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| African grey parrot pet (Psittacus erithacus) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
In part 3 of the "Best Parrots for Beginners" series, we'll focus on behavior and commitment.
Behavior
I believe the easiest, kindest parrots to live with are the Lilac-Crowned, Double Yellow-Headed, and Yellow-Crowned Amazons, but really apart from the Yellow-Naped Amazon, this family of parrots is the one most adapted to living with humans. They're also less susceptible than other birds to behavioral pathologies. Which doesn't mean you shouldn't take great care of them!
The flip side of African Greys' remarkable intelligence is that they can be quite phobic and apprehensive. Never ever surprise a Grey, as he only feels good when everything around him is safe, that is when he perfectly understands his environment. He will develop a very strong bond with his human or feathered partner but can become very possessive.
The Quaker parrot is territorial and a bit of a control freak when it comes to his cage, where he'll build the most amazing nest. He's a very sensitive bird who doesn't adapt to change very well and can develop anxious behaviors easily.
Commitment
The last recommendation would be to keep in mind that keeping a parrot as a pet is a huge commitment, "not to be entered into lightly" because these sentient, sensitive beings can have a very, very long lifespan. Smaller birds typically live between 15 to 30 years, mini-Macaws can reach 40 years, Amazon parrots have a 50-year lifespan, and African Greys can live for up to 60 years. But big Macaws have an 80-year lifespan!
This may also influence your decision to buy a hand-raised baby from a breeder or to adopt an adult pet parrot from a former owner or from a parrot rescue organization. While it may be more reasonable to adopt an adult bird if you choose a bigger species given their life expectancy, it's easier to socialize a pet parrot if you have him from an early age, especially if you're a beginner owner.
Remember: falling in love at first sight with a baby parrot you see in a pet shop and buying him straight away is the same as meeting a beautiful stranger in a bar and running off to Vegas to marry him or her the same day...
Also bear in mind that these broad indications do not take into account the luck factor: every bird has his own individual personality and your new African Grey may not be as talkative as Alex the African parrot. Don't be disappointed and give him all your love and affection.
I hope all the things to take into account before going out and buying or adopting your parrot won't scare you, but on the contrary help, you make a well-informed decision. Trust me, even though there is a "parrot owner learning curve", the relationship you will build with your pet bird is well worth the effort!
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