Welcome to the fun, exciting and (honestly) super confusing process of deciding on parrot species! If you’re discovering parrots and trying to narrow down what parrot you should get, I’ve been there. It’s a huge decision and one you shouldn’t rush. In this article, I’ll share the ultimate parrot comparison chart that will help overview some of the key considerations for each parrot species.
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The Ultimate Parrot Comparison Chart
The reason choosing a parrot can be so confusing is because there are so many considerations to think about! In the chart below, you’ll see a large list of different criteria. The best advice that I can give is to journal about your ‘why’ and what you are looking for in a bird companion first. If you need some help with this, be sure to check out my other blog – Which Parrot Species Should I Get? Essential Questions to Ask.
❗Please note: This chart is a generalization of a species’ behavior. It’s intended to help you quickly narrow down options. That said, make sure to do your own research and talk to parrot store owners or parrot owners to get a nice range of opinions.
The Criteria
I’ll be doing a brief overview of each criteria. Feel free to skip this section and come back when you need more clarification.
Parrot Size
For parrots, I like to compare bird sizes based on how you hold them.
- If a parrot is large, imagine the size of a cat. The bird will have some weight to it and will be near impossible to hold on your finger. You’ll likely have them perched on your shoulder most of the time or on your forearm.
- If a parrot is medium, imagine the size of a compact umbrella. The bird might not even be 1/3 of a pound (lb), and will be pretty easy to hold on your finger but there will be some weight. Your finger might be tired after 20-30min.
- If a parrot is small, imagine an iPhone. They will be so light, you could have them on you forever.
Parrot Color Vibrancy
This one is tricker since the chart is a generalization of a species, be sure to check images of sub-species!
- If a parrot is high, these are species that can come in more vibrant colors. Think bright blues, greens and reds.
- If a parrot is medium, it can vary by the sub-species so you’ll need to check. The colors might not be as vibrant, think muted more earthy tones.
- If a parrot is low, colors are very soft. Imagine grays, light yellows or white.
Talking Ability
- High: can mimic words and sound almost like a human
- Medium: can mimic tones (voice inflections) but might not be able to pronounce words as clearly.
- Low: this species is not known to mimic tones or pronounce words.
Type of Noise & Approximate Decibels
No definitions needed, descriptions are in the chart!
Level of Enrichment
- High: These species will require significant amount of attention. Plan to be in their presence at least 3-5 hours a day and directly interacting for at least 2-3 hours. In addition, they require enrichment such as conversation, training, puzzles, etc.
- Medium: same time requirements as parrots in the high category, however, may not need as much intellectual challenge and might be satisfied with a good collection of toys.
- Low: will benefit from the same amount of time as high and medium species, however tend to be more independent especially when in pairs or groups.
Level of Intelligence
No definitions needed, descriptions are in the chart!
Level of Affection
This is rough measure of what the species is known for, each individual bird may be different
- High: Really like to be in your face all the time, absolute cuddlebugs and wants attention. More likely to be okay with a lot of scritches.
- Medium: balanced between high and low
- Low: Doesn’t mean that they don’t like to cuddle or show affection, but these are species who seem to be more comfortable with distance or other types of engagement (like trick training)
Risk of Injury (if bitten)
Think of this as what the species is capable of, it sounds scary but good to be mindful of. Many Parrots parents find that their birds are very good at pressure control and only cause damage when threatened.
- High: Your parrot will have bolt cutters on their face, can easily break through skin and potentially damage bone
- Medium: Your parrot will have a knife on their face, can easily break through skin and can definitely cause a flesh wound. It is unlikely to damage bone
- Low: Relatively speaking this is like a paper cut. These species will be able to break skin and maybe a deeper wound but it won’t be anything severe
Space Needed
Like all animals, the more space for them the better.
- High: better for home living, may need partial bedroom. Their home/cage should be at least 48’W x 48’D x 60’H (all in inches)
- Medium: more suitable for apartment living. Their home should be at least 36’W x 24’D x 48’H
- Low: good for apartment living. Their home should be at least 24’W x 18’D x 24’H
- ❗Important: when purchasing cages, depending on what species your bird is, be mindful of metal toughness, bar spacing (since they have different sized feet) and cage orientation. For example, big birds are known to break metal bars. Also, some birds species prefer vertical height while others like horizontal (lateral) width.
Cost of Owning
Cost of owning a parrot can be a couple of factors – medical costs, diet, toys and accessories. In general, all parrot medical costs are high since they are exotics. I have found that diet and food is manageable, especially compared to dogs. The main driver of cost is toy consumption. If a species is ranked high it’s because they can easily go through a toy in a day, and these costs could add up.
Travel Friendly?
For this, my barometer is how easily can this bird get on a plane and how easy is it to train babysitters?
- High: Very easy to transport by plane. Less daunting of a species to take on and baby sit. Family members could be more easily trained to take care of the bird (I will write a separate post on how to do this carefully in future)
- Medium: balanced between High and Low
- Low: Very challenging to get on a plane and fit under the passenger seat, might be better to travel through car. They need more attention and it may be more challenging to find someone willing to take care (e.g. because of the size) and be trained. These species need professional caretakers.
Great Other Resources
There are many other resources out on the internet to help with your research journey. Another comparison chart to check out would be Easy Pet Bird and Parrot Characteristics Comparison Chart from AllPetBirds.com. This is much more detailed into the sub-species level and has slightly different criteria.
My Recommendation
Prepare for the unexpected: Choosing a parrot isn’t an easy task, and no matter how much research you do it’s important to bear in mind that you never know what you’re going to get. The chart and resources on the internet are generalizations and patterns, but you may end up with a bird with a completely different personality.
Prioritize what’s important to you: Make sure you journal about your ‘why’ and what you are looking for in a bird companion first. Check out my other blog – Which Parrot Species Should I Get? Essential Questions to Ask for some starting questions
Make your best judgement on what matches your lifestyle: The best parrot is the one that will vibe with your energy. If you have a lot of energy, lean towards species that require more attention (e.g. Cockatoos). If you like to chill out and watch TV, go towards a species that might be more cuddly and mellow (e.g. Amazons). Just know all species need time and attention in some form.
If you’re looking for my personal opinon, this is my recommendation on Best Parrot Species for Beginner Owners.
Looking for Advice? Have feedback?
Don’t make this decision alone! Did you know that in the USA there are 6 million households that have a bird as a pet? There are many people out there that have gone through this process and have experience with birds. I am working on building a community for parrot owners, whether you’re going through this process or have your own opinion about the assessment above be sure to join and contribute.
Thanks for reading, hope to see you on the community!
