Green is among the most dominant parrot colors. Finding a completely green parrot is rare, as other shades are usually mixed into the feathers, creating a colorful kaleidoscope that makes each bird unique.
Parrots only have red and yellow pigments, but they appear green because light hits the feathers’ structures and reflects off them. This light-scattering process creates the illusion of green.
The Journal of Experimental Biology explains that green feathers have spongy cells that reflect blue-green light. A blue-absorbing pigment that acts as a short wavelength filter restricts the wavelength range of the reflected light, resulting in green feathers.
Similarly, Science Illustrated explains how melanin and feather structure affect a parrot’s coloring. Melanin determines the lightness and darkness of parrots’ feathers.
Carotenoids produce red, yellow, and orange feathers, which are achieved by eating certain plants (bell peppers, carrots, kale, etc.) When the pigments combine with melanin, a broader spectrum of colors is produced, including the various green shades seen on parrots.
Green Parrot Varieties
Parrots are colorful animals, and many have vivid green feathers. They’re rarely green all over but have blue, yellow, and red flashes alongside a predominantly green plumage.
Many are only found in the wild, as their limited numbers make them unsuitable as captive animals. However, if you’re wondering, “are green parrots good pets?” we’ve got that covered.
Quaker Parrots
The quaker parrot is also known as the quaker parakeet, monk parrot, and monk parakeet. The scientific name is Myiopsitta monachus.
Quaker parrots are native to South America. Adult parrots are bright green on the head, wings, and back. Also, their breast, cheeks, and throat are gray, while their flight feathers are blue. The underside of their tails is light green.
They get their name due to the gray section on the front of their neck looking like an old-fashioned Quaker bib. Quaker parrots are illegal in several states, but they make great pets. They’re active and need attention but respond well to interaction and games.
While they’re only 12 inches long, they have larger-than-life personalities and love to talk to their owners.
Amazon Parrots
Amazon parrots are among the most popular green pet birds. Most have bright green bodies with distinct markings on their heads and foreheads. The feathers range in color and differ depending on the species.
Amazons enjoy being the center of attention. They’re playful and curious and love spending time with their owners. However, they can nip at your fingers if not appropriately trained.
Unfortunately, Amazon parrots are threatened by the pet trade. Capturing wild parrots is illegal, so you can only find them at reputable breeders, increasing prices in recent years.
Military Macaw
Military macaws are green all over, and the feathers are brighter on the top of the head, with olive-green feathers on the body. They also have light blue and yellow flight and tail feathers, and there’s usually a bright red flash of color above their beak.
Military macaws are easy to train and love to learn new tricks. They don’t like being alone for too long and can become nippy and aggressive. Also, they pick up on their owners’ moods.
Lovebird
Lovebirds are one of the smallest parrot species with short, blunt feathers and a stocky build. They’re primarily green with various other colors on the upper body.
Lovebirds are commonly known as pocket parrots. As their name suggests, they’re charming and lovable but have a playful side. They form deep bonds with their owners and, if nurtured, can be affectionate pets.
According to Smithsonian Magazine, lovebirds mate for life and pine for each other. Despite this, you don’t need a pair, but they sometimes cope better in captivity with a friend.
Senegal Parrot
Senegal parrots are native to western Africa and dwell in woodlands. They breed well in captivity and are fun, entertaining pets.
They have a green chest and wings and a grey head. They also have a red, orange, or yellow V-shaped patch on their bellies.
Senegal parrots are calm and collected. They’re quieter than most parrots, but these parrots can talk and mimic their human owners.
They do well in small spaces due to their size, so they make good pets for people living in apartments and small houses. They won’t bother your neighbors as they don’t make much noise.
Maroon-Bellied Conure
Maroon-bellied conures are popular parrots. Green is the dominant color; it’s darker on the wings and back and lighter on the belly.
Underneath the tail, the feathers are a mesmerizing mix of blue, purple, and crimson. The lower abdomen usually features two parallel patches that are a soft crimson color.
The maroon-bellied conure is one of the friendliest and quietest parrot breeds. They love exploring small spaces and enjoy being outside their cage to roam and wander.
