How Much Does a Parrot Cost? The 10 Best Talking Parrots Updated Prices

Parrots are amazing birds. They are unique creatures that a lot of pet owners choose to have as home companions. Everything about these beautiful creatures is unique, including their eating habits and mood changes.

There are many species of parrots; they usually have vividly colored feathers but are different in size and color. They are also very playful and smart species that can mimic Human speech (at least some can). 

There are about 400 different species of parrots in the world. Some of them are usually raised in captivity because of the beauty and vivacity they can bring to a home. Having a parrot at home is like having a little child: it adds to your responsibilities, but it positively affects the house's atmosphere and the inhabitants' moods.

If you're thinking about getting a parrot as a home companion, then there are many things you need to consider before purchasing one. For starters, 400 is a big number of species to choose from. Don't worry, though, as we will be narrowing the number to a much shorter list of parrots that are commonly purchased as companion birds.

We will be focusing mainly on the ten most popular species of talking birds and providing everything you need to know about each species, like the average price, including the initial cost and any other necessary expenses you need to keep in mind. We will also be explaining why some parrots are expensive birds to buy while others may be cheaper to get. 

By the end of this article, we believe you will have all the necessary knowledge to buy a pet parrot without any surprise extra costs. Furthermore, you will know exactly what you need to get with your bird before visiting any pet shops nearby. 

Happy reading!

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How Much Does a Parrot Cost? The 10 Most Popular Talking Bird Species Prices

In this first section, we will be talking about the ten most favored talking parrots among pet lovers. These are the species that are usually picked by people wishing to have a pet parrot. We will be providing the average price for every species as well as trying to justify the difference in parrot prices. That is, what makes a specific species more expensive or cheaper than another.

Please, bear in mind that the provided average prices will be as of the time of writing this article. In the future, parrot prices may fluctuate. You may find that the costs have slightly changed when you try to buy a bird!

How Much Does a Parakeet Cost?

Parakeets are small to medium-sized birds that are commonly recognized by their long tail feathers. They also are seed-eating birds that share a slender build. There are almost 115 species of Parakeets sharing the mentioned features. There are also older spellings of the same word that you may still encounter today, such as paroquet or paraquet. Parakeets are indigenous to Australia.

In American English, however, the word "Parakeet" refers to a single species: the Budgerigars. They are also usually referred to as Budgies. 

Budgies share the common distinctive features of the long tail feathers with other types of Parakeets. In addition, they have featherings that are green with black, scalloped markings and yellow necks. They are seed-eating parrots.

Other types of Parakeets include the Scarlet-Chested Parakeet, the Yellow-Chevroned Parakeet, the Red Bump, the Plum-Headed, the Ringneck, the Monk Parakeet, the White-winged, the Lineolated, The Bourke's Parakeet, Alexandra's Parakeet, Mustached Parakeet, etc. However, as mentioned earlier, in the U.S.A, Parakeets refer mainly to Budgerigars.

On average, a Parakeet will cost between 10 and 60 dollars, and a couple anywhere between 40 and 80 dollars. The cost of Parakeets is mainly related to where you buy them and how they were raised.

In other words, store-raised Parakeets are usually cheaper than those sold by Breeders mainly for better care and record-keeping. Also, a Parakeet that is used to contact with Humans will cost more because it will be easier to train and more ready to talk.

How Much Does Cockatoo Cost?

The Cockatoo family is composed of 21 different species that are mainly recognized with their prominent head crests and curved beaks. They are usually larger than other parrots. They originate from the regions between Australia, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. They prefer to eat seeds, corn, flowers, insects, fresh fruit, and flowers.

Cockatoos are usually not as colorful as other species of parrots. They usually have a main body color (mainly black, white or grey) with colored feathers on the chest. Cockatoos are not easy to keep as pets, as their needs are difficult to meet. Still, the smallest species of the family, namely the Cockatiel, is relatively easier to take care of, and thus more commonly kept in captivity compared to other species. 

The Cockatoo family includes, in addition to Cockatiels (including mutations like the Pied Cockatiel, the Cinnamon Cockatiel, etc.), other species like the Palm Cockatoo, the Umbrella Cockatoo, the Major Mitchell's, the Sulphur Crested, the Galah, the Bare-Eyed, the Gang-Gang, the Goffin's Cockatoo, the Moluccan Cockatoo, the Citron-Crested, the Triton Cockatoo, the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo, and many more.  Depending on where you get your Cockatoo from, the price range is usually between $500 and $1200. Other determining factors include the species (smaller birds are cheaper) and the color of the bird.  

