Can parrots see in the dark?

[zERo]

Hey guys!

I have a question, as the title states, can parrots see in the dark?
My budgies, cockatiels and quaker act stranded and scared if the lights go out and of course the budgies and cockatiels have had night frights before.

Yet my Green cheek Tom acts more than comfortable in absolute darkness, I hear him quickly go from perch to perch at night and then find his maraca rattle, he throws it then finds it again and over and over does this almost every night.
Sometimes he'll go to the cage floor and make his "OOOOoo inTeREsTInG" purr at me, despite not being able to see and waits for me to come over to him, since it's dark I use my phones screen to see him.

Maybe a stupid question but it sure seems like he has some visibility in the dark, has anyone else experienced this? With GCCs? Or any other parrot/bird species?

 

[Rozalka]

Somewhere I read that Bourkes have bigger eyes than other similar-size parakeets to see better in dark, so I guess yes, they see. Just some species may see worse and others better

Once time I heard Zenek eating after everybody went sleeping (all lights were off), so I guess he had to see what he was eating 😅

 

[BirdyBee]

I think they have some level of night vision, as they're able to eat and drink at night. I would never be able to do that as my night vision sucks. I'd probably trip and fall.

This is a very intriguing question, thanks for asking!

 

[HeatherG]

I think parrots eyesight is much sharper than peoples so they can probably see more than we do at night. Like having a photo with more pixels, you would get a better picture in dim light from a bird eye than a human eye.

Also your parrot knows where everything is located in his cage. So he can find things at night easily just like you walking half asleep to the bathroom at night.

My birds always blow me kisses at night.

 

[zERo]

I think parrots eyesight is much sharper than peoples so they can probably see more than we do at night. Like having a photo with more pixels, you would get a better picture in dim light from a bird eye than a human eye.

Also your parrot knows where everything is located in his cage. So he can find things at night easily just like you walking half asleep to the bathroom at night.

My birds always blow me kisses at night.

Yeah they can def see better than humans, they spot a beetle on the other side of the room way before I do.
Well only his food and water perches are steadfast, at least he know a perch will always be there, every other perch is moved frequently.

 

[HeatherG]

Yeah they can def see better than humans, they spot a beetle on the other side of the room way before I do.
Well only his food and water perches are steadfast, at least he know a perch will always be there, every other perch is moved frequently.

I had a completely blind parrot who got around very well in his cage. He used his beak like a cane to feel in front of him, but I left his food and snuggly toys in the same place and hand fed him treats.

BUT he was very nervous and cried if he heard a strange voice in my home.

My Lucy was missing one eye and I think was getting cataracts when she passed on at 24. But I also left her things in the same spots on her cage and she did fine, too.

 

[Rozalka]

I almost forgot - kakapos and night parrots lead a nocturnal lifestyle so they have to see something 😅

 

[HeatherG]

Kakapos have more light sensitivity but worse visual acuity than other parrots. They have a very good sense of smell and have whiskers near their beak which may help them forage on the ground.

 

[SailBoat]

Parrots have very kine eye-sight in bright sun-light and as light fades, so does their sight!
Their ability to memorize the location of things within confined spaces allows them to move around in places they know.
Total darkness: They have no vision what-so-ever, but in a confined place that they have memorized, they can move about.
Hearing and responding to their favorite Human does not require sight and yes, they will respond.

Parrot night vision compared to Human vision varies greatly on the Human as there are a number of conditions that can effect each Human separately. As a result, there is no clearly defined point to compare between Parrots and Humans other than to say, as a general rule, Humans can see in twilight were Parrots cannot.

That all said, Parrots can see UV where Humans cannot. As a result, in total darkness for Humans, a Parrot can see, 'if' UV is present.

 

[HeatherG]

Parrots have very kine eye-sight in bright sun-light and as light fades, so does their sight!
Their ability to memorize the location of things within confined spaces allows them to move around in places they know.
Total darkness: They have no vision what-so-ever, but in a confined place that they have memorized, they can move about.
Hearing and responding to their favorite Human does not require sight and yes, they will respond.

Parrot night vision compared to Human vision varies greatly on the Human as there are a number of conditions that can effect each Human separately. As a result, there is no clearly defined point to compare between Parrots and Humans other than to say, as a general rule, Humans can see in twilight were Parrots cannot.

That all said, Parrots can see UV where Humans cannot. As a result, in total darkness for Humans, a Parrot can see, 'if' UV is present.

And kakapos, having more light sensing cells in their eyes, can see more in lower light than most parrots, but not as sharply.

 

[Kentuckienne]

In general, birds that have good vision in the day have poor night vision. Your parrot is probably very familiar with his cage and can respond to your voice even in the dark, but most likely isn‘t seeing you…

 

[cnyguy]

Probably because they don't see as well when it's dark as they do in brighter light, none of my parrots ever liked being in full darkness. I've always had to provide a source of dim light at night, not too close to the cages. I now use a night light in the bathroom that shines just a tiny amount of light toward Ralph's cage and that makes him more comfortable at night.

 

[texsize]

My Yellow nape has or appears to have the “best” night vision Of all my flock and Cockatiels the worst.
My African Grey also has poor night vision.
I am sure the Kakapo must have good night vision But I wonder how that effects there UV vision.

 

[wrench13]

Agree, 'Boats, most species of parrots have very poor night vision, but they 'see' much differently then humans. THey have 4 cones in their eyes whereas we have only 3 (for the 3 primary colors and all the billions of combinations of those 3). I know Salty is not fond of dark. He gets very scared when we are in the car at night, the flashing car and street light really get him worked up. As a result, I lower him in the car so he cant see out and turn on the courtesy light.