Parrots are among the most intelligent and colorful birds in the world. There are about 400 species, living mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. They all share a strong, curved beak and feet with two toes pointing forward and two pointing back, which they use like hands to climb and hold food.
This guide covers seven well-known types of parrots with pictures, along with their size, lifespan, and what they are like to live with.
Types of Parrots at a Glance
| Parrot | Length | Lifespan | Native to | Talking ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macaw | 30 to 40 inches | 40 to 60 years | Central and South America | Moderate |
| Budgerigar | 7 inches | 5 to 10 years | Australia | Good |
| African grey | 13 inches | 40 to 60 years | Central and West Africa | Excellent |
| Lovebird | 5 to 7 inches | 10 to 15 years | Africa and Madagascar | Poor |
| Ring-necked parakeet | 16 inches including tail | 20 to 30 years | Africa and South Asia | Good |
| Conure | 10 to 12 inches | 15 to 30 years | Central and South America | Fair |
| Amazon parrot | 10 to 17 inches | 40 to 60 years | Central and South America | Very good |
7 Different Types of Parrots with Pictures
1. Macaw
Macaws are the giants of the parrot world. They have long tails, huge curved beaks strong enough to crack Brazil nuts, and bare patches of pale skin on their faces. The best-known kinds are the blue-and-yellow macaw, the scarlet macaw, and the green-winged macaw. The hyacinth macaw, which is cobalt blue, is the longest parrot of all, at about 40 inches from head to tail. In the wild they live in rainforests and usually fly in pairs, and several species are endangered because of habitat loss and illegal trapping.
Size: 30 to 40 inches long for the large species.
Lifespan: 40 to 60 years, and sometimes longer in captivity.
As a pet: Demanding. Macaws are affectionate and clever, but they are very loud, need a large space, and can outlive their owners.
2. Budgerigar
The budgerigar, or budgie, is a small parakeet from the dry grasslands of Australia, where wild flocks are green and yellow with black barring on the wings. Breeders have developed blue, white, yellow, and many other color forms. It is the most popular pet parrot in the world. In the United States it is often simply called a parakeet. Despite its size, a budgie can learn a surprisingly large vocabulary.
Size: About 7 inches long.
Lifespan: 5 to 10 years.
As a pet: An excellent first bird. Budgies are inexpensive, playful, and quiet enough for an apartment. They are happiest with a companion or plenty of daily attention.
3. African Grey Parrot
The African grey is widely regarded as the most intelligent parrot and the best talker. It is a medium-sized, stocky bird with soft grey feathers, a white face, and a short, bright red tail. Research with a grey parrot named Alex, studied by the scientist Irene Pepperberg, showed that these birds can learn to identify colors, shapes, and numbers and use words with meaning. Wild populations in Central and West Africa have fallen sharply, and the species is listed as endangered.
Size: About 13 inches long.
Lifespan: 40 to 60 years.
As a pet: Rewarding but challenging. African greys bond closely with their owners and need hours of mental stimulation every day. Bored birds may pluck out their own feathers.
4. Lovebird
Lovebirds are small, stocky parrots with short, rounded tails. They take their name from the strong bond between mates, which sit pressed together and preen each other for long periods. There are nine species, eight from mainland Africa and one from Madagascar. The peach-faced, or rosy-faced, lovebird is the one most often kept as a pet, and it is green with a pinkish-orange face.
Size: 5 to 7 inches long.
Lifespan: 10 to 15 years.
As a pet: Lively and curious. A single lovebird can do well with an attentive owner, and a pair will keep each other company. They chatter constantly but rarely learn to talk.
5. Ring-Necked Parakeet
The ring-necked parakeet, also called the rose-ringed parakeet, is a slender, bright green parrot with a very long tail and a red beak. Adult males have a narrow black and pink ring around the neck. It is native to a broad band across Africa and South Asia. Escaped and released birds have also formed large wild colonies in cities far from home, including London, Amsterdam, and Brussels, where flocks are now a familiar sight in parks.
Size: About 16 inches long, of which roughly half is tail.
Lifespan: 20 to 30 years.
As a pet: Intelligent and a clear talker, but independent. It needs regular handling to stay tame.
6. Conure
Conures are a large group of small to medium parrots from Central and South America, with slim bodies and long, pointed tails. They are known for being playful and clownish. The green-cheeked conure is mostly green with a maroon tail and is fairly quiet. The sun conure is brilliant yellow and orange and is one of the loudest parrots for its size.
Size: 10 to 12 inches long for most species.
Lifespan: 15 to 30 years.
As a pet: Affectionate and entertaining. Green-cheeked conures suit homes that want a quieter bird, and sun conures are best kept where noise is not a problem.
7. Amazon Parrot
Amazon parrots are medium to large, stocky parrots with short, square tails. Almost all of them are mainly green, with patches of yellow, red, or blue on the head and wings that help to tell the species apart. There are around 30 species, found from Mexico through the Caribbean to South America. The yellow-naped, double yellow-headed, and blue-fronted Amazons are famous for their clear speech and their love of singing.
Size: 10 to 17 inches long.
Lifespan: 40 to 60 years.
As a pet: Outgoing and talkative. Amazons can be strong-willed, especially during the breeding season, so they suit experienced owners.
More Types of Parrots
- Cockatoo: large white, pink, or black parrots from Australia and Indonesia, with a crest of feathers they can raise and lower.
- Cockatiel: a small grey member of the cockatoo family with a yellow face and orange cheek patches. It is the second most popular pet parrot.
- Eclectus: a parrot in which the male is bright green and the female is red and purple, so different that they were once thought to be separate species.
- Kakapo: a heavy, flightless, nocturnal parrot from New Zealand. It is critically endangered, with only a few hundred birds alive.
- Kea: a clever mountain parrot from New Zealand, known for its curiosity and for pulling rubber parts off parked cars.
- Lorikeet: brightly colored parrots with brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar.
Before You Get a Pet Parrot
A parrot is a long commitment. Even small species live for a decade or more, and large ones can live for half a century. Parrots are social and need daily interaction, a varied diet of pellets, vegetables, and fruit, and time outside the cage. Many are loud at dawn and dusk. It is also important to buy only birds bred in captivity, because the capture of wild parrots has pushed several species toward extinction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many types of parrots are there?
There are about 400 species of parrots. They are divided into three main groups: true parrots, cockatoos, and the New Zealand parrots.
Which parrot is the best talker?
The African grey is considered the best talker, followed by Amazon parrots. Budgerigars and ring-necked parakeets can also learn many words.
What is the best parrot for a beginner?
Budgerigars and cockatiels are the usual recommendations, because they are small, gentle, and easier to care for.
How long do parrots live?
Small parrots such as budgies live 5 to 10 years. Medium parrots live 15 to 30 years. Large parrots such as macaws, Amazons, and African greys can live 40 to 60 years or more.
What is the largest parrot?
The hyacinth macaw is the longest, at about 40 inches. The kakapo of New Zealand is the heaviest, weighing up to 9 pounds.