How Long Do Parrots Live? Factors Affecting Their Lifespan!
There are very few birds on the planet that are as fascinating as parrots. They’re noted for being able to communicate in a wide range of languages, making them a great addition to any home. However, it’s not clear to us how long do parrots live.
The usual lifespan of a parrot is 15 to 50 years, however, this can vary greatly. Many factors influence the lifespan of a parrot, including the type of bird, how well it is cared for, and how healthy it is overall. It’s not unusual for a pet parrot to live longer than its human companion.
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Can Parrots Live For More Than 70 Years?
Parrot species like African grey parrots and macaws and cockatoos are among the longest-living ones. All of these bird species can be kept as pets, however, they are usually only accessible through exotic breeders or pet retailers.
It doesn’t matter if you’re interested in becoming a parrot owner or simply want to learn more about these wonderful birds this article will quench knowledge about how long parrots live. So stay tuned with us and learn more about these beautiful birds.
Why do parrots live so long?
Because of their increased metabolic rate, high resting glucose level, body temperature, and flying powers, parrots tend to live longer than most other companion birds. Researchers from throughout the world have revealed that their extended lifespans are largely related to their comparatively large brains.
Due to their extended lifespans, parrots are ideal companions. Even in captivity, some parrots can live up to 50 years or more. Larger parrot species can live longer than their owners.
In the course of evolution, parrots’ genes were designed to allow them to live lengthy lives. Smaller birds, which lack the intelligence of their larger counterparts, have instead evolved to reproduce quickly, which has a detrimental effect on their health and aging process. Biologically, parrots are well-equipped to deal with the ravages of old age.
The genes of parrots have developed over time in a way that has prepared them to live for a very long time. Smaller birds with less intelligence have instead developed the ability to breed quickly, an attribute that takes a toll on their bodies and causes them to age more quickly as a result. The biological elements that are necessary for a species to successfully deal with the effects of aging are present in parrots.
Following are some of the species of parrots that live the longest.
| Cockatoos | (Live 40 years old or more) |
| Cockatiels | ( Live 25-30 years old) |
| Macaws | (Live 50 years) |
| Amazon Parrot | (Live 30 to more than 50 years) |
| Conures | (Live for 15 to 20 or more years) |
| Eclectus Parrot | (Live 30 to 50 or more years) |
| Rainbow Lorikeet | (Live10 to 25 or more years) |
| Senegal Parrot | (Live for 20 to 30 years) |
Do Parrots Live Better In Captivity?
Captive parrots have a lower risk of being attacked by other animals and contracting diseases compared to wild parrots. As a result, captive parrots typically live longer than their wild counterparts. That does not, however, indicate that they are immune to illness or that they will live longer than other people.
Can a parrot be happy in captivity? Yes, as much as they have a caring owner and a comfortable environment to live in, parrots can thrive in captivity. If a parrot is forced to live in filth and does not have anything positive going on in their life, it stands to reason that it will not be happy.
The position is analogous to that of a person who is forced to endure difficult circumstances. Once a trusting relationship has been established, parrots are like being stroked. Birds are fiercely protective of their territory. For the most part, birds will not appreciate being handled by strangers, no matter what kind of bird it is.
In captivity, parrots typically have a longer lifespan than they would in the wild and they’re less likely to be subjected to dangers like disease and natural enemies like cats and dogs.
Factors that Affect Parrot Lifespan
- Proper diet and nutrition of parrots
A bird keeper should have a lot of education about the diet and nutrition of their parrots. Feeding your bird the proper diet helps to keep them good, healthy, and happy. You can expand its health for the long term by taking care of its intake.
Parrots are birds that eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, grains, sprouts, flowers, insects, and larvae. Wild parrots hunt their food to meet their nutritional needs. But in the case of parrots in captivity, the caretaker is responsible for their health. If you have a pet parrot, prepare a balanced diet by offering a broad range of nutritional food to maintain their diet.
60 to 80 % of a bird’s diet should consist of pellets with a balanced section of grains, seeds, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The remaining 20% should include veggies and fruits to improve the quality of bones, skin, feathers, and repair tissues.
- Exercise and mental stimulation for birds
Sometimes it is challenging to boost the physical activities of parrots in captivity. They cannot move freely according to their wishes because they are caged. Exercise is a crucial part of any parrot that is in captivity. Lack of exercise makes them overweight and affects their mental health. So, it is your responsibility to make them physically and mentally active.
Things you should consider while starting an exercise program for your bird:
- Make sure that your parrot is in a good mood.
- You can consult a vet to prepare a well-scheduled exercise plan.
- Ensure that your parrot has enough food and energy to keep going.
- Before starting training, set a command phrase or word that you can use to signal them.
- Maintain consistency so that they get used to it.
You can boost their mental stimulation by affording them stimulating toys and opportunities to explore new situations and people. You can use these instructions to improve your bird’s intelligence.
- Providing foraging, puzzle, and destructive toys can help them to explore different activities.
- Change the position of the toys weekly.
