These strong, grasping feet enable parrots to grasp fruits and nuts, climb, and even hang acrobatically from tree branches. Parakeet is a general name for many kinds of small to medium-sized parrots, especially those with long, pointed tails. Parrots are noisy, sociable birds that live chiefly in forested areas. Parrots commonly eat fruits, nuts, seeds, and buds. Some also eat nectar and pollen.
Most parrots choose one mate for life.
Female parrots lay round, white eggs. They deposit the eggs in holes in trees, on the ground, in cracks in rocks, or in holes dug in termite nests. The monk parakeet of Argentina builds a huge community nest out of sticks. Many pairs of monk parakeets share the nest, which provides a safe place to lay eggs and also protects the birds from cool weather. Other parrots may nest in artificial nest boxes placed in trees by people.