How Long Do Parrots Live? (7 Interesting Facts)

The article will briefly answer the question How long do parrots live? Along with the average lifespan of certain birds and the reason why they live so long?

How long do parrots live?

As far as the question “How long do parrots live?” is concerned, they live for nearly 140 years. The average lifespan of parrots is 50 years but it is reported that some species have lived for nearly 140 years. The parrots in the wild live less than the parrots in captivity because they are less likely to be attacked by a predator.

How long do parrots live as pets?

The short and precise answer to the question of how long do parrots live as pets? is parrots live up to 75 years as a pet. Both Amazonian and Cockatoos live for nearly 75 years. Budgerigars live from 15 to 25 years.

There are several reasons why do parrots live long?

They don’t have predators.
They form colonies and food is readily available.
Wild birds tend to reproduce more quickly than captive birds because of the fear of being killed by the predator. This consumes their resources and they die early.

The average lifespan of different parrots species

1-Amazonian:

These species are found in South America and the Caribbean and can live up to 75 years. The average lifespan of these species is 25 years.

2-Caiques:

They can live up to 50 years. They are endemic in the Amazon basin. They are known for their bright and beautiful colours. They are short-tailed and are also known as talkers.

3-African Grey:

Their average lifespan is 40 to 60 years. They can mimic the voice of humans and other parrots. They have two subspecies known as Timneh and Congo.

4-Budgies:

Budgies can live up to 18 years but their average life span is 5 years. They are long-tailed parrots and some of the species have more than expected lifespan.

5-Cockatoos:

They can live from 20 to 60 years. They are Australasian parrots well known for their Curved bills and crests.

6-Blue and gold Macaws:

They are found in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. They can live up to 100 years but their average life span is 80 and 90 years.

7-Conure:

They have a life span of 6 to 8 years. They are also found in South America.

8-Cockatiel:

They are found in Australia and have an average lifespan of 20 years.

9-Hawk headed parrot:

They have an average life span of 50 years and are found in many countries in South America.

10-Eclectus Parrot:

They have an average lifespan of 30 to 40 years and are found in Australia and New Guinea.

11-Green Wing Macaw:

Green Wing Macaws lifespan is 60 years which is less than the blue macaw but more than the Scarlet Macaw. They are found in the central and northern parts of South America.

12-Love birds:

They have an average lifespan of 10 to 25 years. They are kept in pairs and can mimic human voices. They are one of the smallest parrots and are found in Madagascar and Africa.

13-Senegals:

They are quiet birds having a lifespan of 50 years. They are found in west Africa.

14-Quakers:

They are beautiful parrots and can live up to 30 years if care is given to them. They are the only parrots that build nests.

15-Parrotlets:

They are the smallest “New World Parrots” and can live up to 20 years. They are not noisy but still care is required for them.

16-Pionus:

They are friendly birds found in South America and are Native to Mexico. They have an average life span of 25 years. they required a great deal of attention and care.

Why do parrots live so long?

There are several reasons why parrots live long?:

1-Parrots evolved a mechanism to protect them from ageing:

It is assumed that due to increased physical activity, higher body temperature, this may increase the process of ageing. After this, the question arises how do parrots live long?

Birds have evolved special mechanisms to escape this process or slow down this process. It is reported that the birds and mammals that fly are less subjected to predators and are protected.

It is reported that due to increased physical activity like flying can increase the average lifespan of the individual or animals.

2-Reduce oxidative processes:

Flying is a metabolic process that can increase the production of free radicals that combine with the cell membrane and cause them to age then how do parrots live long?

Parrots have adapted a mechanism of lowering the damage of the oxidative process to the cell membrane. Macaws are expected to live four times their average lifespan.

Parrots have the ability to reduce the damage to their mitochondrial DNA and thus slow down the process of ageing.

3-Genetic mutations:

Due to the longer lifespan of parrots, they reach the maturity stage later than other animals and so during the breeding, there are fewer chances of passing mutated genes to the next generation.

Birds have the ability to eliminate mutation in the next generation by breeding late. This reduces the chance of disability and disease in the parrots.

Now, these three major factors explain how parrots live so long?

