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is it legal to own a parrot in the UK?

Can You Have A Pet Parrot in The UK?

Last Updated on January 28, 2024 by Carrie Stephens

Most parrots are legal to own in the UK. Sometimes, prospective owners must complete paperwork, while others encounter legal obstacles when buying rare, protected bird species.

It’s easy to buy non-protected parrots, like budgies and cockatiels, without getting a license.

Protected species, like African grey parrots and Moluccan cockatoos, are on the CITES list. Consequently, you’ll need an Article 10 certificate from the UK government to own them. 

You’ll be breaking the law if you don’t get the relevant paperwork. This can result in an unlimited fine and jail time. Always check whether a bird is on the CITES list before buying a pet parrot.

It’s Legal To Own A Parrot in The UK

Citizens from all parts of the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, can legally own a parrot. Usually, you can own a parrot in the UK without a license.

There are limitations to this rule. While the most common parrots are easy to buy in pet stores across the UK without restriction, some species require certification as proof of ownership.

The UK government doesn’t allow citizens to own wild birds or their eggs unless they can prove they were taken legally. As per UK law, “taken legally” means the parrot was:

  • Taken under license.
  • Unfit to be released into the wild.
  • Found dead or killed accidentally.

The UK government states that citizens can own a parrot as long as the following apply:

  • It was bred in captivity.
  • It was taken from the wild outside the UK or a European Union (EU) country.
  • It was taken from the wild before June 10, 1994.
  • It’s an exempted species that appears on the EC Habitats Directive.
  • It’s a European-protected species obtained legally before October 31, 1981.

As long as UK citizens buy the parrot from a reputable source that legally obtained or bred the bird, they can own it without a license or certificate.

Parrots You Need A License for

While UK citizens can own parrots, several species are listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

This documents endangered species where trade is controlled to preserve wild populations. Owners require paperwork to own parrots, called the CITES Article 10 Certificate for Commercial Use.

This certificate is required when the following apply:

  • Buying a bird.
  • Selling a bird.
  • Displaying a bird in a pet shop.
  • Displaying a bird in a collection that’s open to the public.
  • Using the bird during an animal encounter with the public.
  • Using the bird during a bird display.
  • Breeding the bird and selling its offspring.

There are 2 types of Article 10 certificates:

  • The Transaction Specific Certificate (TSC) is valid for 1 sale and shows the bird was legally acquired.
  • A Specimen Specific Certificate (SS) accompanies the bird for the rest of its life.

Similarly, most birds need either:

  • A uniquely numbered, seamless closed ring for birds.
  • An ISO-compliant uniquely numbered microchip.

If you don’t have a valid certificate or permit and own a CITES-controlled species, you could be liable to an unlimited fine, a 7-year prison sentence, or both.

The following parrot species must meet the above requirements:

can you own a parrot in the UK?

Amazon Parrots

Amazon parrots come from parts of Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean, where they live in rainforests, scrub forests, savannas, and palm groves.

Many Amazons are on the CITES list because they’re routinely captured from the wild for the pet trade. Their numbers have dwindled, and they’ve become threatened.

The following Amazon species require certification:

  • Yellow-naped.
  • Yellow-shouldered.
  • Lilac-crowned.
  • Saint Vincent.
  • Imperial.
  • Cuban.
  • Yellow-headed.
  • Saint Lucia.
  • Vinaceous.

Trapping the above wild Amazon parrots is illegal.

Macaws

Large numbers of macaws were exported to the US and Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, sending their numbers into rapid decline.

Most macaws are now endangered or threatened with extinction due to deforestation, illegal trapping for the pet trade, and hunting.

You’ll need a certificate to own or sell these macaws:

  • Hyacinth macaws.
  • Buffon’s macaws.
  • Blue-throated macaws.
  • Scarlet macaws.
  • Military macaws.
  • Red-fronted macaws.
  • Blue-headed macaws.

Many macaws thrive in captivity, and getting hold of young birds isn’t that difficult.

Cockatoos

Cockatoos aren’t immune to the effects of the illegal pet trade. Consequently, certain cockatoo species have dwindled significantly in recent years.

Breeding cockatoos in captivity doesn’t increase their numbers in the wild. Captive-bred birds are rarely successfully released due to the risk of diseases facing wild populations.

CITES protects the following uncommon and rare cockatoo species:

  • Goffin’s cockatoos.
  • Moluccan cockatoos.
  • Lesser sulphur-crested cockatoos.
  • Palm cockatoos.

Their numbers are so low that cockatoos cost up to 20K.

African Grey Parrots

African greys aren’t illegal to own but are among the latest CITES Appendix I list additions.

As the International Journal of Avian Science explains, African grey parrots have experienced a rapid population decline in recent years due to:

  • The felling of large trees where they live.
  • Trapping for the illegal pet trade.

There are 2 types of African grey parrots – the Congo and the Timneh, and CITES protects both.

If you want to own an African grey parrot, expect to pay $1,500 – $3,000.

Conures

There are only 2 conure species that are on the CITES list:

  • Golden conures.
  • Blue-throated conures.

Due to the restrictions, consider getting a more widely available conure.

Red-and-Blue Lory

The red-and-blue lory is classified as vulnerable and is confined to a single island in Indonesia’s Talaud Islands. The population is rapidly declining, so it appears on the CITES Appendix 1 list.

You can’t find them legally in captivity anywhere, including the UK.

Where To Buy A Parrot in The UK

Buy a parrot from a reputable breeder or pet store. Trapping and keeping a wild bird is illegal, so perform sufficient due diligence before handing over money.

You’re more likely to get the right parrot from a breeder, as less common species are rarely kept in pet stores due to the negative publicity they’ve faced with storing and selling live birds.

When buying a parrot, ask the seller the following questions:

  • How old is the parrot?
  • Is the parrot in good health?
  • Were the parrot’s parents healthy?
  • Does the parrot have behavioral problems?
  • Has the parrot been tamed?
  • Can the parrot talk?

You’ll want a healthy bird, so discuss any hereditary conditions that could become apparent.

Where To Buy Parrot Eggs in the UK

The taking and possession of wild eggs is illegal.

You can legally purchase parrots’ eggs from breeders, hoping they’ll hatch. While you can buy parrot eggs, doing so carries more risk. Possibilities include:

  • Eggs don’t hatch.
  • Chick mortality.
  • Hand-rearing chicks takes up your time.
  • You need specialized equipment, like incubators.
  • Parrots not weaned by their parents can develop health problems.

The eggs need constant care, and the chances of chick mortality are high.

are quaker parrots legal in the UK?

Quaker Parrots Are Legal To Own

Quaker parrots are banned in several U.S. states because they eat agricultural produce and cause a nuisance with their nesting choices.

The UK has no restrictions, but they were once culled to reduce feral populations.

Budgies Are Legal To Own

Budgies don’t appear on the CITES list, so they’re legal to own in the UK. They’re easy to breed and low-priced, so they’re among the most popular pet birds in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Cockatiels Are Legal To Own

Cockatiels aren’t on the CITES list, so no specific ownership requirements exist.

Before buying a pet parrot, ensure you comply with current UK law. If you buy from a trusted dealer or reputable store, you’re unlikely to encounter legal problems.