It's a discussion for the future, not for PZ1 as we have it. Did you see the new features in JWE3?
Analyzing required animals by Taxonomical group
My thoughts on each group, with critical, essential, important/great, and nice to have species listed:
- Parrots:
- Macaws: If we get no other birds, I want macaws. They are popular and iconic.
- Scarlet Macaw: This is the popular and famous macaw.
- Blue and Yellow/Blue and Gold Macaw: This one is nearly as famous as the first and would pair nicely with it.
- Hyacinth Macaw: This one is very popular and more interesting for conservation.
- Military or Great Green Macaw: A green one would complete the main color patterns of the large macaws. That would be enough for me.
- Green-winged Macaw: This one is even more common in zoos than the scarlet. I could see a place for it as well.
- Hybrid Macaws: Not the best ethically, but there are some cool color combos.
- Lories and Budgies: I've given many budgies millet sticks in zoos, and I've seen a few that give fruit to lorikeets. Feedable small birds would be great.
- Budgerigar: I see them in zoos all the time. They are super iconic and my second choice for a parrot behind macaws.
- Rainbow Lorikeet: This one is colorful, popular, and common in zoos. I think they'd be great.
- Chattering Lory, Red and/or Cardinal Lory, Dusky and/or Black Lory: If they want to pull a grasslands and spam a bunch of lories, these would look nice.
- Cockatoos: I've seen many of them in zoos, and they are quite popular.
- Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo (or similar):
- Palm Cockatoo: This one looks cool and would be very different in coloration
- Galah: This one has nice colors and is somewhat common in zoos.
- Pink Cockatoo: It isn't as popular as the others, but it looks cool.
- Cockatiel: I'm more familiar with them as pets, but I've seen them in a few zoos.
- African Parrots: The grey parrot is the important one.
- African Grey Parrot: These are famous and very common in zoos. Many want this parrot.
- Lovebirds: I don't need them, but they are rather famous.
- Other New World Parrots: Conures and an Amazonian green also seem important.
- Amazonian Green Parrot: There are ~30 species, and several of them are pretty common in zoos. One would be nice.
- Sun Conure: These are so pretty, decently popular, and common in zoos. I would love them.
- Other Conure(s) (probably golden, Jenday, red-masked, and/or blue-crowned): If they want to pull a grasslands and spam a bunch of conures, these are somewhat common in zoos and would look nice.
- New Zealand Parrots: These birds and maybe a tuatara would finish off a nice lineup from NZ.
- Kakapo: I know it doesn't fly. If we get a bunch of parrots, the NZ players' favorite ought to be included.
- Kea: This one does fly, and would be good, too.
- Other Asian/Australasian Parrots: Some of these seem pretty nice.
- Rose-Ringed Parakeet: These are decently common in zoos, have a blue morph, and also live in Africa.
- Presquet's (Dracula) Parrot: They are interesting and a bit unique.
- Eclectus Parrots: Their sexual dimorphism is interesting.
- Eastern Rosella: I love the colors.
- Red-Breasted Parakeet: I think they look cool.
- Racket-tailed Parakeet: They look interesting. One might be nice.
- Macaws: If we get no other birds, I want macaws. They are popular and iconic.
- Hornbills: I think an Asian and an African species would be enough, but more would be nice.
- Great Hornbill: This is the big, pretty one that everyone wants.
- Von der Decken's or Red-Billed Hornbill: I think we also need an African hornbill for Zazu in The Lion King.
- Rhinoceros Hornbill: This one is also somewhat popular and common in zoos.
- Silvery-Cheeked and Trumpeter Hornbills: These are pretty common in zoos but not as visually interesting or popular.
- Hoatzin: Other people might disagree with me flagging this one as essential with its low zoo presence, but they are so iconic, interesting, and unique. I love them.
- Nightbirds: Mostly unnecessary, but there are a few exciting options.
- Frogmouth:
- Tawny frogmouth: These are awesome and present in zoos. I would like this.
- Hummingbirds: They've been suggested often. I don't think they are super common in zoos. They are neat, but not very necessary. I am not one who thinks they would work well. If I'm wrong, I hope for my local ruby-throated hummingbird.
