Choosing Birds As Pets : Section 1

HOW LONG IS A PARTICULAR SPECIES OF BIRD EXPECTED TO LIVE?

This is a very common question and it is one to which it is easy to give a glib answer. The question is a bit like the one "How long is a piece of string?"
Many factors influence the life expectancy of birds. Some of these include genetic factors (especially inbreeding and selective breeding), the incidence and prevalence of predators, stress, dis-ease, diseases, changes in short and long-term weather patterns, nutrition, management and husbandry, pollution and habitat destruction.

There can be a big difference between the known potential life expectancy (longevity) of an individual of a species and the average life expectancy of the species.
For example a sulphur crested cockatoo might have the potential to live to 80 human years, the average life expectancy of these cockatoos in the wild might be 40 years, in captivity in Australia 20 years, and if subject to export perhaps 8 years. (These are examples, not necessarily fact!)

Because so many factors influence life expectancy, it is not surprising that reported estimates vary widely.
There are marked differences in the longevity of different types of our favourite pet birds, budgerigars and cockatiels.

Ross has put together a detailed table of various birds and their life expectantcies as caged birds in human years.

For more indepth knowledge on this topic click on "buy this section" below or log in to make an appointment with Dr Ross Perry.

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