Parrots living in the wild in Los Angeles have adapted to find food from a variety of sources. As omnivores, parrots are opportunistic feeders and will eat whatever food is available to them. The most common parrot species found in Los Angeles are Red-crowned Parrots, Yellow-headed Parrots, and Lilac-crowned Parrots.
What fruits do parrots eat in Los Angeles?
Parrots love fruit and this makes up the bulk of their diet in Los Angeles. The mild climate of Southern California allows a wide variety of fruit trees to thrive. Parrots will eat whatever fruit is in season and plentiful including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, apples, peaches, plums, apricots, avocados, mangos, figs, pomegranates, loquats, mulberries, and more. Palm fruits are also eaten by parrots.
Top 5 fruits parrots eat in Los Angeles:
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Plums
- Apples
- Avocados
Oranges are one of the most abundant fruits in Los Angeles. Non-native ornamental orange trees are common in yards and parks, providing an excellent source of food for parrots. Peaches grow well in the Mediterranean climate and produce fruit from May to September, overlapping with the breeding season for parrots. This high-calorie food helps adult parrots feed their chicks. Plums start fruiting in early summer and last through fall. There are many plum hybrids that have been bred specifically for the California climate. Apples are a cool weather fruit, producing abundant crops in late summer and fall after the hot summer months have passed. Avocados grow on trees year-round in Los Angeles and are relished by parrots.
What vegetables and herbs do parrots eat in Los Angeles?
In addition to fruits, parrots will supplement their diet with vegetable matter and herbs. Sources include:
- Tree leaves and buds
- Flowers like dandelions, hibiscus, roses
- Seeds from trees and shrubs
- Cactus fruits like prickly pear
- Beans and peas from gardens and farms
- Corn from gardens and farms
- Squash, lettuces, spinach from gardens and farms
Parrots enjoy eating the young leaves, buds, blossoms, and seeds straight from ornamental trees. They like the flowers from flowering trees and shrubs like jacarandas, crepe myrtles, magnolias, and bottle brush. Beans and corn are taken directly from gardens and farms during the late summer when they are mature. Leafy greens like lettuces and spinach are also eaten right from the garden. Squash is another favorite plundered from vegetable gardens.
What nuts, grains, and seeds do parrots eat in Los Angeles?
Parrots like high fat nuts and seeds which provide plenty of calories:
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Brazil nuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Pine nuts
- Acorn nuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower seeds
There are lots of nut trees planted in Los Angeles like almond, walnut, and pecan that parrots will feed on when the nuts are mature in fall. Peanuts and pistachios are found at bird feeders. Pine nuts come from pine cones parrots extract. Acorn nuts are plentiful under oak trees in the fall. Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite food at bird feeders. Safflower seeds are also eaten if found.
Top 5 nuts, grains, and seeds for parrots:
- Sunflower seeds
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Pine nuts
- Pistachios
Sunflower seeds are packed with nutrition and high fat content that parrots need. They are also readily available at neighborhood bird feeders. Peanuts are another favorite food found at bird feeders or sometimes left over on the ground from picnics. Almonds are abundant when the trees start producing nuts in August through fall. Pine nuts are calorie dense and parrots work hard to extract them from pine cones. Pistachios left on the ground are also a treat for parrots.
What protein sources do parrots eat in Los Angeles?
Parrots get protein from both plant and animal sources:
Plant protein sources:
- Beans
- Peas
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Whole grains like wheat, rice, oats
Beans, peas, nuts, and seeds all provide protein in addition to carbohydrates and fat. Grains also contain protein though not as much as legumes or nuts.
Animal protein sources:
- Insects
- Spiders
- Worms
- Snails
- Small lizards
- Eggs from birds’ nests
Parrots supplement their diet with protein from insects and other invertebrates. Caterpillars, grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, and ants are Types of insects parrots might eat. They will also eat spiders, worms, and snails. Very small lizards may occasionally be eaten if caught by a parrot. And parrots are known to sometimes raid birds’ nests and eat the eggs.
Top 3 animal protein sources:
- Caterpillars
- Worms and grubs
- Eggs
Caterpillars are a favorite high protein snack for parrots. There is an abundance on tree leaves for the parrots to find. Grubs and worms are dug out from rotting logs and soil. And unguarded birds’ eggs provide a concentrated protein source when parrots can access them.
What do baby parrots eat in Los Angeles?
