When purchasing tropical birds, you need to take extra precautions you would not necessarily have to take when buying a hamster or a kitten. Many exotic pet birds are smuggled illegally into the country each year, bringing over-stressed and diseased birds into the local population. While it’s tempting to buy a bird you see at an exotic bird show or to buy a bird advertised on the Internet for a low price, you need to slow down and think before making such a huge investment. 

Buy From an Established Breeder or Pet Store
It’s important to purchase exotic birds from established breeders or a pet store. Domestic breeders will ensure the bird you buy is healthy, hand fed and used to being handled, whereas imported tropical birds may be of an undetermined age. may have been caught in the wild and sent through a stressful transportation experience and may be diseased. Juvenile birds that were hatched in captivity and hand fed make for the tamest pets.

Look For the Ankle Band
Look for a metal band on the ankle of the bird. It should have both letters and numbers on it, and you should be able to trace its lineage through those letters and numbers. Some legitimate breeders don’t band their birds, so if you buy from one of those breeders, you’ll want to visit the aviary yourself and check to make sure they are breeding onsite and are not selling you an illegally imported bird.

Do Your Research Before Committing
Purchasing a tropical bird is a huge commitment. Most exotic pet birds live a long time: cockatiels live 18 to 20 years, quakers and conures live 30 to 35 years, macaws and cockatoos live at least 50 years and African Greys can live more than 80 years. Exotic birds are sensitive, emotional and demanding. They require hours and hours of out-of-cage time every day, and once bonded to you, most tropical birds will require your attention for hours every single day. Selling a tropical bird can be difficult, especially if you have not trained it well or have neglected it, turning it into a nasty, mean, biting and screaming bird. The majority of exotic birds end up in rescue centers. Make sure you really can handle an exotic pet bird before you buy one.

Do You Have the Necessary Resources?
Before buying a tropical bird, make sure you have the financial resources for a large cage, play stands, toys, food, vet appointments and a travel cage. Exotic pet birds are expensive to buy and own. Also make sure you can handle the noise and have the time to clean up the mess—tropical birds are extremely messy and noisy.

If you’re serious about buying an exotic bird, handle one at a pet shop, get to know someone who owns a bird of the variety you are considering or volunteer at an exotic bird rescue so you’ll learn about the commitment needed. The bigger exotic birds can be especially temperamental and intimidating, so you’ll want to see if there are classes available where you’ll get to handle some of these birds before you commit to owning one.  Remember, young parrots are much easier to handle than mature birds; you’ll want to experience an older bird before you buy a cute little chick.