Although green is the dominant color in parrots, you can still find some pet birds with beautiful blue plumage. Green parrots range in size from small to very large and range in color from pale chalky blue to deep indigo. Some parrots simply have flashy blue markings while others are mostly blue. Below are eight species of blue macaws that you will often find as pets.
1. Blue-and-Gold Macaw
Hailing from South America, the beautiful blue and yellow macaw displays a bold mix of bright blue and yellow feathers. Its most prominent feature is the white patches of skin around its eyes, characteristic of most macaws. Furthermore, its green forehead provides a beautiful contrast to its blue and yellow body. These intelligent, social birds require the dedication of caregivers who can provide them with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
2. Budgerigar(Blue Mutation)
In the wild, budgies often have green and yellow feathers. But in captivity, selective breeding has given rise to a series of color mutations – the most common being blue. These budgies have blue fur on the head, chest and belly, often with black spots and stripes on the head, wings, back and tail. Suitable for caregivers of any level of experience, budgies have been one of the most popular pet birds for decades.
3. Macaw
The largest of the macaws, the Macaw is almost entirely dark blue with light yellow markings around the eyes and beak. These birds are widely known as “gentle giants”, and despite their fearsome beaks, they are known for being extremely friendly and affectionate. They require a lot of attention from their caregivers as well as a lot of space to move.
4. Parrotlet (blue mutation)
Another popular green parrot is the blue mutation of the Pacific parrot. These cranky birds are the smallest of the true parrots, but they pack a lot of personality into their tiny bodies. Parrotlets are a great choice for people who don’t have enough space to keep a larger species. Even though they are small, parrots still require hours of daily care and exercise to keep them healthy and tame.
5. Blue-Crowned Conure
Appearing in the movie “Paulie”, the Blue-Crowned Conure has a brilliant blue head while the rest of its body is green. Known as one of the friendlier parrot species, these birds appreciate spending time with their caregivers. This is not a bird that likes to be kept in a cage. Give it a few hours of supervised time out of its cage each day, or if it must be kept in captivity, use as many cages as possible.
6. Quaker (blue mutation)
Quaker parrots are primarily green in the wild, and the beautiful blue mutation was not developed until the early 2000s. These alert birds tend to bond closely. close to their caregivers and they love to talk. In fact, some can learn an impressive vocabulary of human words and phrases, as well as imitate household sounds and songs.
7. Blue-Headed Pionus
Native to Central and South America, the blue-headed pionus can live up to 40 years in captivity. These birds tend to be relatively easy-going and quiet, especially compared to some other parrot species. They are also quite gentle birds with no tendency to bite. Like other large pet birds, they need adequate space and supervised playtime outside of their cages.
8. Indian Ringneck Parakeet (Indian ringneck parakeet)
In the wild, Indian macaws are typically bright green, but selective breeding has developed several color mutations – including blue. These birds are very intelligent however they can be very picky or destructive due to their aggressive nature. They must also be socialized and handled abundantly to maintain a tame, sweet demeanor.