Most companion birds are social species that suffer profoundly in isolation. Understanding flock needs helps owners provide appropriate companionship for their birds.
Treating companion birds as solitary cage animals is inconsistent with the social biology of virtually all common companion bird species. The behavioral problems most frequently reported by bird owners, including feather plucking, screaming, and aggression, are largely consequences of social deprivation and inadequate environmental complexity. Providing compatible companion birds dramatically improves welfare indicators in most social species. Human owners cannot fully substitute for conspecific companionship because they cannot provide species-appropriate communication, allopreening, and proximity. Species selection should account for the owner commitment required to meet complex social needs, with less complex species such as budgerigars better suited to situations where extensive human interaction is unavailable.