It is worth mentioning that rarer species, like the Umbrella Cockatoo, can cost anywhere between $1000 and $3000. So, rarity also determines the price of any given bird.

How Much Does a Macaw Parrot Cost?

The Macaw family is composed of 19 different species (including extinct or endangered ones). They are some of the larger parrots and are distinguished by their bright, colorful feathers, larger beaks and very long tail feathers. There are, however, smaller species in the Macaw family, like the red-shouldered macaw, which is the smallest bird of the family. 

Macaw species include the Hyacinth Macaw, the Scarlet, the Spix, the Cuban Red Macaw, the Catalina, the Hahns, the Hybrid Macaw, the Severe, the Harlequin, the Blue-Throated Macaw, the Green Wing Macaw, the Gold Macaw, etc. They are usually affectionate and playful birds despite their big size. They mostly originate from Central to South America. Their lifespan ranges between 35 years (for smaller Macaws) and up to 75 years for the larger birds.

Macaws, in general, are some critically endangered species, which raises issues of keeping them in captivity, and species preservation.

Macaws eat a variety of foods, including vegetables, seeds, leaves, flowers, stems, nuts, palm fruits, etc.

Most Macaws are relatively large parrots, so you should expect their prices to be higher compared to other species. If you opt for a Macaw as a bird companion, you will need to pay somewhere between $1000 and $18,000 for the bird alone, depending on the species, size, color, and more importantly, rarity. If you buy a rare larger bird, then the price is expected to be on the much higher side. 

How Much Do African Greys Cost?

The name of this medium-sized parrot species says a lot about them. African Grey parrots originate from Equatorial Africa (Angola, Cameroon, the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda). They are also predominantly grey with a black beak. They can be recognized with their red tail feathers and white circles around the eyes. 

There are two main sub-species of the African Greys: The Congo African Grey and the Timneh African Grey. They are very similar in body shape, weight (around 0.9 pounds), and color, even if the Timneh is usually less stressed and easier to train. Both species are considered to be some of the most intelligent birds.

African Greys can live up to 40-60 years in captivity, a much longer lifespan compared to that of the wild birds (around 23 years). They are widely kept as companions mainly for their incredible ability to mimic human speech or any noises they hear around them and then repeat what they hear tirelessly.

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Buying an African Grey parrot will cost you between $1,500 to $3,500. The Congo African Greys are usually cheaper than the Timneh Greys because they are more available in the pet industry. Still, despite having a lower initial cost, they require more money spent on other necessities (insurance, veterinary care, cage, etc.) compared to the Timneh African Greys.

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Pionus Parrot Price?

Pionus parrots originate from Mexico and other Central and South American regions. They are medium-sized parrots that are characterized by a short square tail, bare eye rings (sometimes of different colors) and their chunky bodies. As a matter of fact, the name of this species "Pionus" is from the Old Greek language word "piōn / pionos" which simply means "fat". 

There are eight different species of Pionus parrots differing mainly in the color of their body parts. These include the Red-billed Pionus, the Blue-Headed, the White-Crowned, the Speckle-faced, the Scaly-headed (Maximillian), the Bronze-winged, the White-Capped parrot, and the Dusky Pionus parrot.

Among the different species, three are commonly kept in captivity as companions. These are the Blue-headed parrot, the White-capped and the Maximillian Pionus (Scaly-headed). Naturally, wild Pionus parrots eat fruits as their primary food source.

In captivity, owners must pay special attention not to give their pet bird any fat-rich food. Preferably, a veterinarian should be consulted to choose an appropriate diet for this species. 

You will have to spend between $900 to $1700 depending on the sub-species and the rarity of the bird. The average price is $1200, though. 

How Much Does a Quaker Parrot Cost?

Quaker Parrots, also called Monk Parakeets, belong to the Parakeet family of species that we have talked about earlier. Some of the shared characteristics of these species include the medium size, slender build and long tail feathers. 

Quaker parrots are bright-green colored birds with grey-yellowish abdomens and grey breasts. They are smaller than other Parakeets and originate from Argentina and other surrounding regions of South America. The lifespan of a Quaker parrot ranges between 20 to 30 years.