Baby parrots rely completely on their parents to provide food for them in the nest. The diet consists of:
- Regurgitated fruit
- Seeds
- Insects
- Nuts
- Nectar
Adult parrots will eat fruits, seeds, nuts and insects, then regurgitate this food directly into the mouths of the nestlings. Nectar from flowers may also be regurgitated. As the chicks near fledging and leave the nest, the parents will bring whole fruits, seeds and insects for the youngsters to practice eating on their own.
Age | Diet |
---|---|
0-3 weeks | Regurgitated liquid diet |
3-6 weeks | Regurgitated fruits, seeds, insects |
6-10 weeks | Regurgitated food and whole fruits, seeds, insects |
For the first 3 weeks of life, the baby parrots are fed exclusively regurgitated liquid or semi-liquid diet by the parents. Between 3-6 weeks, more solid regurgitated food is provided including small pieces of fruit, seeds, and insects. From 6 weeks until fledging around week 10, the parents start providing whole foods for the babies to practice eating on their own.
What human foods do parrots eat in urban Los Angeles?
Parrots are very adaptable and will take advantage of human food waste in urban environments like Los Angeles. Foods they acquire from humans include:
- Fast food waste – pizza, french fries, donuts, chips, popcorn
- Sugary cereals, granola bars
- Bread products like bagels, muffins, tortillas
- Rice and pasta
- Dog and cat kibble
- Backyard bird seed and suet
- Fruit trees in orchards and gardens
- Garden vegetables
- Discarded nuts in shells
Parrots scout out garbage cans and litter for scraps of fast food which they seem to enjoy as rare treats. They raid bird feeders for seed and suet. And they take advantage of fruit trees, nut trees, and vegetable gardens planted in neighborhoods, gobbling up this readily available food.
How do parrots find food and water in Los Angeles?
Parrots are highly intelligent and use the following techniques to locate food and water sources:
- Memory – Remember locations of reliable food/water sources
- Flock following – Follow flockmates to known food areas
- Trial and error – Try out new potential food sources
- Visual cues – Look for trees with fruit, bird feeders
- Olfactory cues – Smell ripening fruit and vegetables
- Auditory cues – Listen for sounds of running water
Parrots have excellent memories and can remember productive food sources year after year. They follow each other to these sites and share collective knowledge about feeding areas. Parrots constantly investigate new areas and food sources. Their sharp vision spots fruit trees and bird feeders. Keen sense of smell detects ripening fruits and vegetables. And they can hear running water at fountains and irrigation systems.
How do parrots access food and water sources?
Parrots are acrobatic and use their beaks, feet, and intelligence to gain access to food and water:
- Beak – Crack hard nuts, extract foods
- Tongue – Drink water
- Feet – Climb fruit trees, hang upside down from feeders
- Problem solving – Open doors, solve puzzles to get food
- Tool use – Use sticks or other objects to extract foods
The strong beak of parrots crunches hard nuts and extracts hidden seeds and insects. Their tongue is used to lap up water. Feet allow parrots to climb trees and hang upside down at bird feeders. Parrots are intelligent problem solvers – they can open doors, solve puzzles, and unlatch bird feeder lids. Some parrots even use small sticks or other objects as tools to extract foods.
How does availability of food change with seasons in Los Angeles?
The types of food available to parrots changes based on the mild seasonal variations in Los Angeles:
Season | Foods Available |
---|---|
Spring | Fruit tree blossoms, sprouting seeds, insects, nectar |
Summer | Fruits, seeds, baby birds/eggs, vegetables, grains |
Fall | Fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, insects, sprouting seeds |
Winter | Fruits, seeds from cones/pods, grains, nuts, berries |
In spring, parrots eat blossoms from fruit trees, sprouting seeds, more insects as the weather warms, and nectar from flowers. Summer brings lots of fruits, seeds, baby birds and eggs, and vegetables and grains from gardens. Parrots eat autumn fruits, nuts, seeds, grains, and insects. Winter has fruits, seeds extracted from cones and pods, leftover nuts and grains, and any persistent berries.
Conclusion
Parrots in Los Angeles have adapted to take advantage of the city’s mild climate and abundant planted vegetation. Their diverse diet includes a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some protein from insects. They locate food sources using memory, sight, smell, and sound. Their beaks, feet, and intelligence allow them to access foods. And parrots are flexible and will eat different seasonal foods as they become available throughout the year.