How Long Do Parrots Live: Pet & Wild Parrot Lifespans

Parrots are fascinating creatures that can live for a surprisingly long time, especially when compared to other common pets.

With over 400 species available, parrots have become beloved companions for their intelligence, sociability, and vivid colors, as well as their potential to live for many years with proper care.

If you’re wondering how long do parrots live, the answer is: it depends!

In this article, I’ll discuss the average lifespan of parrots, as well as share helpful tips on how to extend your parrots lifespan and keep them happy and healthy for many years to come.

How Long Do Parrots Live?

Parrots are known to be among the longest living pet birds, with large species like cockatoos being able to live for over 80 years. Even small birds like budgies can live up to 30 years.

Keep in mind that parrot lifespans vary greatly depending on many key factors, like their species, size, diet, and level of care.

Also, it’s worth noting that there can be a pretty big gap between how long parrots live in the wild versus in captivity.

Average Pet Bird and Parrot Lifespan by Species

Remember that the average lifespan of your parrot is only a rough estimate, as various factors can impact how long your feathered friend lives. Keep in mind that parrot lifespans within different subspecies may vary.

With good care, your pet parrot could very well live up to their maximum lifespan.

Check out this table of popular parrot species and their average lifespans in captivity and in the wild:

Species	Average Lifespan in Captivity	Average Lifespan in the Wild
African grey parrot	40-60 years	20-30 years
Amazon parrots	40-70 years	20-30 years
Budgies	6-15 years	4-6 years
Caiques	20-30 years	15-20 years
Canaries	10-12 years	6 years
Cockatiels	10-25 years	10-15 years
Cockatoos	40-60 years	20-40 years
Conures (Green cheek, Sun, Jenday)	20-30 years	10-15 years
Doves	10-15 years	5-10 years
Eclectus parrots	20-30 years	up to 50 years
Finches	5-15 years	2-5 years
Lories and lorikeets	10-30 years	7-12 years
Lovebirds	10-15 years	5-15 years
Macaws	35-60 years	25-35 years
Mini macaws	25-40 years	20-30 years
Parakeets (Indian Ringneck)	20-30 years	15-25 years
Parrotlets	15-20 years	10-12 years
Pionus Parrots	20-25 years	10-20 years
Quaker parrot	20-30 years	10-15 years
Senegal Parrot (Poicephalus)	25-40 years	25-30 years

Parrot Lifespan Factors – What influences Parrot Longevity?

Several factors can impact parrot life expectancy, including their species, size, diet, and care, as well as genetics and environmental factors.

Here are some factors that can influence how long parrots live:

Captivity vs Wild Parrots

Wild parrots often have shorter lifespans compared to their captive counterparts. This is because they have to deal with harsher environments, escape predators, endure bad weather, and survive diseases.

Captive birds and pet parrots have it much easier. They don’t have to worry about finding food, encounter predators, or getting sick, but they still need proper care, a varied diet, and a lot of exercise to live a long and healthy life.

The only exception to this rule is the Eclectus parrot, which is believed to live longer in the wild than in captivity, possibly because of our poor understanding of their diet.

Size

As a general rule, the bigger the parrot, the longer they will live. This could be partly due to their slower metabolic rate, which means they age at a slower rate.

For instance, you can expect your pet budgie to live around 8 years on average, while other parrots like the moluccan cockatoo and african greys can live anywhere from 30 to 50 years. And if you take good care of a macaw, they could even live up to 60 years!

Species

Another factor that affects parrot lifespan is their species. Many species have longer lifespans than others, while other birds may be more prone to certain health issues or diseases.

Proper Diet

One of the most important things to keep in mind when taking care of your parrot is their nutrition. A balanced diet is crucial for the health and longevity of all pet birds.

There’s a common myth that parrots can survive on a diet of just seeds. This is not true at all. In fact, a diet high in seeds can actually be harmful to pet parrots because they lack essential nutrients and are high in fat.

So what should you feed your parrot? As a general rule, most parrots will stay healthy with a diet consisting of 60-80% high-quality pellets, 20-30% veggies, grains, and fruits, and 10% seeds and nuts.

Different parrot species will have varying dietary needs, so it’s important to understand what your individual bird needs to thrive.

Proper Care

Parrots are very intelligent and complex creatures that deserve proper care and attention. They thrive on physical activity and mental stimulation, so it’s essential to provide them with enough exercise, different types of foraging toys, and social interaction with you and others in the household.

For a complete overview of housing, nutrition, and daily care, see our Complete Beginner’s Guide to Caring for a Pet Bird.

It’s important to ensure that your parrot has a comfortable and appropriately sized cage, with plenty of toys, ladders, and foraging opportunities.

Parrots need to express their natural behaviors, or they may become stressed, which can lead to harmful behaviors such as plucking, self-mutilation, and loss of appetite. So, it’s crucial to keep your bird mentally and physically engaged to prevent these issues.

Veterinary Care

Parrots are prone to a variety of health issues that can impact their lifespan, such as respiratory infections, nutritional deficiencies, and feather plucking.

Veterinary care is also very important for keeping a healthy pet parrot. You should take your bird at least once a year, preferably once every 6 months, for a routine check-up to provide necessary vaccinations, and diagnose and treat any health problems that may arise.

How to Make Your Pet Parrot Live Longer?

When choosing a parrot as a pet, it’s essential to think about the long-term commitment required, as some larger bird species can even outlive their owners. It’s very important to consider the potential lifespan of your parrot before adding them to your family.

Here are some things you can do to help your parrot live a long and healthy life:

• Feed your parrot a balanced and healthy diet
• Give your parrots plenty of exercise and social interaction
• Take your parrots to the vet for annual checkups to prevent disease
• Provide your parrot with a safe and cozy home
• Make sure your parrot has plenty of toys to chew on
• Bird proof your home to prevent accidents

Famous Old Parrots

Here’s a list of some of the longest lived parrots:

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest parrot on record is Cookie, a male Major Mitchell’s cockatoo who lived to be 82 years and 88 days old. He lived in Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois.
• Even more impressive is Cocky Bennett, male sulphur-crested cockatoo, who is the oldest known bird in history, reportedly living to the ripe old age of 120! This pet bird even had an obituary printed by his owner.
• Fred, another sulphur-crested cockatoo has reached the respectable age of 108 (as of 2023) and is currently the oldest living bird. In celebration of this milestone, Fred even received a letter from The Queen at Buckingham Palace and was thrown a grand birthday party by his caretakers at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Hobart.
• In 2014, there was an online rumor claiming that Winston Churchill owned a blue and yellow macaw named Charlie who lived to be 104. Churchill’s daughter, Lady Soames, dismissed the claim as false, and corrected that he owned an African Grey Parrot named ‘Polly’ that he sold before becoming Prime Minister.

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Featured Image by David Clode on Unsplash.