Quaker parrots are confident, social and very intelligent birds. They are favored by a lot of bird owners because of their exceptional ability to develop speech, build a vocabulary and even use phrases in speech. Because of their fast speech abilities, Quaker parrots have started to overtake Cockatiels as pet birds to train to talk. 

Purchasing a Quaker parrot will usually cost you from $250 to $550. The price depends on the way the bird was raised as well as the popularity of the breeder. These birds are in high demand by people wishing to adopt them because of their sociability and intelligence.

How Much Does a Conure Cost?

When it comes to parrot species, the terminology can be a little confusing. For example, some people will find it difficult to differentiate between Parakeets and Conures. 

In a nutshell, while Parakeets are indigenous to Australia, the term 'Conure' is used to refer to any large Parakeets or small parrots that are found in the western hemisphere. All living Conures can be found today either in Central or South America. Only the Carolina Parakeet was an exception in that it used to live in the Midwest, Eastern and plains states of the U.S.A (Sadly, this species is extinct now). 

The body shape and ways of living of Conures are similar to those of Australian Parakeets (even if they are slightly larger). They also have long tail feathers and small but strong beaks (usually grey or black). Conures are sometimes referred to as the parrot clowns due to their funny behavior that is intended for attention-seeking. They would usually dance, hang upside down or swing back and forth. 

It is not easy to precisely classify the Conure species. Still, some sub-species include the Sun Conure, the Green Cheek Conure, the Nanday Conure, the St. Thomas Conure, the Cinnamon Green-Cheeked, the Golden Conure, the Crimson-Bellied Conure, the Dusky Conure, the Cherry-Headed, the Blue-Crowned, the Black-Capped, the Jenday Conure, the Half-Moon, the Peach-Fronted Conure, etc. As you may have already noticed, the names of the birds are usually related to a distinctive shape or color of a body part.

Conures can eat anything from fruits, greens, vegetables, pasta, nuts, grains, protein (chicken and Salmon), and small amounts of dairy without problems.

Depending on the availability or rarity of the species, the prices for  Conures can be very different. The diversity of the species adds to the complexity of having a specific price for Conures. Still, you should expect to pay anywhere between $200 and above $3,000 to buy one. Of course, the rarer the species, the pricier it is!

How Much Is an Eclectus Parrot?

Eclectus parrots originate from the areas of northeastern Australia, Solomon Islands, Sumba, and New Guinea. This is a unique species of parrots in that there are extreme differences in plumage between male and female Eclectus parrots (Something referred to as Sexual Dimorphism). 

Males usually have bright green feathers (Emerald green) while females are distinguished by their plumage which is usually bright red and purple or blue. In fact, the two look so different that anyone without sufficient Avian knowledge may easily mistake them for two totally different species. 

There are nine different subspecies of Eclectus parrots, including the Australian Eclectus parrot, the grand Eclectus, the Sumba Island Eclectus parrot, the Vosmaer's Eclectus, the Solomon Island Eclectus parrot, the Tanimbar Islands Eclectus parrot, the New Guinea red-sided Eclectus parrot, etc. 

The price for an Eclectus parrot, relying on factors such as rarity and colors, will vary between $1,000 and $3,000.

How Much Do Amazon Parrots Cost?

Amazons are medium-sized parrots that originated from the Americas and expanded to Mexico and the Caribbean. They are also short-tailed and mostly green-colored (The majority are) with each species being distinguished by vivid accenting colors. They can live up to 30-50 years.

The ability to mimic Human speech made of Amazons preferred bird companions which developed into an important industry of raising Amazons in captivity and later affected the wild populations.

There are about 30 sub-species of Amazon parrots, including the Cuban Amazon, the Red-Lored Amazon, the Festive Amazon, the Orange-winged Amazon, the Yellow-Naped Amazon, the Turquoise-Fronted Amazon, the yellow-crowned amazon, the Lilacine Amazon, the Mealy Amazon, etc. 

Amazons are beloved companions known for their vibrant colors, playful personalities, and impressive mimicking abilities. However, providing them with a happy and healthy life requires more than just love and attention.

One crucial factor for their well-being is maintaining proper humidity levels in their environment. Check out the ideal humidity range for your Amazon parrot and the potential dangers of both too low and too high humidity in our comprehensive guide on the best humidity level for an Amazon parrot.