- Potoo: Neat, but not kept in zoos. Their calls are freaky. I would like
- Swifts: Somewhat interesting nests, but not necessary
- Nightjars: Somewhat interesting appearance, but not necessary
- Oilbird: Not necessary
- Frogmouth:
Essential Parrots:
- Scarlet Macaw (Central & South America)
- African Grey Parrot (Africa)
- Rainbow Lorikeet and/or Budgerigar (Oceania)
- Southern Ground Hornbill (Africa)
- Great Hornbill (Asia)
- Tawny Frogmouth (Oceania)
Parrots: Oh, we need a ton. These are going to be the bird equivalent of what cats were to habitat animals, basically. Parrots are incredibly popular, incredibly colorful, and it is very common for zoos to exhibit multiple species. We need, at bare minimum:
Hornbills: Great Hornbill is non-negotiable. I’d honestly like to see two of these fairly early on, with the second being either the Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill or Red-Billed Hornbill - either way, a smaller African species that provides some nice visual and geographical contrast. In the long run, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing several hornbills in total.
I don’t recall if we discussed ground hornbills in a previous discussion, but I think it would also be very nice to have either ground hornbill species. But that would definitely need to be a traditional habitat animal, if we’re working under the assumption that aviaries will be a distinct thing (I haven’t seen the JWE3 stuff so maybe that would provide more context for what we should expect?)
Nightbirds: I wouldn’t call it quite “required”to the same extent as the above, but I think the obvious choice here is the Tawny Frogmouth. They’re pretty unique and interesting birds, and they’d give us a nice oddball inclusion.
The only other thing worth shouting out would be a hummingbird species for obvious reasons - they’re well known, incredibly iconic, and not nonexistent in zoos, but I personally don’t consider them a priority. I can’t picture them working as anything besides a glorified exhibit species, operating on a loop.
Hoatzin: I get the potential appeal, but this is just waaaay too out there to consider remotely a priority. We need a way firmer base of flying birds established before I’d care to even jokingly entertain this much of a curveball.
- Scarlet Macaw
- Blue-and-Gold Macaw
- African Grey Parrot
- a Cacatua species
- Budgerigar
- Rainbow Lorikeet
Hornbills: Great Hornbill is non-negotiable. I’d honestly like to see two of these fairly early on, with the second being either the Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill or Red-Billed Hornbill - either way, a smaller African species that provides some nice visual and geographical contrast. In the long run, I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing several hornbills in total.
I don’t recall if we discussed ground hornbills in a previous discussion, but I think it would also be very nice to have either ground hornbill species. But that would definitely need to be a traditional habitat animal, if we’re working under the assumption that aviaries will be a distinct thing (I haven’t seen the JWE3 stuff so maybe that would provide more context for what we should expect?)
Nightbirds: I wouldn’t call it quite “required”to the same extent as the above, but I think the obvious choice here is the Tawny Frogmouth. They’re pretty unique and interesting birds, and they’d give us a nice oddball inclusion.
The only other thing worth shouting out would be a hummingbird species for obvious reasons - they’re well known, incredibly iconic, and not nonexistent in zoos, but I personally don’t consider them a priority. I can’t picture them working as anything besides a glorified exhibit species, operating on a loop.
Hoatzin: I get the potential appeal, but this is just waaaay too out there to consider remotely a priority. We need a way firmer base of flying birds established before I’d care to even jokingly entertain this much of a curveball.
Parrots
I don't think we can deny thay Parrots are some of the most common and iconic Birds globally. Apart from zoological collections, they are popular as pets, in movies, and even videogames. To ignire parrots in a game with other flying birds sounds like the beginning of an angry mob...
