A Bigger Parrot Isn't Always Better

Small birds have some BIG personalities! Conures are extremely similar to macaws in their behaviors. It’s not uncommon to see mini macaws like a Hans to be kept in the same aviary as sun conures and other conure species.

There is this draw to the status of having a big bird. I remember when I was little, I had the same big dreams of having a “big bird” one day, or a “real parrot” even though I had Maui right there on my shoulder, probably rolling her eyes at me.

I cannot find a real benefit for getting a larger bird in a family-house environment. I only see an increase in risks actually. In reality, a conure, a cockatiel, a parakeet all can do the exact same thing a larger bird can do. They can mimic(a budgie actually holds the record for the most words and phrases said), they can all be trained, they can all fly (the smaller ones do so much better indoors than a macaw with a 4ft plus wing span). The small birds live 10-35 plus years depending on the species, which can easily be an extremely long-term companion without hitting the excessive lifespan of 80 plus years with the bigger birds. All the birds listed are all hookbill parrots, even parakeets.

So.. why have a larger bird? More mess, bigger cage, more expensive, more destruction, bites can be anywhere from stitches, to staples, to almost deadly (Crazy Bird my blue front amazon is a perfect ambassador for birds could kill people), they’re louder, and they live longer than any of us could realistically care for them, leading them to be rehomed at least once in their lives. It’s most common for larger birds to be removed 5 or more times within the first 10 years of their lives.

“Bigger is better” isn’t a saying with parrots. Little birds are some of the best parrot companions you can have!