As maroon-bellied conures are only small, they can get lost and hide in small gaps, so they need monitoring whenever they’re out of their cage.
Budgerigar
Budgies are one of the most common and popular parrots to keep as pets. They’re small, have short lifespans, and are easy to train, making great starter birds.
Green is the only natural color for budgies, but they have flashes of yellow on their heads and bodies. Blue, white, and other colored budgies are bred for the pet trade and can’t be found in the wild.
Budgies can easily pick up on words and phrases and use them in context. They’re also inexpensive, making them ideal for families with children.
Great Green Macaw
Great green macaws have lime-green feathers and a red forehead. They also have pale blue feathers around the lower back and upper tail, and the rest of the tail is a brown-red color with a soft blue tip.
Great green macaws are rarely seen as pets. They’re bred in captivity but are expensive as they’re one of the least common parrots seen outside the wild. They fly in pairs or small groups of up to 8 parrots.
They’re noisy birds you can hear from far away, so they shouldn’t be kept in homes with thin walls.
Red-Shouldered Macaw
Also known as Hahn’s macaws, red-shouldered macaws are small and compact.
They’re mostly bright green with many turquoise or aqua feathers on the top of their head. They get their name from the bright red feathers found underneath their wings.
Red-shouldered macaws form strong bonds with their owners. They’re spirited birds that like to learn new tricks to keep everyone entertained.
Although small, they’re loud and prone to high-pitched screaming.
Little Lorikeet
Little lorikeets are mostly green with a striking red face that’s lovingly called its mask. Some have yellow feathers on their shoulders, the back of the neck, and toward the tail.
They’re sweet and affectionate birds that enjoy interacting with their owners. They can learn tricks but are prone to escaping their cage, which is made easier by their small stature.
They can become territorial and jealous in a cage with other birds, especially smaller lorikeets.
They’re noisy birds with a shrill, high-pitched tone that some owners can’t bear. They talk well and mimic some words and phrases.
Indian Ringneck Parakeet
The Indian ringneck parakeet is bright lime green with yellow feathers underneath the wings. They sometimes also have blue tail feathers.
Male Indian redneck parakeets have red beaks, black facial markings, and coloring around the neck. Females lack these traits.
Indian ringneck parakeets can be nippy because they get bored quickly. They need toys and puzzles to play with to keep them entertained. Without enough attention, they chew things and become destructive.
However, they can be sweet pets with the right training and form close bonds with their owners.
Male Eclectus Parrot
The male Eclectus parrot is a bright emerald green with red and blue feathers underneath its wings. They differ from females, who are mostly bright red. Their feathers are fuzzy, fluffy, and soft to the touch.
Eclectus parrots get on well with children. They’re loving and gentle, but loud noises can upset them.
As relatively large birds, they need space, particularly as they enjoy being active. If you’re lucky enough to acquire one, offer the parrot the opportunity to roam outside its cage.
Pacific Parrotlet
Pacific parrotlets are a small parrot species, reaching only 4.5 – 5.5 inches in length. They live in tropical rainforests in Central and South America.
Most Pacific parrotlets are bright green. Unlike females, male parrotlets have bright blue splashes on their backs and behind their eyes. Some color mutations can occur, ranging from blue and albino and many other shades.
While only small, Pacific parrotlets are high-maintenance. To make them tame, they require daily handling. They’re good at keeping themselves occupied but don’t like being alone for too long. They’re prone to accidents and injuries if not monitored outside their cage.
Painted Parakeet
The painted parakeet (painted conure) is mostly green, with a maroon-red belly and tail tip and patches of blue on the head and throughout the body. They also have a signature scaly breast that looks reptilian.
They’re rarely seen in captivity, but painted parakeets are quiet and sweet-natured. They also have lots of energy and love to play games. These active birds require a large cage that allows them to move around.
Painted parakeets enjoy bathing, which can become a part of their weekly routine.
Red-Fronted Macaw
Red-fronted macaws are green parrots with red patches on the head, ears, and bend of the wing. They’re native to the east-Andean slopes of south-central Bolivia.
