8 Top Blue Parrot Species to Keep as Pets

By
Alyson Kalhagen
Alyson Kalhagen
Alyson Kalhagen is an avian expert and writer with more than 10 years of combined professional experience as a veterinary technician and manager of a chain of successful pet stores. Her specialty is in avian behavior and socialization. Alyson owns several birds and has been featured in Bird Talk Magazine.
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Updated on 11/04/19
Pacific Parrotlet, Forpus coelestis on green grass (forpus is a
panupong1982 / Getty Images

Although green is a dominant color in many parrots, you still can find several pet birds with beautiful blue feathers. Blue parrot species range from small to very large in size and come in powdery light blues to deep indigos. Some of these birds simply have flashy blue markings while others are predominantly blue. Here are eight blue parrot species you will often find as pet birds.

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  • 01 of 08

    Blue-and-Gold Macaw

    blue-and-gold macaw on a tree branch

    Razvan Chisu/Getty Images

    Hailing from South America, the beautiful blue-and-gold macaw presents a bold mix of bright blue and yellow feathers. Among its most striking features are the white patches of skin around its eyes, typical of most macaw species. Moreover, its green forehead offers beautiful contrast to its blue and yellow body. These intelligent, social birds require dedicated caretakers who can give them ample mental and physical exercise.

    Species Overview

    Length: 30 to 36 inches 

    Weight: 28 to 46 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Green forehead fading into teal on nape, back, tail, and wings; yellow chest and underside of wings; large black beak

  • 02 of 08

    Budgerigar (Blue Mutation)

    Two blue budgies on a piece of wood

    Hong Yun Ho/EyeEm/Getty Images

    In the wild, budgies normally have green and yellow feathers. But in captivity, selective breeding has given rise to an array of color mutations—the most popular being blue. These budgies present blue plumage on their heads, chests, and bellies, often with black spotting and striping on their heads, wings, backs, and tails. Good for caretakers of any experience level, budgies have been among the most popular pet bird species for decades.

    Species Overview

    Length: 6 to 8 inches

    Weight: 1 ounce

    Physical Characteristics: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray

  • 03 of 08

    Hyacinth Macaw

    Blue hyacinth macaw
    Pete Turner/Getty Images

    The largest of all macaw species, the hyacinth macaw is almost entirely a deep shade of solid blue with slight patches of yellow around the eyes and beak. These birds are widely known as "gentle giants," and despite their intimidating beaks, they have a reputation for being extremely friendly and affectionate. They require a lot of attention from their caretakers as well as plenty of space to exercise.

    Species Overview

    Length: 40 inches

    Weight: 42 to 51 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Solid blue plumage; yellow patches around eyes and beak; black beak; dark gray feet

  • 04 of 08

    Pacific Parrotlet (Blue Mutation)

    blue pacific parrotlet
    Ploychan/Getty Images

    Another popular blue parrot is the blue color mutation of the Pacific parrotlet. These feisty birds are the smallest species of true parrot, yet they pack a lot of personality into their tiny bodies. Parrotlets are a great choice for people who don't have enough space to house a larger species. While they are small, parrotlets still require hours of daily handling and exercise to keep them healthy and tame.

    Species Overview

    Length: 4 to 5 inches

    Weight: 1 ounce

    Physical Characteristics: Green head and body; blue on back and behind eyes; mutations include blue, yellow, and white

    Continue to 5 of 8 below.
  • 05 of 08

    Blue-Crowned Conure

    Blue-crowned conure

    IMPALASTOCK/Getty Images

    Popularized in the movie "Paulie," the blue-crowned conure sports a brilliant blue head while the rest of its body is green. Known as one of the friendlier conure species, these birds appreciate spending time with their caretakers. This is not a bird that likes being caged. Give it several hours of supervised out-of-cage time each day, along with as large of an enclosure as possible for when it must be confined.

    Species Overview

    Length: 15 inches

    Weight: 3 to 6 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Bright blue head; green body; reddish tail tip; pink legs; tan beak; white rings around eyes

  • 06 of 08

    Quaker Parrot (Blue Mutation)

    A blue monk parakeet, or quaker parrot, in an aviary

    Sergio Mendoza Hochmann/Getty Images

    Quaker parrots are predominantly green in the wild, and the beautiful blue mutation wasn’t developed until the early 2000s. These spunky birds tend to bond closely with their caretakers, and they love to chat. In fact, some are able to learn an impressive vocabulary of human words and phrases, as well as mimic household sounds and songs.

    Species Overview

    Length: 11 to 12 inches

    Weight: 3 to 5 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Green head, wings, and body; gray breast, cheeks, and throat; blue flight feathers; mutations include blue, albino, cinnamon, lutino, and pied

  • 07 of 08

    Blue-Headed Pionus

    Blue-headed pionus in a tree
    Raj Kamal/Stockbyte/Getty Images

    Native to Central and South America, the blue-headed pionus can live up to 40 years in captivity. These birds tend to be relatively easygoing and quiet, especially compared to some other parrot species. They’re also fairly gentle birds without a propensity for biting. Like other large pet birds, they do require sufficient space for supervised out-of-cage playtime.

    Species Overview

    Length: 11 inches

    Weight: 8 to 9 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Blue head and neck; green body; black patches over ears; red on underside of tail; black beak with red sides

  • 08 of 08

    Indian Ringneck Parakeet

    blue Indian ringneck parakeet in a piece of wood

    Nattrass/Getty Images

    In the wild, Indian ringnecks are commonly a bright green, but selective breeding has developed several color mutations—blue included. These birds are very smart and can get into trouble with chewing or other destructive behavior if they don’t have enough to do. They also must be given ample socialization and handling to maintain a tame, sweet demeanor. 

    Species Overview

    Length: 14 to 17 inches

    Weight: 4 ounces

    Physical Characteristics: Green plumage, blue tail, yellow under wings; males have black and rose rings around their necks; mutations include blue, cinnamon, albino, and lutino

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