Amazons have been known to develop Hormone-related aggressiveness that could sometimes lead to them attacking their owners. Still, two specific species are an exception because they are known to be easy-going and affectionate: The Mealy Amazon and the Ecuador Red-Lored Amazon (Lilacine Amazon).

On average, an Amazon parrot will cost you around $1500. However, some rarer sub-species can cost up to$3000, while the most common ones will cost about $1000. 

How Much Do Budgerigars Parrots Cost?

As we have mentioned earlier, Budgerigar parrots, usually nicknamed ad Budgies, are small-sized, long-tailed species of Parakeets. In the USA, however, the term 'Parakeet' refers exclusively to the Budgie subspecies.

Usually, natural Budgies are green and yellow, with some black markings on the wings, back and neck. Still, breeding in captivity led to the creation of many mutations with other colors like white, yellow, blue, and grey. 

Budgies are seed-eating birds. Male and female Budgies can be distinguished by their beaks. If the cere is blue, that indicates the bird is a male, while a flaking brown one shows that it's a female (These are the natural colors). 

Since Budgerigar parrots are small in size, they do not require too much spending on food. Still, a varied diet is recommended by veterinarians consisting of seeds, fruits, pellets, and vegetables.

The price to pay for a Budgie ranges between 10 to 35 dollars or higher depending on where the bird is purchased from (Pet store VS. Breeder).

Other Parrot Costs to Consider: Health, Food, and Housing

So far, we have established that adopting a parrot of any species comes at an initial price. That's a one-time investment that you pay for the pet bird only. There are other ongoing costs that you need to take into consideration before making the purchase. These come in the form of annual costs, other monthly food costs, vet bills that you need to pay after every vet checkup, etc.

For example, adopting a single Congo African Grey parrot will cost $1,500 to $3,500 for the bird itself, in addition to other ongoing costs that can add up to another $3,200 a year. While these additional costs may not be bank breakers, it is still better to calculate everything to avoid any nasty surprises after buying your pet parrot. As a general rule, if you opt for a larger parrot, the total costs will undoubtedly be higher than having a smaller one.

One time expenses:

These are investments that you need to make only one time. They include the following:

• the initial cost of the bird (adoption fee) - We have discussed the average cost of every species in detail earlier. (between as low as 10 dollars to several thousands of dollars for rarer species).
• The parrot cage cost - You need to make sure to buy an adequately sized bird cage. There are many quality cages you can find online. Don't cheap out on the cage! Otherwise, you will have to make the investment again! Prices of cages are usually between 50 and 1500 dollars.

• A variety of toys to keep the parrot active and entertained - These are essential for your parrot's enjoyment as well as mental stimulation. These may cost anywhere between 25 to 150 dollars on average.
• Any desired accessories for the bird and the cage - Including any perches, platform stands, nests, grooming items (for the nails, wings, etc.), birdbaths, travel carriers, cleaning supplies, etc. You will be surprised by the number of parrot cage accessories available in online stores like Amazon. Just make sure you buy good quality items that will serve your companion for a very long time. You may expect to spend between 220 and 600 dollars on the items mentioned above.

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Ongoing costs:

These are the recurring investments you need to make after different periods of time to ensure your colorful companion has a healthy diet and is in good health. Such expenses include:

Bird food 

As a bird lover, you always want to have a healthy bird companion. Food is the key to achieving this goal. This is more likely to be a monthly investment that includes vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, pellets, treats, vitamin and mineral supplements, etc.

The choice of the type of food relies on the species you buy. Having a larger bird or more than one will mean the food costs will be higher. Just make sure you consult your avian vet for the most suitable diet to provide for your bird. Depending on the parrot's size and species, you can expect to spend anywhere between 30 to 75 dollars or higher per month for food. Larger, rarer or more exotic birds will surely be more expensive to keep.

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Veterinarian checkups 

You want to take care of your beloved companion's health and prevent or treat any health problems it may have. Having regular visits to your avian vet will ensure your bird won't have any life-threatening issues. 

Immediately after you buy your parrot, it is advisable to take it to the vet for an initial, thorough checkup. The vet will examine the bird for any problems and make any necessary tests or vaccinations. In addition, he/she will perform a very important Psittacosis test as well as a highly recommended microchipping process. Depending on the number of performed tests, the initial visit to the vet can cost between 100 and several hundreds of dollars (in case blood tests need to be carried out). 