In the wild, red-fronted macaws are threatened by habitat destruction, illegal trapping for the pet trade, and firewood cutting. Overgrazing by goats has also depleted the parrot’s food source.
If you want to get a red-fronted macaw as a pet, ensure it’s been appropriately bred through a reputable breeding program and hasn’t been captured from the wild.
They’re tough to find as pets and are most commonly found in zoos as part of a conservation program.
Green-Cheeked Conure
The green-cheeked conure boasts a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors. Their feathers come in various green shades on their backs, wings, chest, neck, and cheeks. They also have red, white, and blue patches, making them a stunning parrot breed.
Green-cheeked conures enjoy spending time with their owners. They’re easy-going and affectionate when handled from an early age.
They’re quiet birds, which suits owners in apartments or terraced houses because most never talk. They’re quick and easy to train, so focus on showing the green-cheeked conure how to do tricks.
Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet
The scaly-breasted lorikeet hails from eastern Australia and makes its home in woodland. They have a mix of yellow and bright green feathers that combine to look like scales, hence the name. The crown and sides of the head are bright green, tinged with blue.
Scaly-breasted lorikeets require a high-moisture diet. As a result, their feces are often watery and messy. Frequent cleaning is needed to prevent bacterial infections, so they’re high-maintenance birds.
Scaly-breasted lorikeets can be aggressive, so they don’t cope well in aviaries with too many birds. To avoid any issues, keep them in single pairs.
Australian Ringneck Parrot
Australian ringneck parrots are almost entirely green with a thick yellow band around the neck. There are four subspecies of Australian ringneck with varying yellow, red, and turquoise plumage.
They’re mostly found in pairs or small groups in open woodlands or areas with many trees.
They’re intelligent birds and, with proper handling, can become tame and affectionate. They learn tricks quickly and enjoy performing.
However, they need many toys to keep them stimulated, especially ones they can chew. Opt for wooden toys to distract them from destructive behaviors.
Spectacled Parrotlet
Spectacled parrotlets have all-over green feathers that get lighter toward the tail. They have blue circles around the eyes and rose beaks and feet.
Spectacled parrotlets are only 5 inches tall, making them one of the smallest parrot breeds. As a result, they’re affectionately known as pocket parrots.
They also make good beginner pets because they’re easy to care for and quiet. They’re healthy birds that don’t experience too many health conditions.
They can learn simple tricks, but most people love them because they burrow in blankets and cuddle into their owners.
Thick-Billed Parrot
Thick-billed parrots are apple green, which helps them blend in with pine needles found in their natural habitat in northern Mexico.
They have a bright red stripe at the top of the wing and around the leg. There’s a flash of yellow underneath the wing, while the tail’s underside is jet black.
Thick-billed parrots adopt a strict pecking order in the wild. They’re close to extinction due to climate change, predation, and the illegal pet trade.
As a result, you’re more likely to find thick-billed parrots in zoos.
Short-Tailed Parrot
Short-tailed parrots are noisy birds found along the banks of the Amazon river.
They’re medium-sized birds with uniform bright green feathers and short, stubby tails. The feathers are a lighter green color around the wings.
They fly in large groups of around 50 birds. Short-tailed parrots are social birds that associate with other birds in their natural habitat. They’re rare in captivity, so you’ll be lucky to find one as a pet.
Scarlet-Shouldered Parrotlet
Also known as the red-winged parrot, scarlet-shouldered parrotlets are green with brown and yellow tones on the head and forehead.
They have blue and red shoulders that are sometimes hidden but can be seen when the bird is in flight.
Scarlet-shouldered parrotlets live in rainforests and partially deforested woodland areas. They’re quiet and shy birds that often appear in trees without warning.
They’re another rare bird, so they’re not common pet parrots. In recent years, they’ve been affected by deforestation and loss of habitat, which has caused their numbers to dwindle.
Edward’s Fig Parrot
The Edward’s fig parrot is native to Indonesia and north-eastern New Guinea. It lives in tropical forest areas and moist hill forests.
Edwards fig parrots are small, green parrots with blue and yellow patches. They have a greenish-blue flash under their eyes and a violet-blue horizontal stripe on the chest. Males have red breasts that appear when the bird is ten months old.
