Best known for their chattiness and boisterous behavior, most parrots – with the exception of maybe Amazon and Pionus species – are not considered lazy by most who encounter them. They bounce from perch to perch, hang upside down just because they can and preen for hours a day, not likely candidates for the perch potato award. Still, some parrot species best all others with their lively animated nature and shear enthusiasm for life. Lories, caiques and conures fall into this latter category.

They occupy a busy little world where they remain in perpetual motion. Intelligent, curious, fearless and adventurous  are some of the adjectives used to describe these three groups of parrots. These are not birds for the reserved or timid bird owner.

Lories
These colorful clowns from Australia and the South Pacific are probably the most active and energetic birds you will find in an aviary today. The diametric opposite of sedate, these birds, large or small, play all the time. You’ll get dizzy watching them. Well-socialized lories delight in human interaction. Although they will cuddle up to you from time to time, most lories would rather make you their personal playgym. They will climb on you, swing from your hair and insist on playing fetch.

**For the full article, pick up the 2007 issue of Birds USA**