Now, I'm not too knowledgeable about species, but here's what I'd think would be essential:
Hornbills
I don't know a whole lot about hornbills. I've see only 2 in my life, both greater hornbills. They look very cool and I think would be fun to have, and they will particularly flesh out Asian areas. Could also be interesting to house them next to toucans and show the similarities between them
Nightbirds
Ok, so I actually have little to no knowledge about these. I've never seen one, I have no idea of what species they are. Would they be cool? Probably, but I don't know ANYTHING about them
Hoatzin
You know, I was actually thinking earlier today how cool a hoatzin would be. They look primeval, but would be an exotic bird to have. They'd definitely look striking next to macaws. I think they'd be the perfect oddball bird to add 1st thing to the game, actually
So, in summary: Parrots galore. Bring hornbills, too. Nightbirds, meh. Hoatzon, cool oddball
I don't think we can deny thay Parrots are some of the most common and iconic Birds globally. Apart from zoological collections, they are popular as pets, in movies, and even videogames. To ignire parrots in a game with other flying birds sounds like the beginning of an angry mob...
Now, I'm not too knowledgeable about species, but here's what I'd think would be essential:
- Macaws - a must. Like, you can't NOT have macaws. All of them are beautiful, but the 2 I think should be definitely added are: scarlet macaws and blue-and-yellow macaws. Anything else will be a huge bonus
- Sulfur-crested cockatoo - a classy bird, cockatoos are very fun and I think they'd be just as important as a macaw
- Budgerigars - budgies are perhaps the 3rd most popular pet worldwide, following dogs and cats. All kinds of colors and color mutations, all kinds of personalities. These little guys would be exciting to have and fun to watch in-game, honestly, more than the above 2
- Monk parrot - the monk parrot is a simple, green parrot. Nothing particularly special, but there are blue and yellow varieties. Many have escaped and thrive in the subtropical/tropical Southeast US, and they'd interesting birds to have. An alternate name is the Quaker Parrot
- African grey parrot - these birds are one of the best mimicry experts, able to almost perfectly mimic human speech. They'd also be a prize parrot to showcase in African areas
- Lorikeets - the final parrot I feel is essential. They have a huge splash of color and are quite popular
Hornbills
I don't know a whole lot about hornbills. I've see only 2 in my life, both greater hornbills. They look very cool and I think would be fun to have, and they will particularly flesh out Asian areas. Could also be interesting to house them next to toucans and show the similarities between them
Nightbirds
Ok, so I actually have little to no knowledge about these. I've never seen one, I have no idea of what species they are. Would they be cool? Probably, but I don't know ANYTHING about them
Hoatzin
You know, I was actually thinking earlier today how cool a hoatzin would be. They look primeval, but would be an exotic bird to have. They'd definitely look striking next to macaws. I think they'd be the perfect oddball bird to add 1st thing to the game, actually
So, in summary: Parrots galore. Bring hornbills, too. Nightbirds, meh. Hoatzon, cool oddball
Last edited:
I know there's a one or two hummingbirds species in an old exhibit in the Parc des Oiseaux near Lyon.
A quick search on zootierliste tells me there's also hummingbirds in Plzen, Walsrode, Sant Alessio, Udine, Basel ; but that's it for Europe. They're very rare in Europe.
I don't know much about birds to be honest, so my pics are going to match the most common or well-known species by the general audience.
Parrots: scarlet macaw and blue and yellow macaw are the obvious choices for me. After those two, an African grey parrot would be nice too.
Hornbills: great hornbill or rhinoceros hornbill as an alternative.
I don't know what all other birds you mention are LOL
Also might be a hot take but i dont really think humming birds would actually be a good fit for the walkthrough exhibit.
I know its easy to imagine them as basicly feathered butterflies flying all over the place in big numbers being all pretty and colorfull. But hummingbirds are solitary and super territorial animals. So if you wanna do them properly you can only do like two in the WE and we would end up with the same "where is waldo" mini game of searching for ages to actually see an animal like with the standard exhibit. Only on an even bigger scale since the animal:exhibit size ratio is probably even 10 times more ridiculous than with the spiders and stuff
I know its easy to imagine them as basicly feathered butterflies flying all over the place in big numbers being all pretty and colorfull. But hummingbirds are solitary and super territorial animals. So if you wanna do them properly you can only do like two in the WE and we would end up with the same "where is waldo" mini game of searching for ages to actually see an animal like with the standard exhibit. Only on an even bigger scale since the animal:exhibit size ratio is probably even 10 times more ridiculous than with the spiders and stuff
Fort Worth Zoo has Broad-Billed Hummingbird on exhibit. It's the only time I've seen a hummingbird kept by a zoo, but it was enough to make me assume they're probably not the only ones.
