Are Companion Parrots Still Wild??

Are Our Parrots Still Wild?

I do a lot of reading about birds, bird keeping, and related topics. I accept that there are many opinions on most things relating to birds, or anything else for that matter. I read with an open mind and then form my own opinion based on the logic of what I've read. Some articles I read are "drivel"...others have helped me immensely.

It's my opinion that a companion bird, bred in captivity, is not a wild creature. These birds don't instinctively trust humans, but that doesn't make them wild, in the true sense of the word.

This is just my opinion. SB, I expect you don't agree...but that's OK. You're entitled to your opinion. That's what makes life interesting!

I had written an entire response to this, however, the computer shut down on me... LOL.. It's late, but I'll enter my rebuttal in the morning.

I agree with the both of you if that's possible
Birds will never ever be cats or dogs that's what makes them birds
they will always choose wild instinct over human life if given the chance and this is proven by the hand raised birds that are neglected by bad owners
they revert back to what instinct tells them
however I do not believe it is correct to class them as wild animals

Wild animals would never be so readily accepting of loving respectful human contact
they would not work hard to adapt themselves for our life styles
they would not fly / call out to be with us
and they would not work hard to please us by doing tricks or learning to talk etc
* I say these speaking mainly of pet birds than aviary birds but even then some show the same tendancys *

The thing about birds is that unlike a cat or dog raised by parents. A bird raised by parents would not readily accept a human into it's world
You must work heart and soul to earn the right to be loved by a parent raised bird and even some hand raised birds
even then a bird who has come to trust a human will usually only trust that one person or it's one flock to many others it still views as predetor
I think these are what makes people call them wild

I would just call it instinct
just birds more than other animals show it each and every day

And sb I do agree that it is these instincts and trying to adapt them fit human living is what can cause many problem behaviours

I thankyou for this post and hope to have not offended you
this is just my opinion

Captive parrots are still wild by nature. Their natural curiosity, sensitivity, intellect, playfulness and ability to form bonds with humans can tempt people to keep them in their homes. Unfortunately, the traits that make parrots so intriguing are the same ones that make them extremely difficult to live with as companion animals. Most people cannot cope with the long-term challenges and responsibilities of caring for an undomesticated animal that is physically and psychologically adapted to live in the wild, nor can they realistically provide an environment compatible with a parrot’s natural lifestyle.


We can go on for hours and hours





Avian Welfare Resource Center from the Avian Welfare Coalition - The True Nature of Parrots by Denise Kelly, Joan Rae & Krista Menzel

You are correct Antionette this could be a 100 page thread. It was not intended to be a long debate but it is interesting how we all view this topic. Thanks to everyone for your responses.

Again, I am posting this link about Greys because it can apply to all parrots. They are not like dogs and cats. If you just want a lap dog who will do tricks for you then don't get a parrot. Parrots are "prey" animals and that instinct does not go away just because they are captive domestic pets. They don't respond to dominance training like a pack animal (dog) would.

The reasons parrots "act out" is pretty much a 100% response to their environment which only we, as their caretakers, control *completely*. Or, the bird has had a bad experience in another home and it has impacted them and caused a conditioned response to new stress.

Winged Wisdom Pet Bird Magazine - Managing Stress in African Grey Parrots

I've raised Zoey since 3mo. old, including her last month $ a half of handfeeding, but she still displays many 'wild' traits. Most prominent is the need to establsh 'HER' territory, &what happens if boundries are crossed!

Hmmm, interesting topic. Well, in my case, I'm hoping some "wild instincts" kick in for my Joey given the current situation and him being out there somewhere...that is, until he comes back to me.

Thanks for posting SB!

I can't help but agree. For example, a border collie is a natural herder. A rottweiler is a natural protecter. Both are 9/10 soft as sugar and respectful to their owners automatically after hundreds of years of domestication. We all know this to be the case even where stomach turning abuse is happening....the dog will faithfully return.

When I think about all the birds I've interacted with from the wild, it is obvious our parrots are of the same nature.

Geese, swans and ducks do not see people eating and decide to beg for some. It takes more than likely, years for them to cotton on they will not be hurt by coming up onto the bank to see the humans with the nummy food. In their minds it is an arrangement. They don't have any USE for you - they can get their own food. You have made it easier, so, why not? If you were to run up to these birds screaming and menacingly - they would not be back to see you the next day.

The pigeon Dave brought home injured only let me help without a fight because he was dazed by the attack from the crow. Not because he somehow "knew I would help". Because he was incapable of fighting me off or running away.

The seagull I found as a child didn't know I was helping - he bit me lot. He had literally fallen off a roof. By the time I carried him home& got my mum to take us to the vets, he was beginning to bleed. By the time we got there, 7 miles away, he'd passed away.

