Wildlife of Ecuadorian Amazonia
Parakeets and Parrots
Parrot clay licks, two species can be seen in this picture. Cobalt-winged Parakeets and one Orange-cheeked Parrot at the right in the back.
It is now known that clay licks form an important part of the biology of parrots and macaws. Both parrots and macaws live by eating nuts from a variety of trees. Some of these trees have developed defenses against having their nuts eaten: typically by having evolved a toxin that is in the nut to protect it. Any animal that eats the nut will then become sick. Parrots and macaws have evolved with these trees, and have developed their own response to the toxins in the nuts. The answer lies in the clay. Certain minerals in the clay are able to neutralize the toxins in these nuts, and so parrots and macaws seek out deposits of this very special clay.
Taken at the Napo Wildlife Center
Credit: Felipe Arteaga
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