A parrot I really want would be the mitred parakeet, so I can reproduce Doue's south american aviary.
In terms of parrots, we likely need 3 to 5 big species - 1-2 ara species, the African grey parrot, a cockatoo and/or the kea ; 1 or 2 medium sized parrots, like a conure or a larger parakeet ; and the budgie and/or lorikeet for a smaller parrot. So I'd feel comfortable which 9 species, I guess.
I'd like a flying hornbill (either rhinoceros or great hornbill, but honestly any would do) and either ground hornbill species.
In terms of parrots, we likely need 3 to 5 big species - 1-2 ara species, the African grey parrot, a cockatoo and/or the kea ; 1 or 2 medium sized parrots, like a conure or a larger parakeet ; and the budgie and/or lorikeet for a smaller parrot. So I'd feel comfortable which 9 species, I guess.
I'd like a flying hornbill (either rhinoceros or great hornbill, but honestly any would do) and either ground hornbill species.
Parrots
Probably at least six or seven species at least would be necessary, possibly a fair number more (a recent survey of EAZA zoos found that, on average, each zoo houses ten species of parrot). I would say at least two species of macaw are an absolute requirement (one of them being one of the predominantly red species - scarlet or green-winged, and the other a predominantly blue species - blue-and-yellow, blue-throated or hyacinth), plus the Congo grey parrot, a species of cockatoo, the golden conure (personal preference here), the kea and a parakeet (rose-ringed would be my preference, to provide a species found in both Africa and Asia). If I were to found up to ten, I would also add an amazon parrot, a lorikeet and perhaps the thick-billed parrot (a North American species from high-altitude Mexican pinewoods).
Hornbills and hoopoes
I think three hornbill species are needed - one of the larger Asian species (personally, I have no strong attachment to the great hornbill, and possibly would even prefer another species, like the wrinkled, rufous or rhinoceros hornbill), a smaller African species (the Von der Decken's hornbill may be my top choice here) and the Southern ground hornbill, although this one would be a habitat bird.
I would personally love the Eurasian hoopoe, which has a lot going for it - they are beautiful, not uncommonly kept in captivity, have a very wide wild range and are one of the few poisonous birds. However, I'm not sure how absolutely necessary they are.
Nightbirds
Of the birds mentioned in the little list above, the oilbirds and potoos are not kept in captivity and both nightjars and swifts (a relative of this group) cannot be kept in captivity. Among the remaining groups, I wouldn't mind a tawny frogmouth and at least one hummingbird species would be nice - I have personally seen two species in captivity before. One was a Costa's hummingbird, which lived in an indoor tropical walkthrough exhibit mixed with butterflies and other small birds, the other an Amazilia hummingbird that lived in a mesh enclosure similar in size to the in-game exhibits (certainly in Europe, this seems to be the standard way to keep hummingbirds).
Hoatzin
I'm not sure of the history of this species in captivity - I know they have been kept in the past, but I'm not sure if they have ever been bred in captivity. Either way, they are well down my list of requirements.
Haha yeah one of the reasons I avoided doing birds before is that many bird groups are rather... niche. I will say i already prepared the groups for these rounds, and there won't be any discussion focused on super niche groups (there will likely be 4-5 discussions overall)
TIL hummingbirds a territorial. I'd expect something so tiny to live in colonies.
Parrots
The Essentials:
-Scarlet and Blue and Gold Macaw: Pretty self explainatory, some of the most iconic and common parrots in zoos big and small.
-African Grey Parrot: After macaws probably the most famous among the big parrots and provides one for africa.
