"O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things" (Isa. 25:1).
A photographer with color film or an artist with a good selection of bright colors will always find parrots interesting subjects.
One called rainbow lorikeet is a good example of this with so many bright colors-red, blue, green and orange all blending so beautifully. This one lives in Australia and, contrary to the appetites of most parrots, its food is mainly soft fruit and nectar from plants and trees, rather than nuts and seeds.
The blue-naped variety of the Philippines is another pretty one. The head feathers behind its reddish beak are a brilliant green, followed by a large patch of blue on its neck (which is how it got its name). The rest of its body feathers are a mixture of light green, blue, yellow and black- a very pretty combination.
In Peru there are great quantities of macaws, an extra-large type of parrot with varieties of coloring. These have large yellow beaks, behind which a typical example will have a bright red head, throat, neck and shoulders. These colors are followed by orange on the wings before they turn brilliant deep blue. Another feature of macaws is their long tails, a mixture of green and red-really beautiful birds.
The blue and gold macaw, also of Peru, is well-named with its bright blue top feathers. Its neck is yellowish-gold in back, but black in the front. Its white, round face has a small sharp black beak.
Another part of this family in nearby Brazil is the well-named scarlet macaw. With the exception of a few blue spots, its entire body is a display of brilliant scarlet feathers, including wings and tail.
Another in Brazil is called the red-spectacled parrot. This is because of a wide band of crimson across the top of its head that also surrounds its eyes. This one has a short tail, mostly deep green in color and red on parts of its wings. It is noted for its exceptionally long, strong claws.
If you have a parrot in your home or schoolroom you may say, "Our parrot isn't colored like any of those!" That's the interesting thing about these birds. The Creator has placed such a wide variety on the earth that it would be difficult to try to list them all at one time.
They remind us again of the splendor of God's creation. And not only has He created them, but the Bible tells us that He watches over them at all times. Do you know that He watches over you with an even greater love? His invitation to you is, "Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength" (Isa. 26:4).
Do you know Him as your Savior?