ($25,000.00 CAD), I don't think he found a new home that week-end...

[Michael]

One I'd love to see but haven't yet is a Black palm cockatoo...not that common in Canada

I've seen one in a common bird store

[Kim S]

yeah me too, one that doesnt need to be fed or watered and can be pun on your shelf next to all the others