Every single bird you’re thinking about adopting is going to be different. You want to think of a few things when considering a particular species.

How will this bird fit into my daily schedule?

How much time am I willing to commit, and do I want a bird I can handle?

Am I okay if my bird decides they don’t like me after a few months and will I be okay not being able to handle it if so?

Can I provide their dietary, housing, and attention needs to a full extent beyond the minimum requirements?

What noise level can I handle, and if my bird becomes loud can I adjust my schedule to allow it more attention?

Am I willing to keep this bird its whole lifespan, even if that means putting it in my will?

Am I okay with cleaning up the mess my bird makes?

If you are okay with the commitment you would make by bringing a rescue bird into your home, read the categories below and see what might be a good fit for you. Parrots live, at minimum, 15 years for the smallest species and up to 80 years for medium to large birds. Rescue parrots are wonderful because often, their behaviors are more predictable and you get to learn together about what makes them happy.

We see a lot of people get in over their heads because they weren’t honest about their true desires, often settling for a bird thinking they will change them over time with enough love. Unfortunately, wild animals don’t work the same way as dogs, cats, and other domestic ones. Educating yourself by watching valuable Youtube videos, reading up to date publications (like Barron’s guides), and being willing to wait for the right bird will really set yourself up for a successful adoption. Many dog rescues tell you it takes 3 days to settle in, 3 weeks to learn the routine and feel comfortable, and 3 months to become a part of the family. Multiply all those by 10 for parrots! 3 years before they really feel like family. Don’t be discouraged immediately if your bird isn’t what you expected or were told… They are probably not ready to trust you quite yet. This is why we are very careful in placement and want to ask a lot of questions. The bird AND you should be comfortable with the arrangement, and you can be set for success with your new bird. Coming into your appointment at Iowa Parrot Rescue with a list of questions about the birds you are interested in is a great way for us to get to know your desires and interests, and allow us to match you with the ideal bird. You can also learn a lot more about what species may be the best for your lifestyle. The generalizations below are not going to be perfect for each bird, nor will they encompass everything we have available at any given time, but they will give somewhat of an idea of the most desired species we hear about.

Conures, Quakers, Cockatiels, and other similar sized birds can fit under the conure umbrella. In general, these birds are spunky, full of attitude, and can be pretty loud. They’re smaller, so much easier to handle than other larger birds and can be great birds to teach you patience before bonding with a larger one. Because of their small size, people tend to underestimate them. Conures have just as much attitude, piled into a little body, but need plenty of space to move around and fly just like the larger birds.

Quakers in particular are known for cage aggression, so they may seem standoffish at first. Give them time to come out on their own, and most will want to snuggle with their favorite person. They bond heavily to a single person at a time, and tend to shun others when they’re with that person. Most Quakers are food hounds, so it’s important to maintain a healthy feeding schedule with them.

Amazons in particular are one of the most difficult types to handle. They are hard-wired for defense, so tend to be aggressive towards people/birds when their space is intruded. Because of this, they require some experience with other species before considering this type of bird. If you feel confident, Amazons make fantastic companions. Some species are a bit easier, like the red-lored, white-fronted, and orange-wings. The blue fronts, yellow heads, and yellow naped Amazons are the “hot” species (higher propensity for moodiness). They will always liven up your life with their songs, dances, and goofy antics.

African Greys are a bit easier to handle than Amazons because they would rather run from things they don’t like than charge full on. These guys are more cool headed, intelligent, and empathetic towards people. They have subtle body language, and can take a while to warm up. Greys are known for their speaking ability, and friendliness once they have taken time to get to know you.

Macaws are some of the most beautiful type of parrot. Their sheer size and colors are something to marvel at, and draw people in. Don’t let their tricks fool you though, these birds are truly for the advanced most of the time. We occasionally have a rare bird that a beginner can handle, but they are few, far between, and get adopted quickly.

Macaws are destructive, loud, noisy, and I can’t stress this enough… Messy. They will chew anything they can get their beaks around, which are extremely strong. If you are dead set on a macaw, we can teach you how to handle them and read their body language if you don’t already have experience with them. All we ask is that you truly commit to the bird you choose, because they’re relying on you to protect them. Macaws live on average 60 years, but can far surpass that, requiring most to be left to family members after their owner passes away. We are very careful placing macaws. Oh, and we NEVER place macaws in apartments.

Prepare yourself for a life of fighter jet level noise, bulldozer level destruction, and cuddles fit for a king. The intense companionship qualities make Cockatoos the most rehomed/traded around parrot in aviculture. Screaming and neurotic feather picking is common in cockatoos that don’t get the level of attention they need, which we liken to a 4 year old child. These guys can live to be, on average, into their 60’s, so that’s a toddler for your entire life. Some species are easier to handle and more biddable. Goffin’s and Rose-breasted are amongst the two easiest cockatoos to handle but it is very much individual based.

Cockatoos are some of the snuggliest birds, but can be quite unpredictable at times. These big guys are all about reading them properly, understanding that they WILL bite, and they will bite hard. They require strong cages that they might break, toys that they will disassemble or break, steel bowls that they will throw, and attention that they will demand. We can’t stress enough, it is very hard to get them to stop screaming when they have learned it garners them attention. We don’t mean to speak badly on cockatoos, because they can be absolutely incredible companions by your side, but our goal is to keep these birds in homes and not passed around any more. Some of our Too’s have been in 6 or 7 different homes by the time they are 30 years old, so we want to ensure adopters know what they could be in for. If you live in an apartment, we will not adopt a large cockatoo out.

Lorikeets/Lories are great fun! Often super colorful, these guys enjoy bouncing around, getting into trouble, and snooping at you around the corner. Lories enjoy lots of attention and act similar to conures in a lot of ways. They are quieter, preferring to jabber and squeak as opposed to scream, and usually enjoy spending time with multiple people. They have special dietary needs, being almost exclusively nectar and insect eaters. Their food is a nectar powder reconstituted with water, created fresh several times a day, protein in the form of freeze dried or fresh worms, and fresh fruit/veggies of course. Due to the physical nature of their tongue, pellets are not ideal. It’s because of this nectar diet that they are notorious for “concrete poops” that can stain walls, clothes, and floors!

Eclectus parrots are truly unique, Males and females look completely different from each other and even have totally opposing personalities. Males tend to be very people oriented, bonding with multiple people. They love to talk, create mischief, fly around, and forage for food. Females typically bond to a single person and are very protective of them. They can be nesty/cage aggressive so require a patient keeper who understands that their female eclectus might not appreciate being held as much as a male would. Both sexes can be loud, and have odd body language compared to other parrots. Eclectus parrots are biologically different from other birds. Their feather structure is different, appearing hair-like, and their intestines absorb significantly more nutrients from their food. Added vitamins/minerals, synthetic chemicals, and added colors all trigger neurological issues in these birds, and they thrive on a mainly chopped vegetable diet with fruit as treats. In our experience, TOPS brand pellets are the best commercial pellet.