Did you know that some of your feathered friends might outlive you?
Pet birds can live surprisingly long lives and many large parrots have been known to outlive their owners. Let’s take a closer look at the lifespans of parrots and other birds, as well as how to maintain a healthy bird and ensure it maximises its lifespan.
Pet birds and their lifespans
Lovebird:
The lovebird is native to Africa and Madagascar and is well-known and loved in many homes. Known for their monogamous pairing in the wild, pet lovebirds are commonly kept in pairs and love companionship. These little birds are ranked as one of the smallest parrots and their lifespans are between 10 and 25 years.
Canary:
The canary is a small songbird that originates from the Macaronesian islands. Canaries were domesticated and bred extensively in the 17th century. The canary’s colours range from yellow, orange, brown, white, and even red; and they live up to 10 years.
Cockatiel:
The cockatiel, also known as the miniature cockatoo, is one of the most popular household bird pets and originates from Australia. The cockatiel can live between five and 18 years.
Cockatoo:
Cockatoos are parrot species native to the Australasian area – Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon Islands and Australia – and are recognisable by their crests and curved bills. Their lifespan is species-dependent, but they can live anywhere from 20 to 60 years.
Finch:
The finch is a tiny bird with a tiny chirp. These little birds can live up to nine years in captivity in the correct conditions. This species has an almost global distribution; the few places where they are not found include the South Pacific, Australasia and Antarctica.
Budgie:
The lifespan of the very popular budgerigar is approximately five to eight years, but if kept optimally, they can reach up to 18 years. The budgie is the most common household pet after dogs and cats. They can be taught to do tricks from a young age and love human companionship and interaction.
African grey:
A popular parrot pet, the African grey is one of the more long-lived parrots, reaching between 40 and 60 years old; some even longer. Popular for their mimicry and for being highly intelligent, African greys need constant stimulation and enrichment to prevent anxiety and the effects of isolation. As pair-bonders, they usually bond with one human, but because of their long lifespan they often outlive their owner.
Amazon parrot:
The Amazon parrot (and any one of the long list of subspecies) can live for at least 25 years, but can grow as old as 75 years. Amazon parrot species is a medium-sized parrot and is native to South America and the Caribbean. This beautiful green bird is known to be a big talker.
Dove or pigeon:
The lifespan of a wild dove is more or less about 10 years, however, a dove that is kept in captivity can live up to 20 years or more. Doves and pigeons are found almost everywhere in the world because of domestication and escaping captivity. Their homing abilities mean they’ve been extensively bred for hundreds of years as carrier birds – delivering messages, especially during war times.
Macaw:
The macaw family of birds is made up of 19 different multi-coloured parrot species, many of them quite large, and four of them extinct. Their large size and bright plumage have attracted human attention, and while they may seem like attractive pets, macaws are big, sociable, noisy birds that need a lot of space and attention in order to thrive. Many are abandoned as ‘problem birds’, whereas the real problem is the inexperienced owner.
Macaws can live for between 50 and 75 years – many outliving their owners.
How to ensure your bird lives a long and happy life
Since parrots have been poached from the wild for the pet trade only in recent decades, even captive-bred individuals are still considered wild, as true domestication takes hundreds of years. Pet parrots require experienced, empathic care and understanding, correct feeding, enough nurturing and exercise, and regular check-ups at a specialist vet.
Feeding
It is critical that pet parrots get a balanced diet with the appropriate ratios of fats, vitamins and minerals. They need seeds, grain, nuts, pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables. All of these play a role in keeping them healthy. Always keep fresh, clean water available.
Housing
They also need a secure, clean enclosure, preferably with enough space to climb, hop from perch to perch and even fly. Wild parrots fly up to 16km per day, so it’s important for them to spread their wings. It’s also important that they get some natural sunlight to keep them healthy as well as some shade for when it gets too hot.
Enrichment
Since parrots are highly intelligent animals that need ongoing mental stimulation, it’s important that pet parrots receive enriching stimulation through human interaction, training and play. During caged periods, they need plenty of toys and games to prevent boredom, anxiety and self-mutilation. Lone parrots are not appropriate pets for people who spend long hours working away from home and don’t have time to spend with their pet bird, since parrots bond closely with a single mate – a relationship that is recreated with a human companion.
Just like dogs and cats, pet parrots require annual check-ups with a vet experienced with exotic birds. Responsible pet owners make the health and wellbeing of their animals the top priority.