- Introduce food in different ways.
- Play attractive and engaging games with your birds.
- Train your bird tricks and teach them to learn new words, phrases, and songs.
- Introduce your bird to the new environment and people for better interaction.
- Take your bird out of the cage for some time.
- Maintaining a healthy living environment
The major responsibility of pet parents is to give them a proper living environment to lead a healthy life. Taking care of parrots is sometimes tricky because they mess up with cages quickly. No matter what type of bird you have, it should be kept in a clean and hygienic environment. So creating a suitable environment is the vital part that helps to improve their instincts and behavior.
When we set up a cage for parrots, it should satisfy the needs of your parrots. They make a mess with their food and droppings every day. You have to clean the cage daily to prevent the growth of molds. Providing them with a small quantity of food can be a great way to minimize the mess and keep the cage as clean as possible.
You should clean the leftover food and feces to maintain a hygienic environment. Most of the cages provide a tray underneath to make the cleaning easier. But if you don’t have such a facility, use a disposable sheet or tray to remove the waste easily from the cage.
Weekly deep cleaning of the cage is essential to prevent infection. so ensure to clean all wires, perches, toys, and trays that are contaminated with food or feces. Apart from the clean surroundings, they need a spacious environment to feel free and relaxed in the cage.
- Regular vet checkup
Parrots are very good at hiding illness due to their survival instincts. Most parrots do not show injuries to their owners as long as they physically can. If the owner cannot recognize the changes in the parrot’s behavior, attitude, or physical condition, their situation can worsen. So it is necessary to take your bird for a regular vet checkup to identify their pain in the early stage. The vet can advise you on how to take care of your parrot. And recommend proper guidance for health care if your bird is in danger.
- Early detection and treatment of health issues
The primary thing you should do is observe each movement of your bird. A better understanding can give you signs like a change in the color or consistency of droppings, low energy, discharge from nostrils and eyes, sitting with feathers fluffed up, not eating or drinking, and vomiting or wheezing. To avoid such immediate calls, always schedule a regular vet checkup.
Early detection is essential to provide them required treatment on time. If you notice unusual behavior, book an appointment with a professional vet immediately. After consulting a vet, start the treatment of your bird as soon as possible and reschedule the routine accordingly.
The Average Life Span Of Parrots
There are many different species of parrots. To put it another way, the 279 species of parrots include everything from little birds that you can hold in your hand to enormous birds that are the size of domestic cats. Captive birds tend to live longer than their wild counterparts because they are able to attain their full lifespan in captivity.
- Cockatiel
The wild cockatiel is grey, while the face, crest, and cheek patch are yellow and orange, respectively. The man has hues that are more vibrant and brighter on their face than the female does. female’s tail feathers are barred with black and white. Only in Australia, you can find cockatiels in their natural habitat.
- African Grey
The African grey parrot is a bird with a mottled grey coloration all over its body. The females have a grey body with red tail feathers, a light grey crown with darker grey borders, and a grey head. The rainforests of central Africa are their natural habitat, and they may be found all throughout the continent in a band.
- Canaries
They have breasts that are yellowish in color and a drab greenish-brown color overall. The canaries kept as pets can vary greatly in size, shape, plumage color, and singing. The islands of the Canary, Azores, and Madeira are where the canary first appeared in the wild.
- Conures
The Conure’s body is orange and yellow heads with vivid red ringing the eyes have red belly feathers. They are one of the most beautiful birds you can own. The Western Hemisphere is home to conures, which are either huge parakeets or little parrots. Central and South America are home to all known conure species.
- Doves
In general, they have a delicate brown to buffy-tan coloring, with black patches on the wings and white tips that are ringed in black on the tail feathers. its original habitat was the Indian subcontinent in addition to Southeast Asia.
- Lovebirds
It is common for lovebirds to have a variety of hues on their body and face that span from green to yellow to peach to orange to violet to teal. The grey-headed lovebird, on the other hand, is a resident of Madagascar, an African island.
- Parrotlets
There is a blue line behind the eye with blue on the rear and wings of the male, which is green with such a blue stripe. Women are devoid of blue pigmentation save for a slight blue line behind the eye. Western Ecuador and northwestern Peru are home to wild Pacific parrotlets.
Summarizing…
One of the world’s most fascinating species is the parrot. They’re known for their ability to communicate in a variety of languages. The average life expectancy of a parrot is 15 to 50 years, however, this can vary widely depending on a variety of factors, such as the species of bird and the level of care provided.
Captive parrots have a lower infection and illness rate than their wild counterparts. The world’s parrot population is comprised of 279 distinct species. Birds in captivity have a higher average lifespan than their wild counterparts. Lovebirds, Conures, and Canaries can be some of the most beautiful birds to keep as pets.
While concluding on the topic of how long do parrots live, All this information will surely allure you to bring a new pet to your home but we strongly advise you to do not to make a decision on impulse as choosing the right pet for yourself can take you days of research. We hope that this article will become the foundation of that research.
