9 Top Blue Parrot Species to Keep as Pets

Love the look of blue parrots? These popular species make great pets.

Although green is a dominant color in many parrots, you still can find several pet birds with beautiful blue feathers. Blue parrot species range from small to very large in size and come in powdery light blues to deep indigos. Some of these birds simply have flashy blue markings while others are predominantly blue.

Here are nine blue parrot species you will often find as pet birds.

Safety Tips for Handling Parrots

Blue-and-Gold Macaw

Hailing from South America, the beautiful blue-and-gold macaw presents a bold mix of bright blue and yellow feathers. Among their most striking features are the white patches of skin around the eyes, typical of most macaw species. Moreover, their green forehead offers a beautiful contrast to their blue and yellow body. These intelligent, social birds require dedicated caretakers who can give them ample mental and physical exercise.

Species Overview

Length: 30 to 36 inches

Weight: 28 to 46 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green forehead fading into teal on nape, back, tail, and wings; yellow chest and underside of wings; large black beak

Life Span: 30 to 60 years

Budgerigar (Blue Mutation)

In the wild, budgies normally have green and yellow feathers. But in captivity, selective breeding has given rise to an array of color mutations—the most popular being blue. These budgies present blue plumage on their heads, chests, and bellies, often with black spotting and striping on their heads, wings, backs, and tails. Good for caretakers of any experience level, budgies have been among the most popular pet bird species for decades.

Species Overview

Length: 6 to 8 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray

Life Span: 10+ years

Hyacinth Macaw

The largest of all macaw species, the hyacinth macaw is almost entirely a deep shade of solid blue with slight patches of yellow around the eyes and beak. These birds are widely known as "gentle giants," and despite their intimidating beaks, they have a reputation for being extremely friendly and affectionate. They require a lot of attention from their caretakers, as well as plenty of space to exercise.

Species Overview

Length: 40 inches

Weight: 42 to 51 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Solid blue plumage; yellow patches around eyes and beak; black beak; dark gray feet

Life Span: 60+ years

Pacific Parrotlet (Blue Mutation)

Another popular blue parrot is the blue color mutation of the Pacific parrotlet. These feisty birds are the smallest species of true parrot, yet they pack a lot of personality into their tiny bodies. Parrotlets are a great choice for people who don't have enough space to house a larger species. While they are small, parrotlets still require hours of daily handling and exercise to keep them healthy and tame.

Species Overview

Length: 4 to 5 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Green head and body; blue on back and behind eyes; mutations include blue, yellow, and white

Life Span: 20 to 30 years

Blue-Crowned Conure

Popularized in the movie "Paulie," the blue-crowned conure sports a brilliant blue head while the rest of the body is green. Known as one of the friendlier conure species, these birds appreciate spending time with their caretakers. This is not a bird who likes being caged. Give them several hours of supervised out-of-cage time each day, along with as large of an enclosure as possible for when they must be confined.

Species Overview

Length: 15 inches

Weight: 3 to 6 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Bright blue head; green body; reddish tail tip; pink legs; tan beak; white rings around eyes

Life Span: 30 years

Quaker Parrot (Blue Mutation)

Quaker parrots are predominantly green in the wild, and the beautiful blue mutation wasn’t developed until the early 2000s. These spunky birds tend to bond closely with their caretakers, and they love to chat. In fact, some are able to learn an impressive vocabulary of human words and phrases, and can also mimic household sounds and songs.

Species Overview

Length: 11 to 12 inches

Weight: 3 to 5 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green head, wings, and body; gray breast, cheeks, and throat; blue flight feathers; mutations include blue, albino, cinnamon, lutino, and pied

Life Span: 20 to 30 years

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 easygoing and quiet, especially compared to some other parrot species. They’re also fairly gentle birds without a propensity for biting. Like other large pet birds, they do require sufficient space for supervised out-of-cage playtime.

Species Overview

Length: 11 inches

Weight: 8 to 9 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Blue head and neck; green body; black patches over ears; red on underside of tail; black beak with red sides

Life Span: 40 years

Indian Ringneck Parakeet

In the wild, Indian ringnecks are commonly a bright green, but selective breeding has developed several color mutations—blue included. These birds are very smart and can get into trouble with chewing or other destructive behavior if they don’t have enough to do. They also must be given ample socialization and handling to maintain a tame, sweet demeanor.

Species Overview

Length: 14 to 17 inches

Weight: 4 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Green plumage, blue tail, yellow under wings; males have black and rose rings around their necks; mutations include blue, cinnamon, albino, and lutino

Life Span: 25 to 30 years

Bourke's Parakeet (Parrot)

Bourke’s parakeets aren’t totally blue, but they have blue tail feathers, and males feature blue feathers on the forehead. These gentle and good-natured birds are intelligent and even-keeled. But perhaps even better for those looking for a quieter bird, this species is relatively quiet when compared to other parrot species. Their gentle nature makes them a good match for other quiet birds, though they can entertain themselves.

Species Overview

Length: 7 to 8 inches

Weight: 4 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Dusty brown plumage with pink feathers covering their chests and abdomens; blue tail feathers; adult males have blue foreheads while the adult female have little or no blue on the forehead

Life Span: 25 years

Read the original article on The Spruce Pets.