9 of The Most Cuddly Parrot Breeds {With Pictures}

If pet parrots appeal to you, and you are thinking about having a parrot as a companion, you may think about what is the most cuddly parrot out there. Well, it’s hard to answer this question since there are different owners of the same breed saying both things, that their parrot is cuddly while others say that their parrot is aggressive or showing some undesired behaviors.

So, it’s a wrong thing to say that all cockatiels are cuddly, or all budgies are cuddly, every parrot has its own character and can show both affection and aggression. And without further ado, here are the breeds of parrot that I consider as cuddly and affectionate.

  • Cockatiels
  • Hyacinth Macaws
  • Cockatoos
  • Sun Conures
  • Budgies
  • Eclectus Parrots
  • Quaker Parrots
  • Senegal Parrots
  • Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots

9 Breeds of Cuddly Parrots

Cockatiels

cockatiel

These little birds love to be touched by their owners and could beg you to scratch their heads and cheeks. Cockatiels are easy to care for, and they form a strong bond with their owner. Don’t expect cockatiels to be cuddly and playful with a stranger. They are content with one person to trust and have good times with.

Cockatiels are intelligent, and bonding with them is very easy. All you have to do is to spend time with and teach them some tricks. You can also give him a treat with your hand, and this could show them you are a trustworthy person. And the best time to establish this connection with your cockatiel is on his first day. Otherwise, you may need to tame a parrot following the method for older parrots.

So when you get your cockatiel, don’t put pressure on him, and let him get used to his new environment, let him observe the new place, don’t do something that may scare him, and also do not ignore him, talk to him with a relaxing tone and let him hear your voice.

Cockatiels are native to Australia and grow normally to13 inches high. It weighs between 70-120 grams and falls under the Cockatoo Family. They could live a long life, up to 25 years, if you provide them with proper care. In the wild, they barely reach 15 years old of age.

Hyacinth Macaws

hyacinth macaw

Hyacinth Macaws are the biggest species of parrot in the world, they are an endangered breed of parrot. Native to Brazil and Bolivia. this parrot can grow up to 40 inches and weigh about 1.2-1.7 KG (2.6-3.7 lb). Despite their scary look and notable eyes surrounded by yellow skin, this parrot is the most affectionate parrot under the macaw family. its nickname is the gentle giant as a sign of his friendliness and affection.

These majestic blue parrots are very affectionate to their mates and sometimes they would cover their mates with their wings. In captivity, this parrot seems to enjoy being around humans and observing our moves and actions.

Hyacinth macaw, when bonded to its owner can be a lovely and friendly parrot with rare aggressiveness. This parrot is very social and requires a lot of attention and interaction from its owners and leaving them alone is not an option for the owners unless they have a mate of their own kind.

One of the most notable traits of hyacinth parrots is their quietness. Obedience also is a common trait between hyacinths. Although This desirable behavior and traits, these parrots should not be a beginner choice. If you are an expert parrot lover, Hyacinth could be the best cuddly parrot for you out there.

Cockatoos

white chcoatoo

Cockatoo is one of the most popular pet parrots breeds, these birds are native to Oceania and Southeast Asia. This mostly white feathered with a predominant crest could reach 25 inches in tall, weighing up to 1.7 lbs, and a lifespan of 40-60 years.

Cockatoos are not a suitable choice for beginners.

Cockatoos are highly social and bond strongly with their owners, to an extent that they could show behavioral disorders like screaming, depression, extreme aggression, and feather plucking if the person they have bonded to is not around, or not giving them enough attention they hugely require.

Cockatoos are like a trap. Once bonded to you, they won’t let go. But giving your cockatoo enough attention will surprise you how devils can turn into angels. These birds are full of energy, playful, and cuddly. They latterly enjoy company with their chosen ones.

This breed is not for families and they usually bond with one person. They may bite other family members and won’t allow them to play or cuddle or even touch. Bonding with a cockatoo is all about spending time and playing. If you live alone and you want a cuddly parrot, cockatoo could be a brilliant choice for you if you have what it takes of experience, patience, and free time.

Sun Conures

sun conures cuddling

Sun conures are native to northern Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. They are easy to train and can grow up to 12 inches tall with a bodyweight of 110 grams. With proper care, they can live up to 30 years, and bond easily with their owners.

Conures are very loyal to their owner and they are good family birds that can handle the existence of multiple family members, and won’t show aggression to someone who is familiar. These birds are extremely social, and in the wild, they usually form large colonies, and this makes sense if you know they require a lot of attention and socializing from their owners.

Conures are one of the loudest pet parrots. They are extremely playful and cuddly, and they love to play with toys, water, and, of course, they prefer playing with their owners. If you think you can finish working on something while they are around, well, let me tell you, you are totally wrong. These parrots will annoy the crab out of you.