A robin doesn't return to your garden because you have a bird bath and a nut feeder. It's just instinct.

Just because something is for sale, doesn't mean it technically should be. Ideally, us humans would not take birds into our homes but we do and we are. As long as people breed it will happen. We must not feel guilty for taking in a bird, rather that we've saved them from a potential miserable existance. These birds have been bred away from their country of origin. My sun conure would not survive the UK winter weather.

All I feel we can do is bear in mind our birds did not ask to be here and do everything in our power to make sure that they wake up every morning with joy. To embrace their natural ways and work accordingly around them. To do what's best for them both mentally and physically no matter how busy or lazy we are that day. It is not an easy task to undertake. The easy part is deciding you like the pretty colours and where the cage will sit in your house.

The beginning has not even begun at that stage. Respect and understanding, loving that they love life, sacrifices. Welcome to the world of being owned by a parrot.

Just my take on it, not taking sides or ganging up on anyone, Dogs and Cats are truely domesticated animals in the truest sense, they have been domesticly bred for thousands of years, so much so that the pet dogs and cats that we know today NEVER existed in the wild, they are for the lack of a better definition "Man Made", through breeding, cross breeding, inbreeding we've not only changed their apperience from that of their wild counterparts but also the instincts such as protection, herding, retrieving, ect, parrots for the most part have only been domesticly raised for the last couple hundred years, and on a larger scale for maybe the last 40-50 years, other than some color mutations and some Hybrids from cross breeding they have remained unchanged from those in the wild and even when born in captivity still have many of their wild instincts still intact, importing birds into the US and many other countries stopped in 1992, many of our pet birds still come from wild caught parent birds or birds that are only a couple of generations removed, we can't say that about dog's, cat's or many other pets that we consider domesticated, like I said this is just my take on it, and you know what they say about opinions

A lot of what some people see as "domestication" with modern birds more readily accepting hands is actually much more likely imprinting, at least in cases where the bird was handreared from just before it's eyes opened. A bird is made up of it's instincts - it isn't "trained" the same way as a dog. Even a cat, which it can be argued isn't altogether domesticated either, has been bred through however many centuries (millenia?) to be much gentler and less in touch with it's wilder instincts. Yet many think that, because a bird comes from the same store/petshop as these other animals, it's just as domestic.

I'm happy to call my birds my companions. It saddens me how many birds I see on Craigslist or Ebay classifieds - one person whose bird we considered adopting but ultimately passed on said she was only selling it for the cash.

But I honestly think, from my limited experience, that any domestication we see in our birds is only through them linking us with their own flock mentality: instincts. The instant we act as a predator, an enemy, we destroy any "training" and have to begin again. Even a cat is more forgiving of that (could also be because cats and dogsare predators themselves, that's a discussion for another day).

All good points! I love to read the different opinions.

Are dogs truly domesticated? A dog that escapes captivity will revert to "wild" and become feral, as will cats. So, we haven't really bred out the "wild instincts" and they resurface when needed. Herding, retrieving etc hasn't really been bred out. Many dogs keep these "instincts" even though they are now non working dogs... herders will herd their people, other dogs, etc. Retrievers will retrieve, naturally. Food for thought...

I have just adopted a Quaker (missing lower portion on one leg) and therefor have much to learn. The day after we brought him home (I've know him for awhile) he was walking on both my husband and I. He cuddles well, but will let me know what his boundries are with a sharp beaking! When he was with my friend he flocked called the moment I entered the house. He is in another room due to other animals and has only called once. I spend time morning afternoon and night with him to help the bonding. I'm new at this so help is appreciated!

gone to seed said:

I have just adopted a Quaker (missing lower portion on one leg) and therefor have much to learn. The day after we brought him home (I've know him for awhile) he was walking on both my husband and I. He cuddles well, but will let me know what his boundries are with a sharp beaking! When he was with my friend he flocked called the moment I entered the house. He is in another room due to other animals and has only called once. I spend time morning afternoon and night with him to help the bonding. I'm new at this so help is appreciated!

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Welcome to the forum! Why not introduce yourself in the New Members section? There's so many people from around the world on this forum prepared to help with anything you might need advice on. There's a few Q owners too .

Your bird sounds very special.

Domesticated and tame are two different things. All animals have certain hard-wired instincts. Domesticated animals have had many of these insticts subverted by thousands of years of "training" and selective breeding. These insticts can still be accessed but the animals have to dig deep to find them. Tame animals haven't had enough time to bury these insticts very deeply, so it's easy for them to "revert". Some species will always be closer to wild than others...like cats.

So, in my mind, my birds are tame wild animals.

Even if they were bred for hundreds of years their instinct to fly in the sky will always win. That is how they were created and that is how they will stay no matter how much we try and domesticate them.

If you are in doubt then take your flighted bird outside and give him the choice to stay or fly away.....