If you think you're familiar with your pet parrot then think again. Did you know there are roughly 350 species of parrots in the world and to confound you even more, the species are divided into two: true parrots and cockatoos.

Cockatoos are not parrots?

Well technically due to a number of anatomical differences, science differentiated cockatoos from the true parrots family, nevertheless, they both fall under the order Psittaciformes.

If you are the proud owner of a pet parrot, then you probably know by now that parrots are one of the most intelligent birds which make them really popular pets. One of the the most distinctive characteristic of a parrot is their ability to mimic human speech. This ability has made the African gray parrot very popular. In fact it is known that ancient Romans used to keep them as pets as well.

Undoubtedly, parrots love the attention, some species need more than others. These incredible birds are generally very active, playful, curious, at times moody, and even some species come to the point of being aggressive. Everything boils down on how well you treat your pet parrot.

A pet parrot can be placed in a cage or aviary. Now, here's something you should remember in picking a cage: avoid the tall, narrow, and round cages. Such cages have never been good for birds unless they are huge dome type cages, which actually is already an aviary rather a cage. Anyways, what you need is a cage that allows your pet to fully spread its two wings. Anything less than that, you shouldn't consider buying.

If you are thinking the parrots in the movies and television shows don't have cages, should I let my parrot roam around outside its cage? Well, ideally a pet parrot should be let out once a day but make sure that you or someone else will be there to look after him unless you want your furniture chewed or clawed up by the end of the day.

With regards to feeding, a parrots diet is usually a combination of bird pellets and fresh food, mostly fruits. Feeding your pet purely pellets is not a good idea. Its best to diversify your parrots diet, often supplementing the pellets with fruits, vegetables, grains and even pasta and rice. You can even make something fun out of your food preparation or provide your pet some food challenges to get it engaged on a new food course.

Just like any other pet, you need to be responsible with your pet parrots. But despite all the hassles of taking care of your parrot, always remember that your pet is also your companion that you'll share special moments with so, have fun and enjoy every moment.