Parrots are among the most cognitively complex birds kept as pets, with behavioral and social needs that are extremely difficult to meet in captivity and frequently lead to serious welfare problems.
Parrots in inadequate captive environments experience severe psychological distress from social isolation, boredom, and inability to perform natural behaviors. Feather-plucking, screaming, and aggression are expressions of frustrated behavioral needs. Their intelligence means they suffer more acutely from inadequate stimulation than less cognitively complex species. The lifetime commitment required by long-lived parrots means welfare problems often persist for decades, and many parrots are surrendered multiple times as owners cannot meet their complex needs.