Last Updated on by Mitch Rezman
Because of the hundreds of pet bird species Parrot care and diet can not be generalized but must be dealt with on a species-specific basis
Thus with full transparency I boldly admit that “7 species of parrots to consider as pets” is mere “clickbait”.
Looking only at seven species is a formula for failure.
Here are some examples, of why:
One of the larger parrot species, ~ three feet long ~ is known for its striking red, blue, and yellow plumage. Scarlet macaws have a strong beak and require a spacious cage and plenty of enrichment to prevent boredom. They are social birds and enjoy interacting with their owners.
Scarlets, Greenwings, Hyacinths, Blue & Golds, are the big boys (and girls)
A Scarlet macaw counterpoint is the Hahn’s Macaw: A smaller parrot species ~ one foot long ~, often kept as a pet due to their playful and affectionate nature. Hahn’s macaws have green feathers and a distinctive red patch above their beak.
They are intelligent birds and can learn to talk and perform tricks. Hahn’s macaws are about the size of a sun conure but have a longer tail.
A brightly colored parrot species, known for their yellow, orange, and red plumage. Sun conures are active and playful birds that require plenty of toys and interaction to keep them happy. They can be noisy and require patient training to prevent excessive screaming.
Sun conures and Hahn’s macaws are both small to medium-sized parrots, but there is a notable difference in size between the two. Sun conures typically range in size from about 12 to 15 inches (30 to 38 cm) in length and weigh between 3.5 to 4.5 ounces (100 to 130 grams). Hahn’s macaws, on the other hand, are slightly smaller than other macaw species and usually grow to around 12 inches (30 cm) in length and weigh between 6.5 to 8.5 ounces (180 to 240 grams).
So, in terms of size comparison, Hahn’s macaw is slightly smaller and heavier than the sun conure.
A medium-sized parrot species is often kept as a pet due to its intelligence and ability to mimic speech. Indian ringnecks have green feathers with a distinctive ring of black around their neck. They can be somewhat independent and require a patient owner to develop a bond.
Slightly smaller but very similar is the African ringneck, green in color with a similar propensity to fill out a robust vocabulary.
One of the most intelligent parrot species, known for their ability to mimic human speech and understand complex concepts. African greys have gray feathers and distinctive red tails. They require plenty of mental stimulation and social interaction to thrive. African Greys come in 2 flavors, Congo and Timneh.
Congos are medium large bits but Timneh Greys are the size of the largest of conures, the Patagonian, conure.
A medium-sized parrot species, known for its striking blue and green plumage and distinctive feather crest. Hawk-headed parrots are intelligent and active birds that require plenty of toys and interaction to prevent boredom.
A small to medium-sized parrot species, often kept as a pet due to their friendly and affectionate nature. Cockatiels have gray feathers with a distinctive yellow crest on their head.
They can be independent birds but still, require plenty of social interaction and attention.
If we have thoroughly confused you, you’re welcome.
It’s important to note that each individual parrot has its own unique personality and needs, so this is just a general overview of the differences between these species. It’s also crucial to do your research and consult with a veterinarian or avian expert before getting a pet parrot to ensure you can provide them with the proper care and environment they need to thrive.
You can’t simply want a macaw, we’ve identified 43 macaw species.
We have budgies almost as big as some green cheek conures.
Pategonian conures are larger than caiques.
There is only one species of dog ~ we want you to have a bird, we want to keep it out of a rescue.
Written Mitch Rezman
Approved By Catherine Tobsing
Hi Mitch and Catherine – Just want to thank you for including Sun Conures on your list of recommended pet birds.
Our darling will be 25 years old in the Spring (with us since 1999) and is the most loving, intelligent, and sweet bird. We have her cage in front of a window looking out onto our backyard where we feed wild birds ~ she is our “watch bird”, screeching whenever a raven or one of two neighborhood black cats shows up. They are frightened by her, and we can immediately chase them off, thanking her for being such a good girl.
For some unknown reason, she never poops outside her cage. She actually waits until she’s back inside. She spends about four hours each evening on the sofa with my husband, most of the time burrowed under a pillowcase laid across his reclining body. This gives her the opportunity to walk flat instead of clinging to a perch as she does during the day (she doesn’t use her platform in the cage as often as we would like). Conures love to burrow, so having her on our shoulders means she will go down into our shirts!
Her favorite word is ‘hello’ but she also says ‘What happened?’, ‘stop it’ when I’m cleaning something such as the kitchen table, ‘hello baby’ (or babe) and ‘darling’ among other things. We learned from past years with parakeets that male birds are the great talkers, so we don’t expect to have conversations with her.
She’s been very healthy, and we hope she lives forever.
Thanks so much for being there!
Best regards,
Diane O.
San Diego
**************.
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