Factors on which lifespan of parrots depends

1-Housing:

How long do parrots live? Depends upon the housing you provide your pet bird. You should provide them with a secure, clean, and a better environment. Lightning should be proper in the cage and there should be enough space for their wings to spread.

They need company and a bird’s place cannot be replaced by a human. Provide them company either a male or a female.

2-Nutrition:

How long does the parrot live? Depends upon the balanced diet you are providing him. Nutrition is a big factor in the average lifespan of parrots. You should provide them with a balanced diet of protein, fats, and carbohydrates to increase their lifespan.

Grains, pellets, and seeds are the best diet for increasing the lifespan of parrots. Vitamins like calcium also play an important role in the health of the parrot.

3-Free from diseases:

It is reported that if a parrot is free from disease the average lifespan of the parrot increases than normal.

Diseases can reduce the average lifespan of parrots especially those found in the wild. Captive parrots are less likely prone to diseases as compared to wild birds.

They can also catch human flu, so if you are not feeling well, do not touch him. Thankfully the parrot diseases are not severe so you need not worry about it.

4-Habitat destruction:

They can fly away from predators but they cannot survive when their habitat is destroyed. Habitat destruction significantly decreases the lifespan of the parrots.

5-Space for flying:

You should provide him with the space for flying for a while. There should be a place in the house where your bird can take a flight. This will ensure that the flight is proper and he will have a good feeling about you.

6-Size of the parrot:

You will probably think that a smaller parrot will live longer than a large-sized parrot, but you are wrong.

A large-sized parrot is expected to have a longer lifespan than a small bird. For instance, The Parakeet’s life expectancy is 15 years while Amazon parrots can have a life span of 100 years.

7-Parrots are social birds:

Parrots are birds that love to socialize with other birds. This is the reason if they are left alone, they may get sick, and probably in severe cases they even die.

If you are unable to buy another bird, you can give him toys.

8-Origin of the parrot:

Before buying the parrot you need to know about its origin. This will give the idea that the bird is raised in a good environment.

Estimating the age of a parrot

After the question “How long do parrots live?” The next question is How can we estimate the age of a parrot?

Several things can tell you the age of the parrot:

Young parrots have a shorter tail than adult parrots.
Young parrots have black beaks.
If you look into the eyes of the young parrot it appears black while in adults you can see a yellow-coloured line around the pupil.
You can also ask the previous owner of the parrot.
You can check the bend in the feet of the parrot to estimate the age of the parrot.
In the case of albino parrots, it is difficult to estimate the age because the colour of the iris doesn’t change with time.
Older birds lose the colour of the feather more quickly than the younger ones.
Older parrots lose their feathers more quickly than young parrots.
Physical activity can also tell about the age of the parrot. Young parrots are more aggressive and active than older ones.

Common diseases in older parrots:

1-Tumors:

Tumours are abnormal cell replication. You need to check if there are any lumps on the body of the parrot. If you see one it may be a sign of cancer.

2-Cataracts:

This is a disease related to the eyes. This causes a decrease in the vision of the parrot. If your parrot is bumping into objects he might have a problem.

3-Arthritis:

This is a common disease of older parrots. This is a joint disease and the parrot is not capable of holding the perches firmly.

Conclusion

So far we have answered the question How long do parrots live? Along with the average lifespan of different parrots and estimation of the age of parrots. This guide enables the reader about how he can take care of his parrots.

Feel free to ask anything about How long do parrots live? In the comment section below

FAQ; How long do parrots live?

Frequently asked questions of “How long do parrots live” are:

Can parrots live 100 years?

The average lifespan of large parrots like Macaw is 50 years. It is reported that they can live up to 100 years.

Do parrots live for 140 years?

Yes, the life period of parrots is 140 years. However, some parrots have a shorter life span like that of small parrots such as lovebirds and budgets. Cockatoos are the oldest parrot living.

Do parrots kill each other?

Parrots of the same species do kill each other but that is very rare often for territory or competing for a female.

Are Parrots good pets?

Yes, Parrots are good pets but for those who can take care of them daily. Parrots are not good child pets because they require attention and daily care.

Can two male parrots live together?

It is best to keep a pair of a male if you have a small cage. These male budgies live peacefully and no chaos is expected of them. But if you keep a male and female in the cage they will breed and produce offspring.