-One of Budgie/Cockatiel/Rainbow Lorikeet: One of the classic small walkthrough parrots
-Sulfur-crested Cockatoo: Also rather well known species offering a bigger species for australia
The Good Additions:
-Other Macaw species: I think the two above are the needed ones, but depending on how extensive the bird roster will be more would be cool. The next in line would probably be the hyacinth and military
-Blue-Fronted Amazon: Would be great to have a smaller parrot for SA besides the macaws
-Rose-ringed Parakeet: Cool and common species, offering a parrot species for asia
-Kea: Pretty unique species due to living in mountains
-Rosy-faced Lovebird: Cute and tiny parrot option for africa
-Galah: Very pretty
-Budgie/Cockatiel/Rainbow Lorikeet: I think having 1 of them is essential, but all of them are distinct and common enough that the other two should ideally also be added
Do we need all of these? Probably not, but the 4/5 essential paired with another 3 from the good additions would make a great parrot roster
Hornbills:
The Essentials:
-Greater Hornbill: Actually rather rare species in zoos, but arguably the most famous and striking
The Good Additions:
-Silvery-cheeked Hornbill: One of the more common species for africa
-Trumpeter Hornbill: One of the more common species for asia
-Van der Decken Hornbill: Cool, small savanah living species
-(Ground Hornbill): Id prefer these as habitat species actually.
Nightbirds:
The Essentials: I dont really think there are any that we are absolutely needed
The Good Additions:
-Tawny Frogmouth: Funky oddball species. If we have an neat base bird roster (idk 15 maybe) these would make a cool addition for providing something unique and different
-Potoo: Essentially the same as above, but id prefer the frogmouth between these two
Hoatzin:
Idk what to say here. Its a super unique bird thats currently completely abscent in captivity, so its essentially the saiga of the bird world. Its far from an essential species and i cant really bring myself to call it a particular good addition either, but it would certainly make a super interesting oddball addition.
The Essentials:
-Scarlet and Blue and Gold Macaw: Pretty self explainatory, some of the most iconic and common parrots in zoos big and small.
-African Grey Parrot: After macaws probably the most famous among the big parrots and provides one for africa.
-One of Budgie/Cockatiel/Rainbow Lorikeet: One of the classic small walkthrough parrots
-Sulfur-crested Cockatoo: Also rather well known species offering a bigger species for australia
The Good Additions:
-Other Macaw species: I think the two above are the needed ones, but depending on how extensive the bird roster will be more would be cool. The next in line would probably be the hyacinth and military
-Blue-Fronted Amazon: Would be great to have a smaller parrot for SA besides the macaws
-Rose-ringed Parakeet: Cool and common species, offering a parrot species for asia
-Kea: Pretty unique species due to living in mountains
-Rosy-faced Lovebird: Cute and tiny parrot option for africa
-Galah: Very pretty
-Budgie/Cockatiel/Rainbow Lorikeet: I think having 1 of them is essential, but all of them are distinct and common enough that the other two should ideally also be added
Do we need all of these? Probably not, but the 4/5 essential paired with another 3 from the good additions would make a great parrot roster
Hornbills:
The Essentials:
-Greater Hornbill: Actually rather rare species in zoos, but arguably the most famous and striking
The Good Additions:
-Silvery-cheeked Hornbill: One of the more common species for africa
-Trumpeter Hornbill: One of the more common species for asia
-Van der Decken Hornbill: Cool, small savanah living species
-(Ground Hornbill): Id prefer these as habitat species actually.
Nightbirds:
The Essentials: I dont really think there are any that we are absolutely needed
The Good Additions:
-Tawny Frogmouth: Funky oddball species. If we have an neat base bird roster (idk 15 maybe) these would make a cool addition for providing something unique and different
-Potoo: Essentially the same as above, but id prefer the frogmouth between these two
Hoatzin:
Idk what to say here. Its a super unique bird thats currently completely abscent in captivity, so its essentially the saiga of the bird world. Its far from an essential species and i cant really bring myself to call it a particular good addition either, but it would certainly make a super interesting oddball addition.
The aquarium of Genoa had a handful of them when I visited it a decade and a half ago, if that counts. But the exhibit was quite miserable despite being walkthrough.
Why is everyone yapping about flying birds when fully aquatic animals are being left out? Flying birds won't be coming until Planet Zoo 2 at least.
For This reason, now they're talking about flying birds
And don't worry, fish probably Will be in Planet Zoo 2 too