Parrots of the World provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of all 400 living parrot species, with detailed entries for each. Alongside species accounts, it explores parrot biology, behavior, and social lifestyles, making it valuable to both ornithologists and aviculturists. The book begins with an introduction to the parrot family, tracing its origins through the fossil record and global evolution, while highlighting the ongoing discovery of new species. It then examines the defining characteristics of parrots, from their colorful plumage to specialized adaptations such as the pollen-gathering tongues of lories and lorikeets and the powerful nut-cracking bills of large macaws. Alderton also explores parrots' renowned mimicry and intelligence, non-vocal communication, pair-bonding, and nesting behavior. An overview of the long-standing relationship between parrots and humans precedes the book's core section: standardized accounts of every parrot species, organized into Old World and New World groups, each accompanied by a distribution map and photograph.
