Parrots live much longer lives than most other domesticated pets. They tend to live longer in captivity due to the care and diet they recieve. I get many inquiries from people believing a 20 yr old macaw is OLD. For a dog or cat yeah 20 is the end of its life! For some parrots it is just getting started!

It would be good to remember that even at 20 yrs old that some parrots are going to continue to live for an additional 40 years! Some people deliberately look for older parrots to adopt as they don’t want a parrot that they will have to be concerned about willing to someone or having to provide for it after their deaths. Some people believe that they want a baby only as they want to train it their own way. What they don’t realize is that getting some parrots through the hormonal years can be bery trying. Older birds have lived through those difficult teen years and have overcome those trying hormonal issues.

Here is a list of average age spans for several species.

Finches – 15 years
Canaries – 15 years
Budgies – 15 years
Cockatiels – 20 years
Lovebirds – 20 years
Conures – 30 years
Amazons – 50 years
African Greys – 50 years
Cockatoos – 65 years
Macaws – 60 years