There are hundreds if not thousands of parrot species around the world but one of the most popular parrots to keep as pet birds are green Parrots. Why are green parrots so popular and what are the best green parrots to keep as pets.
Seven of the most popular green pet parrots are:
- Male Eclectus
- Love birds
- Green Conure
- Amazon Parrot
- Quaker parrots
- Budgies
- Monk Parrot
Table of Contents
Why are Parrots Green?
Many birds and even other animals get their color from the foods they eat. Take the pink flamingo as a prime example. However, a recently published study has identified the gene encoding the enzyme which creates yellow pigment in budgerigars.
If you mixed colors at school you’ll know that yellow plus blue makes green thanks to the gene encoding. This is important as when the yellow gene is switched off, budgies’ plumage becomes blue.
Why are green Parrots so Popular?
The simple answer is cost and availability. There are many colorful species of Parrots in the world and non more stunning than the Scarlet Macaw. These birds are in huge demand and fetch large sums of money. Some have even been sold in private collections for over $40’000.
Green parrots are more widely available in the wild and therefore easier to catch and import into the US. This drives the price down and makes them an affordable parrot to keep as a pet.
The common Budgerigar often bright Green and Yellow can be purchased for less than $10 and makes a great first pet bird.
7 Popular Green Pet Parrots
7. Male Eclectus
| Scientific Name | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eclectus roratus | Northeastern Australia, Indonesian, New Guinea | 18″-20″ | 30 Years | $800-$1500 |
The male Eclectus Parrot looks so different than the female Eclectus Parrot that people used to think they were different species altogether. The females are bright red with black beaks, while the males are bright green, with orange and yellow beaks (some call them ‘candy corn-colored’ beaks).
The Eclectus is native to New Guinea, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. They need a diet of fruits, nuts, and seeds, and plenty of exercise and attention, above all.
6. Love birds
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agapornis | Africa | 5″-7″ | 10-15 Years | $50-80 |
Love birds are tiny parrots, who love living in a bonded pair. This is what gave them the name ‘love birds,’ and they will kiss and talk to each other. You may wish to keep just one lovebird to prevent them from mating, however.
These unique little parrots originated in Africa and Madagascar. They are often a pastel green color, with heads that are peach, red, orange, and/or yellow, etc.
Varieties of lovebirds including Black-cheeked Lovebirds, Nyasa Lovebirds, Swindern’s Lovebirds, Red-Faced Lovebirds, Gray-Headed Lovebirds, and more.
True to their names, lovebirds make highly affectionate pets, and need plenty of attention and love!
5. Green Conure
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Green Conure is a parrot that’s known for its long, striking tail, which – among other attributes – has made it highly sought-after. These South American birds need plenty of attention and exercise in captivity, every single day!
These super-colorful birds are a vibrant green, with red chests and tails, white rings around their necks, green on their backs and upper wings, and olive-green patches on their cheeks (charmingly, the cheek patches resemble a blush).
4. Amazon Parrot
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Amazon Parrots are incredibly bright, and as pets, they can be either completely charming or prone to noisy, messy behavior. Amazon Parrots need plenty of attention and mental stimulation in order to live in captivity peacefully.
With the proper care, their companionship can be affectionate, playful, and downright delightful! Amazon Parrots are most often bright, almost neon-green, or leaf-green in color.
This is often accented with red or yellow. This medium-sized parrot is native to the New World, including Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, etc.
3. Quaker Parrot
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Quaker parrot is a small, long-lived parrot, with a lifespan of 20-30 years or more! These Argentinian and South American natives typically sport bright green plumage, with grayish chests, and abdomens in a soft green-yellow.
Some may also have feather accents that are a striking blue, looking as if they were dipped in indigo ink.
As pets, these birds are known to have clownish, sociable personalities (some can even talk), and they need lots of love!
2. Budgerigars
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Budgie is the tiniest parrot-like bird out there, and ‘Budgie’ is short for Budgerigar. This ‘parrot’ is not actually a parrot at all, but a close relative: a Parakeet.
The Budgie is the classic Parakeet you will see at most pet stores, and these tiny (only few-inch to 1-foot) birds come in a rainbow of pastel hues, including sky blue, cloud-white, or gray, sunny yellow, lime-green, leaf-green, or even pink.
They are known for their sweet, affectionate and sociable dispositions, as well as their singing voices. A well-loved and cared-for Budgie can fill a home with cheer.
1. Monk Parrot
| Scientific Name or Family | Orgin | Size | Lifespan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
‘Monk Parrot’ is another name for the ‘Quaker Parrot,’ both of which are technically parakeets – a bit confusing, isn’t it? This is why, for parrots, they are considered so small; they’re not parrots, at all!
No matter what you call them, these pastel-green birds are beloved for their friendly and affectionate behavior, as well as their tendency to repeat familiar sounds, and even speak!
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are some impressive and beautiful Green Parrots that are perfect as pets. They won’t break the bank either as the most expensive from the list above is around $300-$400 with the cheapest starting at just $10.
The 7 most popular green parrots are also not too difficult to care for and feed. Often with larger parrots, the main issue is their diet and space they will need.
A scarlet Macaw can cost over $50 a month to feed with fresh fruits, seeds, and supplement foods. They also need a huge cage something like the Prevue Parrot cage on Amazon ( Link )
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