Budgies

budgie

Budgies are native to Australia and can grow up to 7 inches, weighing about 25-30 grams. The life span of budgies can reach 10 years only with proper care. Budgies are an extremely sensitive breed of parrots. They could die easily if something scared them suddenly. After a long time, budgies can establish a bond with their owners. Having over one bird will increase the time needed to bond. If your Budgie bonded to you, don’t expect him to be cuddly, by your way.

Their way to show affection is finite, they will let you touch their cheek to give them a scratch, they also enjoy setting on the owner’s shoulders and fingers. Don’t get surprised if your budgie prefers to set on your shoulders a lot more than his cage or any other place. Budgies love to interact with humans but with no pressure and are easy to care for and they could be the best choice for beginners.

Eclectus Parrots

male eclectus

Eclectus are mid-sized parrots native to the Solomon Islands and the nearby areas, and they can grow to 12-14 inches in tall and weigh about 400-500 grams, with a life expectancy of 40 years in captivity.

Scientists once thought that Male and female Eclectus are totally different species of parrots, because of the difference in coloration between the two genders. Male Eclectus come in predominantly green feathers with redness under their wings and bright orange beaks. While female Eclectus comes in mostly red feathers with blue feathers on the chest and around the neck, and a black beak.

female eclectus

These parrots are very intelligent, gentle, and caring, they are one of the quietest parrots and they love to cuddle and play with their owners, these parrots establish a very strong bond, but this bond should be in control especially if you own a couple of Eclectus. These parrots need to either spend time with their owner or with their cage mate. They also require special care regarding their diet.

Read More About Eclectus Parrot Diet.

Quakers

quaker parrot

Quaker parrots are native to Australia, they can grow to 12 inches with a body weight of 100 grams. In captivity, they can live to reach 30 years old of age. This breed of parrots is extremely social and can bond with their owner if they have had enough time to spend with them.

These parrots are intelligent and bond strongly with one family member, but they are usually friendly with strangers because of their demand for social interaction. Quakers have powerful personalities and can get super cuddly with their owners. If you saw any aggression or biting, there is a possibility that this behavior is totally normal.

The best way to bond with your quaker is to talk to them and let them hear your voice. You can also try to teach him some tricks like stepping up on your hand or any other object.

There is a big assumption that these birds are easy to take care of, but the reality is caring for this breed requires a big amount of time and experience, a Quaker with an inexperienced owner can lead to behavioral disorders like aggression, biting, or even depression.

Quakers are illegal in some states. Find out why and where Quakers are illegal.

Senegal Parrots

senegal parrot

This breed of parrots is native to central and western Africa. They weigh around 130-180 grams and reach up to 9 inches tall, with a life expectancy of 30 years in the wild. In captivity and with proper care, these parrots can reach 50 years of age. Senegal parrots have some fear from humans, especially birds that are still wild or spent most of their lives in cages. To have a cuddly Senegal parrot, get them from a very young age or at least get a well-socialized bird.

These 2 requirements are essential, and with them, you can expect a very cuddly, affectionate, and playful pet companion. Senegal parrots are intelligent and can keep their owner entertained. This species is not very famous, but owners claim this bird is very easy to care for and easy-going. If you want a super cuddly parrot, you may consider this breed.

Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrots

yellow naped amazon parrot

Yellow-naped Amazon parrots are native to Mexico and northern South America. This breed can live up to 30 in the wild and can reach an age of 80 years in captivity. These parrots can grow to 14 inches tall, weighing about 450-650 grams. These parrots are one of the best talking parrots out there. When owners hand-feed them from a young age, they form a strong bond and can be very affectionate cuddly pets. They require a lot of time and attention from their owners.

The male individuals of this breed may turn from being affectionate to showing some aggression and biting as they are getting older. This breed is not the best choice for beginners.

Conclusion

These breeds are the most cuddly parrots, but this actually depends on a lot of factors. Don’t expect a cuddly parrot if he meets you at a later time in his life. If this is the case, parrots won’t allow you to bond with them, and the best you can do is to tame them, just to see if bonding is going to happen or not.

Parrots show affection to their owners mostly if they bonded to them in an early stage of their life, If you could get a baby parrot that needs you to feed him with your hand, then you can expect a cuddly, playful, and loyal parrot. also, expect a parrot that can fly free and come back to you, the chance of flying away is too small. I’m talking here about chicks that are 2-3 months and younger.

Another important factor is diet, you should know what are the dietary requirements for your parrot. For example, Eclectus parrots have unique dietary requirements, failing to fulfill their requirements will cause terrible changes to their behaviors. Read and figure out what is the ideal diet for your parrot.

Also, molting and breeding times may cause a change in your parrot behavior, and it also changes the dietary requirements that you should meet up.

Housing is also important. Find the perfect spot for the cage in your house. Most parrots are social and prefer spots that allow them to observe you, your family members, and any movement or action that would keep their stimulant. Dumping them in an isolated area of your house could cause depression and anxiety and will reflect on their behavior terribly.

Providing them with interesting and chewable toys can really help to keep your parrot happy and satisfied.