Parrots are highly intelligent, long-lived birds whose complex needs make them one of the most commonly mistreated companion animals.
Most companion parrots are profoundly under-stimulated compared to their wild counterparts. In nature, parrots fly miles daily, forage for diverse foods, maintain complex social bonds, and engage in continuous vocalizations. Cage confinement without adequate enrichment, social contact, and mental stimulation causes psychological suffering that manifests as feather destruction, screaming, and aggression.