Most bird owners wanting two or more birds dream of a feathered Utopia where all of their bird friends get along. Though most of our companion birds have wonderful qualities, many are also known to be territorial, possessive, jealous, and potentially aggressive, especially toward other birds. This makes the proposition of housing birds of different species together potentially perilous. Often, birds of the same or similar species can learn to get along, and even be great pals, but it’s a risky and delicate operation to place two disparate species side by side and expect a harmonious result.
That being said, there are many birds living in cross-species bliss all over the world, and it is even known to happen in rare cases in the wild, as is the case with the last Spix’s macaw, a male, who has fallen for a female Illiger’s. These birds are special individuals. Not all birds of a species share the same characteristics, just as not all humans share the same nuances of character, and some individuals are more accepting than others.
Phoebe Greene Linden, Avian Behavioral Consultant from the Santa Barbara Bird Farm in Santa Barbara, California, encourages owners to take stock of their individual birds’ characteristics before attempting an introduction. “Personality assessment is a key element in the determination of what types of birds will get along with each other,” said Linden. “Comfortable, curious, and exploratory psittacine companions will get along with other comfortable, curious, exploratory birds. Happy well-adjusted companions, especially those who adapt easily to change, will be the most amenable to sharing their homes with other avian companions of the same caliber, regardless of species.”
Strange Perch-Fellows
No one knows more about this subject than Bob and Liz Johnson, the directors and caretakers of the Shyne Foundation, a Free Flight Natural Habitat Sanctuary in South Florida. The Johnsons have over 200 large birds comprised of over 20 different species, all cohabitating in a very large space.
“There are no absolutes, especially with birds,” said the Johnsons. “There are probably as many differences within the same species as there are between species. Whether they get along or not depends on the individuals. We have birds of the same species that cannot cohabit peacefully and many various species that do fine together.” Because they Johnsons have so many birds, most of them rescue cases, the birds are allowed to choose their own friends from among the flock. They have an African grey that has bonded with a severe macaw, a quaker who hangs out with a yellow-naped Amazon, and an umbrella cockatoo that prefers to cuddle up at night with a hyacinth macaw rather than another cockatoo. These are only a few of the cross-species pairings the Johnsons see among their flock. Breeding is discouraged, so there is no reason not to allow these birds to remain friendly. Never allow birds of different species to nest, though preening, beaking, and playing is fine.
The General Rule
Among the common companion birds, there is no real “rule” for pairing disparate species. The rule seems to be: Sometimes the birds will get along, sometimes they won’t. “If birds can get along with such incongruous beings as ourselves then it stands to reason that they can get along with other species of birds,” said Marc Morrone, co-owner of Parrots of the World in Rockville Center, New York. “Some of the combos that my customers have include an African grey with an umbrella cockatoo, African grey with a blue and gold macaw, a yellow-naped Amazon with a citron cockatoo, a scarlet macaw with a Mollucan cockatoo, and a budgie with a galah. I have probably seen every possible combo of birds living in the same cage together. It is interesting to note that none of the birds in the combos that I know of pluck their feathers or mutilate themselves in any way. The only real rule that I will give is this: if you are going to create a combo, be sure that the smaller, more defenseless bird is the original bird, and be sure that its new roommate is a young baby so that the larger bird will not want to try and dominate the smaller one right away. In other words if you want to mix an African grey with an umbrella cockatoo it would be better (in theory) to start with an adult grey and then add a baby cockatoo. I do know of exceptions to this, however.”
Birds of A Different Feather Don’t Necessarily Flock Together
There is no real rule for placing birds of different species together, however, it seems that birds from similar natural regions may get along better than birds from different continents. “Cockatiels and budgies or Bourke's parakeets may get along. Finches and other small birds can occasionally be mixed in a large flight, but they should come from the same continent,” said R. Gregory Burkett, DVM, and owner of The Birdie Boutique Inc, A Parrot Lover's Paradise in Durham, North Carolina.
Find out if your species of bird is notoriously territorial. “It seems that birds who are territorial, such as macaws and amazons do not compete for territory with other species in the wild. For example, among wild birds, mockingbirds are highly territorial and will drive out others of their own kind, but will accept sparrows and bluejays in the same area. Similarly, macaws don't seem to notice amazons in their area and don't tend to drive them out even when they bond with another of their own species. However, it has been our observation that birds prefer their own species, given a choice,” said the Johnsons.
“We have found that lories, conures, and quakers tend to harass the larger birds and must be kept separated from them,” the Johnsons continued. “We have been told that caiques and lovebirds are notorious killers and should be kept separately. Hyacinths are rough and, although they are not overtly aggressive to other species, they are forceful when they play.”
Making the Introduction
The experts agree that baby birds are more accepting and more likely to bond with a bird of another species than an adult bird will. “Babies of all the species we have had cohabit very well. All of our greenwings, blue and golds, hyacinths, scarlets, quakers, lories, cockatoos, and so on, got along very well for the first two years we were here. Then, as they became territorial, it became more difficult to add new of any species. If the birds are all brought home at the same time, there is a better chance of peaceful cohabitation,” said the Johnsons.
Housing is a concern for a multiple species household. You have to determine whether or not the birds can be housed safely together. “I recommend that each bird get their own separate cage,” said Burkett. “In a home with multiple birds in separate cages, any two birds will coexist without problems. Birds establish territories, and the cage is the protected territory. When a new bird is brought into the home, the empty cage should be brought home first and let the 'old' bird become accustomed to the presence of the new cage. This should take a week or two. When the new bird comes into the home, do not make a big deal of the arrival. Always take the 'old' bird out of its cage first and play with it, then take the 'new' bird out. Be polite, and introduce them to each other using their names and explain to the 'old' bird that this is the new housemate and give them treats in front of each other. The whole family needs to participate in the introduction so both birds will feel like equal members of the flock. Do not let them come into physical contact initially. Hold them at the same height, or sit on the floor with them. This introduction should be out of sight of their cages and in a room that’s unfamiliar to the birds.”
Linden also recommends a gentle introduction. “Gradual introduction is always the best. I prefer to create a ‘pent up demand.’ Even if they seem to want to be together, it's best if they thoroughly observe each other first. The first bird needs to know that the family/flock routine has not been diminished by the addition of another bird,” Linden advised. “Because our avian companions are naturally territorial, we want to respect their territory when we introduce any new bird into our homes. Gradually, over the course of several weeks, allow the birds' separate play gyms to be moved closer and closer together. Finally, add a new place between the two gyms that neither of the birds has claimed as their own territory. This new place will be their neutral meeting ground. Before they share actual space, have them share meals together. We pass toys between them and show them how much fun is it to interact together through eating, playing, singing and dancing as a group before they are expected to have a relationship with each other.”
It might happen that your birds get along swimmingly after being introduced, but be aware that many birds can be temperamental and fickle, even to their human companions. “The biggest problems with birds living together are injuries due to poor supervision, especially with disparately sized birds, and birds bonding to the extent that they don't want to have anything to do with the humans anymore,” said Layne David Dicker, an Avian Behavior and Care Consultant in Los Angeles, California. “Both of these instances are very common.”
Supervision is key to maintaining a good cross-species relationship. “Any birds placed together must be constantly monitored for compatibility, because even established friendships change occasionally and sometimes those birds who were once best friends can suddenly become arch enemies, even within the same species,” the Johnsons advised.
Ultimately, think about why you want your bird friend to be friends with another species of bird. Perhaps your bird is content to be with you, and you only. Perhaps your bird would like a friend of its own species. Evaluate your bird’s personality and needs before you add another feathered member to your flock.
