Birds that like to sit on people’s shoulders tend to be parrots. Parrots are intelligent, social birds that enjoy interacting with humans. The most common parrots kept as pets that will happily perch on their owner’s shoulder include budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, conures, Amazon parrots, African Grey Parrots, and macaws.
Budgies
Budgies, also known as parakeets, are a small, energetic type of parrot. They grow to be about 7-8 inches long and weigh around 1 ounce. Budgies come in a variety of bright, beautiful colors and patterns. They are naturally very social and affectionate birds that bond closely with their human families. A hand-raised budgie that is comfortable around people will gladly perch on a shoulder to interact and play. Their small size and light weight makes them easy to accommodate.
Cockatiels
Cockatiels are mid-sized parrots that grow to be about 12-13 inches long and weigh 3-4 ounces. They are famous for the tall, expressive crests on their heads that can be raised or lowered to show their moods. Cockatiels have sweet, gentle personalities and thrive on attention and bonding with their people. They come in a range of colorations, with grey being the most common. A tame, well-socialized cockatiel will readily sit on a human friend’s shoulder, especially if offered a treat as a reward.
Lovebirds
Lovebirds are aptly named for forming very close bonds with each other and their human caretakers. They are small parrots, growing to 5-7 inches long and weighing 1.5-3 ounces. Lovebirds are available in a rainbow of color mutations, with green being the most common. Lovebirds tend to be feisty and energetic. A lovebird that is handled regularly from a young age and trained to step up onto a hand will be likely to perch on a shoulder when their bonded person invites them to do so.
Conures
In the parrot world, conures are mid-sized birds that range from 10-15 inches long and weigh 2.5-4 ounces. They are extremely smart, busy birds that need a lot of interaction and enrichment. Conures thrive when they get to spend quality time out of the cage with their favorite people. They come in a spectacular array of colors, and many species can easily learn to talk. An active, engaging conure that is well-bonded with its owner will be thrilled to ride around on their person’s shoulder.
Amazon Parrots
Amazon parrots are medium to large parrots, with sizes ranging from 10-15 inches long and weights from 9-25 ounces depending on species. They are extremely intelligent and talented with voices – many species readily learn to talk if trained. Amazons form close bonds with their owners and want to spend most of their time socializing. A tame Amazon parrot will gladly perch on its owner’s shoulder, especially during activities and quality time outside of the cage.
African Grey Parrots
African Grey Parrots are highly renowned for their exceptional talking abilities and overall intelligence. They grow to 12-14 inches long and weigh 9-13 ounces. Their feathers are primarily gray with some red or white accents. African Greys thrive on mental stimulation and interacting with their flock-mates, including human owners. A socialized, well-trained African Grey will be eager to ride on a familiar person’s shoulder as they go about their day together.
Macaws
Macaws are large, long-tailed parrots that can grow over 3 feet long and weigh 2-3 pounds. They are incredibly smart and need constant social enrichment. Macaws bond very strongly with their favorite people. A tame, well-mannered macaw that is comfortable with being handled will happily sit on its owner’s shoulder, given the strength required to accommodate their large size and weight.
Key Things Parrots Want in a Shoulder Perch
For parrots to happily perch on a person’s shoulder, certain criteria need to be met to make the bird feel safe and secure.
- A fully-feathered shoulder – birds will be scared off by any bare skin
- A comfortable fabric over the shoulder – leather, suede, or thick cotton ideal
- A confident, calm owner – parrots sense nervousness or fear
- An established bond of trust between owner and bird
- A bird that is fully flighted or clipped appropriately
- Proper parrot training and handling experience by the owner
Pros of Shoulder Perching
Letting a parrot sit on your shoulder offers many benefits, including:
- Increased bonding time between parrot and human
- Enhanced socialization and confidence for the bird
- Mental stimulation and enrichment for the parrot
- Opportunity for training and practicing skills
- A chance to regularly change up the parrot’s environment
- Fun, novel experience of interacting on the same level
Cons of Shoulder Perching
While there are many advantages, shoulder perching does come with some risks and drawbacks to consider:
- Fall and injury risk if the bird panics or loses balance
- Likelihood of poop ending up on the person’s clothes/belongings
- Potential for bites, especially with untamed birds
- Feathers can be broken or ruffled while climbing about
- Difficult to monitor closely during activities
- Person may need both hands free at times
Tips for Safe and Successful Shoulder Perching
Follow these top tips to make shoulder perching as enjoyable as possible for both parrot and human:
- Start training young with chicks bred for tameness
- Go slow and keep initial sessions very short, then build up
- Reinforce good behavior generously with treats and praise
- Only bring out calm, familiar parrots at first
- Carefully monitor body language for signs of stress
- Keep practicing step up and step down cues regularly
- Avoid distracting, noisy, or dangerous environments
- Watch ceiling fans, open doors, other pets, etc. closely
- Have designated perches handy for the bird to land on
- Never force a scared parrot to perch on your shoulder
Flighted or Clipped for Shoulder Perching?
Flighted | Clipped |
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There are good arguments on both sides of the debate over flighted vs clipped wings for shoulder perching and general parrot keeping. It is usually considered somewhat safer overall for a parrot to have full flight capability. But clipping can be appropriate for certain individual birds and situations as long as the parrot’s lifestyle is suited for it.
Ideal Companion Parrots for Shoulder Perching
While many parrots have potential to perch on shoulders when properly trained, some species tend to excel at it and be the best candidates. Here are 5 of the top shoulder perching companion parrots:
- African Grey – Extremely smart and social. Bond deeply with owners.
- Cockatoo – Affectionate and love being involved. May get nippy.
- Conure – Playful and high-energy. Require ample exercise.
- Pionus – Mild-mannered and laid back. Make steady companions.
- Caique – Clownish, lively personalities. Need lots of interaction.
Risk Factors for Unsafe Shoulder Perching
Certain scenarios or individual parrot traits can increase the risks of shoulder perching. Use caution if any of the following apply:
- Very small or very large/heavy parrot species
- Wings fully clipped too short to break falls
- Elderly or disabled birds with limited mobility
- Timid, fearful, or aggressive temperament
- Extremely distracted or high energy personality
- Newly adopted or unbonded parrot
- Environment with lots of hazards or loud noises
- Inexperienced bird owner lacking training skills
- Medical conditions impacting a bird’s balance
Special Equipment for Parrot Shoulder Perching
The right accessories can greatly enhance safety and success with shoulder perching. Some helpful items include:
- Bird flight suits to contain messes
- Parrot harnesses for restraint and leading
- Birdie backpacks for dorsal support
- Flocking shoulders to allow footing
- Birdie slings for carrying and catching falls
- Tethers to limit range of motion
- Training treats to reinforce desired behaviors
- Pocket mirrors to monitor behind you
Ideal training treats for shoulder perching
Using enticing treats is key for positively reinforcing desired behaviors in parrot shoulder perching training. Here are 5 healthy, motivating options:
Treat | Benefits |
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Chopped nuts | High fat keeps parrots engaged |
Chopped fruits | Natural sweetness parrots love |
Whole grains | Low calorie for frequent treating |
Nut butter | Protein sustains attention span |
Seed mix | Mimics natural foraging habits |
Conclusion
Parrots that enjoy perching on their owner’s shoulder require proper training, handling experience, and trust between bird and human. Shoulder perching offers benefits but also involves some inherent risks to manage. With preparation and precautions, most socialized parrots can learn to safely and happily ride along on their favorite person’s shoulder.