https://www.chewy.com/education/bird/parrot/3-things-you-should-know-about-how-parrots-feel
*Parrots are intelligent, social birds that thrive on interaction and routine. The Parrot Education Hub covers key topics like diet, mental stimulation, talking and training, and long term health - giving you the tools to create a fulfilling life for your feathered friend.
Parrots are known to be highly social and perceptive animals that form strong bonds with others, including members of their own species and humans both in the wild and in captivity.
In the wild, they live in complex social structures where group awareness and communication are vital for survival. This same awareness extends to captive parrots, which often consider their human caretakers part of their flock.
Their heightened perception allows them to respond to changes in their environment and the emotional states of their companions. Behavioral traits such as territoriality, strong partner preference, and attachment can result in visible changes when they experience separation, loss, or unfamiliar situations.
These birds rely on routine and stability, and sudden changes- such as the removal of a bonded companion or relocation to a new environment - can be distressing. Their dependence on familiar surroundings and social structures means that rehoming or separation from a long term mate or family group can lead to noticeable behavioral shifts.
Parrots may become withdrawn, agitated, or demonstrate changes in vocalization and interaction.
Understanding these responses from an ethological perspective emphasizes the importance of minimizing abrupt changes and ensuring supportive transitions that account for their cognitive and emotional complexity.
Chewy editorial team highlights three prominent emotional capacities observed in parrots: love, empathy, and sorrow.
While the cognitive processes behind these behaviors are not fully understood, research and consistent observation suggest that parrots form strong social bonds, demonstrate emotional sensitivity to their environment and companions, and exhibit signs of distress when those bonds are disrupted.
Although humans may not be able to fully comprehend the internal experience of parrots, their ability to adapt to life in captivity and respond to their human caregivers with social and emotional behaviors underscores the importance of recognizing and respecting their complex needs.
Rather than expecting parrots to conform to human expectations, it is essential to acknowledge their perspective and provide an environment that supports their well being, mirroring the adaptability they show toward us.
