Lifespan Guide

It varies enormously by species. Budgerigars commonly live 5 to 10 years and cockatiels 15 to 25, while African Greys reach 40 to 60, Amazons 25 to 50, cockatoos 40 to 70 and large macaws 50 to 75. Record individuals have exceeded 100 years, but those are exceptions rather than expectations.

Mostly for preventable reasons: seed-based diets causing fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis, fumes from overheated non-stick cookware, household trauma, escape, and illness that went untreated because the bird concealed it. Husbandry, not genetics, usually decides where a bird lands in its range.

Among commonly kept species, large macaws and cockatoos have the longest spans, typically 50 to 75 years and often more with good care. The most famous record is Cocky Bennett, a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo reported to have reached about 120.

Only what you arrange in advance. Name a guardian and a substitute in your will, leave funds specifically for the bird, and write a care document covering diet, routine, medical history and your vet. Take local legal advice on whether a pet trust or conditional legacy is available to you.

Yes. Arthritis, cataracts and reduced tolerance of temperature change are all common. Provide softer, wider, lower perches with easy routes, keep the cage layout consistent for a bird losing its sight, and move from annual to twice-yearly veterinary checks with bloodwork.

Smaller species. Budgerigars, cockatiels and conures live roughly 5 to 30 years depending on species, which is a realistic horizon for many households. Choosing to match your circumstances is responsible, not a compromise.