After that, you need to perform regular vet visits. These can cost between 25 and 40 dollars for each bird. Luckily, you don't need to take your parrot to the vet as often as you would do with other pets. If the bird is in good health, a visit to the vet every two or three years will be enough.

In addition, you need to take into consideration the costs of any unexpected health problems. For example, if your pet bird has a minor harmless illness, you may need to spend between 20 and 60 dollars on treating it. However, in the case of an emergency, a surgery or medication can cost 120 to 360 dollars. 

Insurance

Some owners choose to buy insurance for their parrots, especially if it's a rare, expensive one. Bird insurance starts as low as 5 dollars and goes up depending on what is covered (healthcare, death, theft, etc.). Annual insurance fees depend on factors like the size, species, age, gender, etc., of the bird.

What Factors Affect the Cost of a Parrot?

In this very last section, we will go through the factors that affect a parrot's price. As seen in earlier sections, parrot costs can range between as low as 10 dollars and several thousand. It's time to depict each factor in more detail.

Species:

This is the main factor that puts a price on any specific parrot. If it's a rare exotic species, it will cost much more than other widely available ones. This is because they are usually kept by collectors who pay high prices for them. On the contrary, common domestic varieties such as cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds, macaws, conures, African greys, parakeets, Amazon parrots, and others are cheaper due to being bred commercially. 

Size:

The size of the bird is another determining factor. As a general rule, larger parrots will cost significantly more than smaller ones. Large birds tend to live up to 70 years and beyond, and they will require many expenses during their lifetime (other than the initial cost). This is something to consider while buying a pet parrot.

Lifespan:

As we mentioned earlier, larger birds like Macaws can live much longer than smaller parrots such as parakeets. Larger birds also cost more to buy and need bigger cages or even aviaries to move and stretch their wings freely. Moreover, it just makes sense that they will consume much more food and treats than small birds. The overall lifespan cost of a large parrot and its needs can add up to thousands of dollars.

Breeding location:

Whether the parrot was caught in the wild or raised in captivity is yet another important factor to affect its price. Parrots that are raised in captivity are used to being around humans, which makes training them much easier than wild parrots. They are simply readier for speech training. 

In addition, if the parrot is usually hand-fed, it will bond faster with the owner. As a result, hand-feeding parrots will make them more affectionate towards their owners.

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Purchase location:

We mentioned earlier that buying a parrot from a pet store will be much cheaper than buying one from a professional breeder. The reason is that breeders are specialized in birds and take good care of them. They even keep records for each individual bird they have.

In addition, a lot of breeders offer shipping and cages for their sold birds. Buying your parrot from a breeder will cost you much more, but the service is better. The records will mean that you will know if your bird suffers or has ever suffered from any severe health issues and if it needs any special attention.

Age: 

The cost of a parrot is affected by its age. Younger baby parrots are usually cheaper than mature ones. However, older adult parrots may not be able to perform certain tricks anymore. For example, an old parrot might no longer learn new words easily. Also, some breeds of parrots become less active after reaching adulthood.

These two things together could lead to lower performance levels. Therefore, younger parrots should always be preferred over older ones.

Final Thoughts

The world of parrots is an amazing one! They are wonderful creatures that can bring life into any home. Having a companion parrot means having a colorful friend to keep you company for decades. Some species of parrots can even outlive their owners if properly taken care of.

Choosing a parrot to adopt can be an overwhelming task, as there are hundreds of species of different colors, sizes, eating habits, and even personalities. Some can be much easier to train than others. There is also a big difference in price between parrots of different species and sizes. 

In this article, we tried to cover parrot costs and needs in as much detail as we could. We provided a list of the ten talking parrot species that are most commonly kept as home companions. We also provided some distinctive features of those species, as well as the average cost for each one.

After that, we moved to cover any other expenses related to parrot adoption, be it one-time costs or ongoing, recurring ones. Moreover, we covered the factors that affect the prices of different species of parrots. The goal was to make the process of adopting a pet parrot much easier and clearer for any future pet parent. 

All you need to do now is bring a calculator and start calculating how much buying your favorite species will cost you during its entire lifespan. Then, you will be ready for any expenses!

If you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We will be glad to assist our fellow bird lovers!