Edward’s fig parrots are rarely seen in the pet trade. However, they make good parents and, when hand-reared, become loving and affectionate.
Blue-Bellied Parrot
Blue-bellied parrots live in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. They have long tails, bright green feathers, and a white beak. Males have a blue-purple patch on their bellies, which gives the breed its name. Females are entirely green all over.
Sadly, the species is near-threatened due to habitat loss and capture for the illegal pet trade. Therefore, you’re unlikely to see reputably sourced blue-bellied parrots as pets.
Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot
The Sri Lanka hanging parrot is a small bird with a short, stubby tail and bright green feathers. The nape and back both have a soft orange tint. Both males and females have a red bill and rump, but males have an additional red crown.
They usually live alone or in small groups outside the breeding season. They have a recognizable whistle and fly fast to their destination.
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka hanging parrots make easy prey for larger predator birds due to their size, which has affected their numbers.
How Much Do Green Parrots Cost?
If you want to make a green parrot a new pet, you’re probably wondering how much they cost.
Some green parrots, including the blue-bellied military macaw and thick-billed parrot, are on the brink of extinction and are almost impossible to get hold of due to conservation efforts.
However, many other green parrots make fun and affectionate pets. To help you budget the cost, we’ve put the most common green parrots from the lowest price to the highest.
| Parrot Species | Average Cost |
| Great Green Macaw | $3,000 – $4,000 |
| Amazon Parrot | $1,000 – $3,000 (depending on the breed) |
| Male Eclectus Parrot | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| Military Macaw | $2,500 |
| Red-Shouldered Macaw | $800 – $2,000 |
| Red-Fronted Macaw | $1,500 |
| Indian Ringneck Parakeet | $400 – $700 |
| Little Lorikeet | $400 – $700 |
| Quaker Parakeet | $250 – $550 |
| Australian Ringneck Parrot | $400 – $500 |
| Spectacled Parrotlet | $300 – $500 |
| Senegal Parrot | $200 – $500 |
| Green-Cheeked Conure | $150 – $350 |
| Pacific Parrotlet | $100 – $350 |
| Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet | $150 – $300 |
| Maroon-Bellied Conure | $125 – $250 |
| Lovebird | $40 – $130 |
| Painted Parakeet | $40 – $70 |
| Budgerigar | $10 – $35 |
How Many Years Do Green Parrots Live?
The average life expectancy of parrots varies depending on the breed.
Smaller parrots tend to have a shorter lifespan, whereas large parrots can live for 60 years. As a result, some species outlive their owners.
Before choosing a parrot, consider how long you can commit to a pet. When you have a parrot, it relies on you for the duration of its life for specialized care.
The expected lifespan of the most common green parrot species is as follows:
| Parrot Species | Expected Lifespan (in years) |
| Red-Fronted Parrot | 80 |
| Military Macaw | 60 |
| Great Green Macaw | 50 – 60 |
| Amazon Parrot | 50 |
| Male Eclectus Parrot | 30 – 50 |
| Red-shouldered Macaw | 30 – 50 |
| Maroon-Bellied Conure | 35 |
| Green-Cheeked Conure | 30 |
| Thick Billed Parrot | 30 |
| Senegal Parrot | 30 |
| Indian Ringneck Parakeet | 20 – 30 |
| Spectacled Parrotlet | 20 – 30 |
| Short-Tailed Parrot | 10 – 30 |
| Scarlet-Shouldered Parrotlet | 25 |
| Quaker Parakeet | 20 – 30 |
| Little Lorikeet | 15 – 20 |
| Pacific Parrotlet | 15 – 20 |
| Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet | 15 – 20 |
| Australian Ringneck Parrot | 15 |
| Edward’s Fig Parrot | 15 |
| Lovebird | 10 – 15 |
| Painted Parakeet | 5 – 14 |
| Blue-Bellied Parrot | 12 |
| Budgerigar | 5 – 10 |
| Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot | Unknown |
While striking, not all green parrots are suitable as pets. Don’t just base your decision on the way the bird looks. Use our guide to learn more about their personality and temperament, and choose one that will fit your family, lifestyle, and household.
