Pet birds have complex behavioural and social needs that are rarely met in conventional cage keeping. Understanding these needs is essential for responsible bird ownership.
Companion bird welfare is a significant and underrecognised welfare concern. The keeping of highly intelligent, social species like parrots in conditions that deny flight, social interaction, and cognitive stimulation causes demonstrable psychological harm — feather plucking, screaming, aggression, and stereotypic behaviour are the visible manifestations. The lifespan of large parrots — potentially outliving their owners — means that welfare failures accumulate over decades. Responsible bird ownership requires understanding these needs before acquisition and committing to the social interaction, environmental complexity, and flight opportunities that birds need. The wild-caught bird trade, which supplies some of the pet market, causes severe welfare harm through capture, transport, and mortality.