Green is the default colour for parrots. The pigment serves as camouflage in tropical canopy, and most wild parrot species wear some shade of green. Here are 30 species worth knowing, grouped by family.
Amazon Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Fronted Amazon | 12-14 inches | 50+ years | Inquisitive, playful, bonds strongly with owners |
| Yellow-Naped Amazon | 11-12 inches | 40+ years | Talkative, friendly, loves the spotlight |
| Double Yellow-Headed Amazon | 11-12 inches | 30+ years | Social, affectionate, easy to care for |
Amazons are New World parrots from Central and South America. They rank among the best talkers in the parrot world and form strong bonds with their owners. All three species show predominantly green plumage with distinctive head markings.
African Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal Parrot | 9 inches | 25-30 years | Feisty, loyal, good for experienced owners |
| Meyer’s Parrot | 8-9 inches | 25-30 years | Gentle, affectionate, low maintenance |
| Niam-Niam Parrot | 10 inches | 20-30 years | Rare, inquisitive, very few in captivity |
African parrots tend to be smaller and quieter than Amazons. Senegals whistle and cluck rather than scream. Meyer’s Parrots make excellent first-time Poicephalus for their calm temperament.
Australian Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Rosella | 12 inches | Up to 25 years | Friendly, needs space, aviary ideal |
| Northern Rosella | 11 inches | 15-20 years | Shy, found near creeks and streams |
| Australian King Parrot | 12 inches | Up to 30 years | Calm, quiet, striking red-and-green males |
Australian parrots are protected by law and cannot be legally exported. Eastern Rosellas need the largest cage you can provide - an aviary is best since they live peacefully in groups.
Conure Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Conure | 12 inches | 25-30 years | Loud, colourful, ear-piercing contact call |
| Green-Cheeked Conure | 10 inches | 20+ years | Quieter than other conures, big personality |
| Jenday Conure | 12 inches | 30-35 years | Social, lives in small flocks of 10-15 |
Conures are small to medium parrots with long tails and strong beaks. Sun Conures are among the loudest pet birds - their contact call carries for miles. Green-Cheeked Conures are the quieter alternative.
Asian Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandrine Parakeet | 23 inches | 25-30 years | Gentle giant, good talker |
| Red-Breasted Parakeet | 13 inches | 20-25 years | Active, social, needs interaction |
| Indian Ring-Necked Parakeet | 16 inches | 25-30 years | Independent, excellent mimic |
Asian parakeets tend to be longer-bodied than their South American cousins. Alexandrine Parakeets are one of the largest parakeet species and can develop impressive vocabularies.
Pionus Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-Headed Pionus | 11 inches | 25-40 years | Calm, quiet, good apartment bird |
| Maximilian’s Pionus | 11 inches | 25-40 years | Gentle, steady temperament |
| Bronze-Winged Pionus | 11 inches | 25-40 years | Shy at first, loyal once bonded |
Pionus parrots are the quiet achievers. They rarely scream, have steady temperaments, and make excellent apartment birds. All three species show green bodies with distinctive head colouring.
Macaw Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green-Winged Macaw | 35 inches | 50+ years | Gentle giant, calmer than Scarlet Macaw |
| Military Macaw | 30 inches | 50+ years | Social, even-tempered, good talker |
| Hyacinth Macaw | 40 inches | 50+ years | Largest parrot, gentle, needs huge space |
Macaws are the largest parrots. Green-Winged Macaws show extensive green on their wings despite their red bodies. Military Macaws are almost entirely green. Hyacinth Macaws are blue, not green - they appear on this list because they are commonly confused with green macaw species.
Parakeets
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budgerigar | 7 inches | 5-10 years | World’s most popular pet bird |
| Monk Parakeet | 11 inches | 20-30 years | Builds communal stick nests, social |
Budgies are wild-type green in their natural Australian habitat. Monk Parakeets are the only parrots that build stick nests rather than using tree hollows - their communal nests can weigh hundreds of kilograms.
Eclectus Parrots
| Species | Size | Lifespan | Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-Sided Eclectus | 14 inches | 30-40 years | Males green, females red - extreme dimorphism |
| Vosmaeri Eclectus | 14 inches | 30-40 years | Brighter colours than Red-Sided |
| Grand Eclectus | 14 inches | 30-40 years | Largest Eclectus subspecies |
Eclectus parrots have the most extreme sexual dimorphism of any parrot. Males are bright emerald green while females are red and purple. Early naturalists thought they were separate species entirely.
Green plumage in parrots comes from a combination of yellow pigments and light-scattering feather structures rather than green pigment. This is why green parrots can produce yellow or blue offspring - they carry both components separately.
