Parrots are famously long-lived — but the honest answer depends enormously on the species and on the care they get. A small budgie and a large macaw are worlds apart.
How long do parrots live?
As a rough rule, the bigger the parrot, the longer it lives. Small parrots like budgies and lovebirds typically live 5–15 years, medium birds such as cockatiels and conures 15–30 years, and large parrots like African greys, amazons, macaws and cockatoos can live 40–70+ years — a genuine lifetime commitment. Good care can push a bird toward the top of its range; poor diet and accidents cut many lives short.
Pet bird lifespans by species
- Budgie (parakeet): 5–10 years, up to 15 with great care
- Lovebird: 10–15 years
- Cockatiel: 15–20 years
- Parrotlet: 15–20 years
- Green-cheek & other conures: 15–30 years
- Quaker (monk) parakeet: 20–30 years
- Indian ringneck: 25–30 years
- African grey: 40–60 years
- Amazon: 40–70 years
- Macaw: 35–50 years, some 60+
- Cockatoo: 40–70 years
These are typical ranges — individual birds vary, and record-holders have lived well beyond them.
Why bigger parrots live longer
In general, larger animals tend to live longer, and parrots are unusually long-lived for their size compared with other small pets. It means a large parrot is a decades-long — sometimes lifelong — responsibility, and birds are often rehomed simply because owners underestimate how long they live. Even a "short-lived" budgie can be with you for a decade.
How to help your bird live longer
Most of what shortens a pet bird's life is preventable. Feed a balanced diet of pellets and fresh vegetables rather than an all-seed diet (use the bird food checker to see what is safe), keep the home free of hazards like non-stick fumes and toxic foods, allow daily exercise, provide company and enrichment, and build a relationship with an avian vet so problems are caught early. For budgie owners, see our full guide to how long budgies live.