Are Parrots Color Blind?

Parrots are one of those chirpiest bird species that spread the waves of joy wherever they go. They can talk and mimic their owners which are amongst their greatest qualities. Besides, the parrots are much-loved for their charm and beauty.

If you want a sociable bird that would fill your life with pure bliss, then parrots would be the ideal pet for you. There is no denying the fact that parrots are quite smart. Yet most people think that these birdies cannot see all the colors. So the biggest question is whether parrots are color blind or not.

Are parrots color blind?

No, parrots are not color blind. In fact, they have better eyesight as compared to humans. They can see all the colors with more vividness. Besides, parrots can see ultraviolet light also which humans cannot see. Yet, the night vision of parrots is not that good.

How parrot eye is different from that of a human?

There are three types of cones present in the retina of both, the human and birds’ eyes. These cone cells work as color receptors for blue, green, and red objects. Besides these three, the retina of the birds comprises of fourth cone cell. This fourth cell assists the birds to see the ultraviolet light.

All the four cone cells of birds’ retina contain a droplet of colored oil. This improves and enhances the color which birds see. It also works like a lens that helps them to differentiate better between the colors. Due to these factors, the parrots’ daytime vision is excellent as compared to humans.

Why parrots are most active during the day?

Most parrot breeds fall under the category of diurnal birds. Such birds are most active during the daytime. The diurnal birds perch and snooze at night. As soon as the sun rises, they become active again. Due to this, parrots have the best color sense during the daytime.

Perceiving diverse colors is not vital for the nocturnal birds. These birds are most active during the night. They have more rods in their eyes than the cones. This allows them to see better in dim or low light conditions. Yet the colors might not appear to them vivid and clear. Amongst the nocturnal birds, owls are the only colorblind ones.

Is the parrots’ field of vision the same as humans?

No, humans have a 120-degree field of vision whereas parrots have a vision field of 300 degrees. Birds such as parrots have a peripheral sense of vision. The eyes of a parrot are on the sides of his head. It allows him to see in the front and both sides, that too at the same time.

The parrots have a small blind spot in the back of their heads. Due to this, they can see where they are heading, thereby keeping a check on their surroundings. This helps them to escape from predators in the wild.

How is the night vision of parrots?

Though parrots can see in low light; their night vision is not up to the mark. These birdies cannot see well in the dark. Besides, the parrots need around 5 to 20 times extra light than humans to see the colors in the dark. After the sunset, the ability of parrots to see the colors tends to fade.

Yet this does not imply that the parrots are colorblind at night. Their night vision is quite limited. That is why they often prefer to stay in familiar places at night. In the case of pet parrots, they would like to remain in their cages when it is dark.

Why the night vision of the parrots is not good?

The retina comprises of the cells or photoreceptors. These cells are of two types: cones and rods. The rods are sensitive to the changes in the light and dark. They assist in perceiving the movement and shape of the objects. When it is dark or dim, it is the rods that come into action. These do not play a major role in sensing the colors.

The cones are not light sensitive; they help in seeing the colors in bright light only. Like humans, the parrots have more cones and fewer rods. Due to this, they often face difficulty to see at night.

Do parrots have good depth perception than humans?

Yes, parrots have great depth perception in comparison to humans. They can perceive depth in a much better way, even for the objects that are at a great distance.

The humans can only see the three prime colors such as blue, green, red, and then the mixtures that these create. Besides these three colors, the parrots can see violet and ultraviolet also. Due to this, they can distinguish between male and female parrots. It also helps them to trace the bright objects that reflect ultraviolet light.

Are parrots prone to any type of vision disorder?

Yes, parrots are prone to vision disorders such as cataracts. The primary causes for this are age factor, vitamin deficiency, and infection. Besides, the regular vision of a parrot can also decline with time as he ages. As a result of this, the night vision of a parrot might even decline more. The following are the signs of declining vision:

• Blinking quite often
• Teary eyes
• Redness around the eye area

Do parrots have a nictating membrane?

Yes, parrots also have a nictating membrane like humans. It is an extra eyelid below the outer eyelid. The nictating membrane is transparent and helps to keep the eyes moist. It assists the parrots in keeping their eyes clean and protected from dust and other hazards.

Wrap Up

The sense of vision is the strongest out of all the senses of a parrot. They can see the full-color range along with ultraviolet light also.

Though the night vision of parrots is not that great; this does not make them less of anything. They are the most interactive and smart birds across the globe. Above all, the perkiness of parrots makes them stand apart.