5 Myths About Owning Parrots

First, I'd like to share a short summary of my own story with parrots. I never wanted a bird. Yes, I said it. Being surrounded by birds in my home was daunting to say the least. I even built up a little bit of a phobia because one of those said birds kept attacking me. Yet, somehow... someway... I got into parrot ownership, and I'm never going back. When my cat passed away, I was left with a pretty big hole in my heart to fill. So, I started my deep dive into parrots. Why was everyone getting bit all the time? Why were parrots so loud? Why were parrots so messy? Eventually, I got my answers, and now I'd like to share some of what I've learned with you. Turns out parrots are vastly misunderstood, intelligent creatures.

Below are the five types of parrots I've owned each in chronological order. Today, I only have two out of the five remaining. Most, if not all of them, were rescues with unknown backgrounds, ages, and health. The pictures you see before you are also commemorating the first day I brought each one home.

Myth 1: Parrots are domesticated.

Parrots are in fact not domesticated. Yes, humans are breeding them in captivity and keeping them as pets, but they have not undergone the full process of domestication. Parrots are not completely dependent on humans, and often unless a bond is formed they could care less about human interaction. Parrots are also part of the illegal pet trade, they're losing their habitat in the rainforest among other places, and some are endangered species in danger of going extinct. One such species is making a comeback. The Spix's Macaw, as featured in the movie Rio, was extinct in the wild, but through captive breeding the birds have been reintroduced to the wild they once inhabited. 

Myth 2: Parrots always bite.

Yes, parrots can bite, and often you'll hear about how a large bird can bite your finger off if you're not careful. It is true, but parrots actually don't want to bite you. They are not out for blood as some may believe. Or at least not the parrots who are defending a nest or mate. They don't go out of their way to attack predators in the wild unless they're defending themselves. Most of the time parrots would rather fly away than engage in fighting. There are a few species who respond more with a fight response than flight, but overall these birds are prey animals trying to survive. Plus, parrots will give you a lot of warning before they go to bite you. It might be as subtle as a few feathers on their neck and back raising up, or as obvious as their beak opening ready to strike. If you have a good bond with a bird, keep their hormones in check so they don't feel the need to defend a nest or mate, and learn to read their body language and respect it, then it is very hard to be bit. There is always a reason a parrot feels the need to bite.

Out of the five birds I owned only one bit me really severly to cause pain, and that was before I started bonding with him. Now, I have to really annoy the birds I have in order to be bit at all, and even then it's not hard enough to cause any damage or pain.

Myth 3: A parrot's main diet should consist of seeds.

Yes, parrots eat seeds in the wild, but they also eat a variety of things such as plants, fruits, nectar, insects, and sometimes even clay depending on the species. So, why is it then that the first thing you see when you look for bird food is seed? Well, some people still believe the outdated information of seed being a complete diet. Plus, the advertising on the bird seed makes it seem like a complete and balanced diet. However, recent research has proven that seeds are almost the equivalent of fast food for us. It tastes amazing, but it's full of fats bad for health. Seed also lacks a lot of vitamins and minerals, so a few supplements are often thrown in. The seed quality is also not the best either. You might have to put a bag of seed in the freezer unless you want seed moths coming out and infesting your home. You might even find dust and sticks in the seed you buy. Next, parrots eat seeds and nuts in the wild to gain more energy for flying. In our homes, it's often hard to give them the proper exercise they need. So, parrots in captivity often only need about 10 to 15% of seed in their diets. The smaller birds who use more energy may need more, but typically seed should be reserved as a treat food.

Myth 4: Parrots will scream nonstop.

Yes, parrots scream. There's no denying that. However, there are ways to minimize it. If a parrot's screaming all day every day, there might be an underlying factor. Maybe screaming is their way of using up excess energy. Maybe screaming is their way of communicating with you or others in a flock. Just like with biting, there's often a reason for screaming. Parrots, by nature, are definitely loud and noisy creatures, but if you can figure out why they're screaming, you can sometimes minimize it or get rid of it altogether. Is the bird screaming to get rid of energy? You can reevaluate the current diet to see if there's anything that could be changed, or you could try to give the bird more exercise. Is your bird bored and wanting attention? You can teach them to be more independent by having them play with toys and giving them foraging opportunities. Is your bird screaming because they want to be fed? You can try changing up your routine. Feed them at random times so you're not as predictable. Bird screaming with seemingly no reason? You can teach them to make a different sound, you can play the quiet game and reward them when they're quiet, or you can teach them to be overall calmer.

Myth 5: Parrots can't fly if their wings are clipped.

Some parrots might not be able to fly as well with clipped wings, but a good gust of wind someday can change that. Parrots still have the natural instincts to fly, and will sometimes get spooked and try to fly away. Some birds can still fly relatively well, and some birds will just splat to the ground. It really depends on the individual bird. Only the flight feathers are clipped, but those are feathers only used for directional motion. Birds will still have the rest of their feathers and often muscles for flight. Over time a bird may develop muscle atrophy to the point where they can no longer fly. So, if you take your clipped bird out thinking it can't fly, there's a chance it might surprise you one day. With a good rush of adrenaline or a good breeze, even clipped birds can gain distance. Look at how many birds end up lost.