Companion birds including parrots, cockatiels, and canaries have complex social, cognitive, and physical needs that most home environments cannot adequately meet.
Companion birds are highly intelligent social animals that are fundamentally mismatched with typical household conditions. Their longevity means welfare problems persist for decades. Cognitive understimulation, social isolation, and dietary inadequacy cause chronic distress. Many owners acquire parrots without understanding their needs and later find themselves unable to meet them. The welfare gap between what companion parrots need and what they typically receive is among the largest for any kept animal.