Did you know that parrots cannot produce the color blue? In fact, blue is the rarest color in nature, with only a few organisms capable of producing true-blue pigments. Parrots use the structure of their feathers to distort the reflection of light, which makes them appear blue.
Despite this, there are a few parrot species that have brightly colored blue plumage. Some of them have entirely blue bodies, while others have a combination of colors.
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Types Of Blue Parrots
Here are 13 blue parrot species:
Hyacinth Macaw
The Hyacinth Macaw is one of the most beautiful parrots. It is the largest parrot in the world measuring up to 1 meter in length. It is a massive bird with cobalt blue feathers and yellow skin around its eyerings and the corners of its lower beak.
Beyond its stunning appearance, the Hyacinth Macaws are intelligent, social, and great talkers. They get the tag of gentle giants for their affectionate nature and can make great pets for experienced owners.
Lear’s Macaw
At first glance, Lear’s macaw starkly resembles the hyacinth macaw. But there are a few differences that become apparent from a closer view.
Lear’s macaws are much smaller than hyacinth macaws, measuring between 28-30 inches. Lear’s macaws also have a slightly paler blue plumage with a greenish tinge on their head.
These parrots are not commonly kept as pets as they do not do well in a family setting. They get bored easily and have destructive tendencies.
Another reason why Lear’s macaws are less common in captivity is because of their low population. The species is currently listed as endangered with only around 1300 individuals living in the wild.
Blue And Yellow Macaw
Named for its spectacular combination of feather colors, the blue and yellow macaw is a popular pet bird for its head-turning appearance.
It has vivid blue feathers on its wings and back that seamlessly transition into vibrant yellow across its abdomen and underparts.
Blue And Yellow Macaw are quite talkative and inquisitive to learn new words and sounds.
They are incredibly social birds that thrive on interaction with people, however, they are also quite demanding when it comes to attention.
Blue-Throated Macaw
The blue-throated macaw is a beautiful large parrot with turquoise-blue feathers on the upper body and yellow color covering the underside of their body.
They have another blue patch of feathers on their throats which gives them their name and stunning blue lines around their eyes.
It is hard to not get enamored by this bird. Unfortunately, it is classified as critically endangered and there are less than a thousand individuals left.
These birds are considered to be affectionate, mischievous, and outgoing, however, they are not common in captivity due to their lack of availability.
Blue-Crowned Conure
The Blue-Crowned Conure is one of the less brightly colored species of conure. In fact it is different from its cousins with regards to many things.
The blue-crowned conure has primarily green plumage and blue feathers on its face and head.
Unlike other conures that are notorious for being loud, this bird is calmer. They are friendly and cuddly pets. They are also great talkers just like their cousins.
Pacific Parrotlets (Blue Mutation)
Pacific Parrotlets are feisty mini parrots native to South and Central America. They are the smallest parrot species, though they have a considerably long lifespan.
Pacific parrotlets have powder blue feathers and darker shades of blue on their wings. The blue mutation of Pacific Parrotlets is quite popular and considered to be more easygoing than the standard parrotlets. They make amicable companions for people who want a small bird for their apartment.
Budgerigar (Blue Mutation)
Budgies come in a variety of different color variations, including blue. Within the blue variety of the budgerigar, these birds come in different shades including sky blue, cobalt, and mauve. They have an almost blue body with white feathers covering their crown and face.
Budgies have a reputation as good beginner birds, however, that does not mean they lack personality. They are inquisitive and high energy and love to play and explore their surroundings. Budgies are just as social, talkative, and intelligent as some of the other popular parrots.
Indian Ringneck Parakeets (Blue Mutation)
The natural color of the Indian Ringneck Parakeets is green, but due to selective breeding, you can see them in a range of other colors. The blue variety of the Indian Ringneck has an entire teal blue plumage.
These birds have big personalities and are quite demanding socially. Among the medium-sized parrots, the Indian ringneck is one of the best talkers. With proper care and adequate attention, they can be sweet and playful companions. But if neglected, they may turn bitter.
Quaker Parrots (Blue Mutation)
Intelligent, playful, and friendly, the Quakers are really one of a kind. They are known for their unique quaking and shaking behavior, which often confuses new owners who are unaware. While they are commonly green in color, they also have blue and yellow mutations.
Quaker Parrots are highly social and need a good amount of daily interaction to stay mentally stimulated and happy. They are entertaining pets and their talking ability rivals that of the big parrots.
White-capped Pionus
White-capped pionus parrots have a fascinating combination of forest green and dark blue feathers. The dark blue feathers cover their face, nape throat, chest, and abdomen. They also have a patch of white feathers on the crown.
These parrots do not vocalize a lot and generally have a laid-back nature. This makes them an easy bird to handle, especially if you’re new to the experiences. However, there are a few downsides.
They are not good talkers and can come across as cold sometimes. That being said, when properly socialized white-capped Pionus parrots can make excellent family pets.
Blue-Headed Pionus
The blue-headed pionus is a medium-sized parrot native to South America and southern Central America. They have dark blue head feathers that reach down to their shoulders. While the rest of their body is green.
The blue-headed Pionus is an ideal bird for people who live in an apartment. They are relatively quiet parrots with a mellow personality. Many owners describe them as being standoffish, which means they are not overly affectionate, but also that they don’t need constant attention.
Blue-Fronted Amazons
Blue-fronted amazons are a popular species of medium-sized amazons. They have blue feathers on the forehead and above the beak while most of their plumage is green with splashes of yellow on the face, crown, and shoulders.
Known for being comical and goofy, these parrots are exceptional talkers and learn to imitate words, sounds, and sometimes even their owners. Being the talkative and high-energy birds they are, they like to make loud vocalizations frequently.
There are loads of things to love about the blue-fronted amazons, but they do demand an open area and a substantial amount of time commitment.
