14 Biggest Parrots in the World: From Giant Macaws to Pet-Friendly Amazons
October 11, 2026
The world’s biggest parrots don’t always look the way most people expect. The heaviest species on this list cannot fly at all, while the longest is a sleek blue acrobat that spends its days cracking palm nuts in Brazilian wetlands. Between those two extremes sit macaws, cockatoos, and Amazon parrots that range from demanding, experienced-owner-only companions to some of the easiest pet birds for a first-time keeper willing to put in daily interaction.
This lineup covers 14 of the biggest parrots and parrot relatives on record, including one giant that vanished millions of years ago. Some are wild giants best admired from a distance; others turn up in pet stores across the United States and make genuinely good companions once their space and social needs are met. Expect real numbers on length, weight, and range, plus honest notes on which of these birds actually suit a beginner and which ones don’t.
1. Hyacinth macaw
By length, the largest flying parrot in the world is the hyacinth macaw, known to scientists as Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus. It measures about one meter (3 feet 3 inches) from head to tail and weighs up to 1.7 kilograms (3 pounds 12 ounces). Much of the population lives in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands, and the bird’s calm temperament has earned it the nickname “gentle giant” among keepers.
That size comes with a beak built for demolition work. Its bite is strong enough to crack open coconuts and macadamia nuts with ease, which is how the species handles the tough native palm nuts that make up much of its wild diet. Habitat loss and the pet trade have pushed numbers down over the decades, though conservation programs in Brazil and Bolivia now protect key nesting areas.
Hyacinth macaws share the record books with several other members of their family. For a broader look at how the species stacks up against non-parrot giants, the biggest flying birds in the world make an interesting comparison, and the cobalt coloring places this macaw among the standout blue bird species found anywhere on Earth.
2. Kakapo
Length is only half the story. Only the flightless kakapo of New Zealand outweighs the hyacinth macaw, tipping the scale at up to 3.5 kilograms. The kakapo is the world’s heaviest parrot and also one of the most unusual: native to New Zealand, this flightless, nocturnal bird has a mossy green appearance and a sweet, owl-like face, giving it the scientific name Strigops habroptilus.
In 2019, the kākāpō population rose from 147 to 213 individuals, a rare bright spot for a species that remains critically endangered. The Kakapo Recovery Programme has been credited with preventing the bird’s extinction through intensive nest monitoring, supplemental feeding, and predator control on offshore island sanctuaries.
Important Note: The kakapo is not, and has never been, a pet bird. It exists only in strictly managed conservation sanctuaries in New Zealand, and its inclusion here is purely about its record-setting weight among the largest birds in the world.
3. Heracles inexpectatus (extinct)
Heracles inexpectatus is a giant fossil parrot species from New Zealand that lived during the early Miocene, roughly 16 to 19 million years ago, and was described from two tibiotarsus fossils discovered at Saint Bathans, Otago. It stood up to 90 centimeters (2 feet 11 inches) tall, weighed around 7 kilograms, and belonged to the same superfamily as living New Zealand parrots, possibly making it an ancestor of the kakapo.
At roughly seven kilograms, Heracles weighed about twice as much as an average house cat and, back during the early Miocene, shared its subtropical New Zealand forest with small three-toed horses and the ancestors of the giant moa. Researchers believe the bird likely couldn’t fly and used its oversized beak to crack open tough seeds and nuts, much like today’s record-holding giants across the animal kingdom.
4. Blue-and-gold macaw
When most people picture a parrot, the Blue-and-Gold Macaw is likely one of the first birds that comes to mind, and its Ara ararauna scientific name is far less familiar than its easy-to-recognize blue-and-yellow plumage. Adults typically reach around 33 to 34 inches long and weigh two to three pounds, with a green forehead and bare white facial skin lined in tiny black feather stripes.
This macaw is known for being affectionate, playful, and social, often staying curious about everything happening in the household around it. Its size means it needs a spacious cage and plenty of toys to stay active, and while it can be noisy, its loyalty and warmth make up for the volume.
Pro Tip: A macaw’s size doesn’t automatically make it harder to keep than a smaller bird. Daily social time and noise tolerance matter more than wingspan when matching a parrot to your household.
5. Blue-throated macaw
The blue-throated macaw, Ara glaucogularis, is one of the rarest large parrots left in the wild. It is also known as Wagler’s macaw, named after the German herpetologist Johann Georg Wagler, who first described the bird to European readers. It grows to about 33 inches long and weighs between two and 2.5 pounds, with turquoise-blue upper plumage, a bright yellow belly, and a distinctive blue throat patch that gives the species its name.
Blue-throated macaws survive only in the Llano de Moxos region of Bolivia, and unlike most macaw species, they nest in isolated stands of palm trees rather than dense forest. That narrow range, combined with historical trapping for the pet trade, keeps the species on conservation watch lists across South America.
6. Green-winged (red-and-green) macaw
The green-winged macaw, Ara chloropterus, rivals the hyacinth in overall length, with some individuals reaching 35 to 37 inches from beak to tail tip, even though it weighs noticeably less. Its plumage is mostly deep red, broken by a green band across the wing coverts and blue lower-back and tail feathers, and its bare facial skin carries thin lines of tiny red feathers rather than the smooth, unmarked face seen on some other macaws.
Native to forested lowlands stretching from Panama and Colombia south through Bolivia, Paraguay, and into northern Argentina, this macaw is often mistaken for the scarlet macaw at a glance. In flight, its size and speed put it among the more impressive entries on any list of fast-flying bird species, and its powerful beak demands an experienced handler comfortable with a large, strong-willed bird.
7. Scarlet macaw
The scarlet macaw, Ara macao, is unmistakable: a vivid red body offset by yellow and blue feathers along the wings, with a bare, unfeathered white or pink facial patch. Adults typically measure 32 to 36 inches long and weigh close to two pounds, making them slightly lighter than several of their macaw relatives despite similar length.
Its range stretches from southern Mexico through Central America into Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, and it holds cultural significance as a national symbol in parts of Central America. Among the many different types of parrots kept and studied worldwide, the scarlet macaw remains one of the most photographed and recognized species anywhere.
| Macaw | Typical Length | Typical Weight | Native Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyacinth Macaw | ~40 in (1 m) | up to 3.7 lbs | Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay |
| Green-Winged Macaw | ~35–37 in | ~2.5–3.75 lbs | Panama to Argentina |
| Blue-and-Gold Macaw | ~33–34 in | ~2–3 lbs | Panama to Brazil/Bolivia |
| Scarlet Macaw | ~32–36 in | ~2 lbs | Mexico to Peru/Brazil |
| Blue-Throated Macaw | ~33 in | 2–2.5 lbs | Llano de Moxos, Bolivia |
8. African grey parrot
The African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus, earns its reputation as “The Einsteins of the Bird World” for good reason. Adults reach about one pound in weight and one foot in length, and the two main subspecies differ noticeably in size: Congo African greys measure about 12 to 14 inches with a scarlet tail, while Timneh African greys run smaller at around 10 inches with darker gray feathers and a maroon tail.
African greys bond closely with their humans but are not recommended for new or beginner bird owners due to their high social needs, and with proper care they can live 30 to 50 years. Their daily diet should center on a fortified pelleted food, which should make up 60 to 70 percent of intake, with the rest coming from fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains — always double-checking against a list of plants that are toxic to birds before offering anything from the kitchen.
Common Mistake: Assuming intelligence equals ease of care. African greys are among the smartest talking parrots in the world, but that same intelligence makes them prone to stress, feather plucking, and behavioral problems without daily mental stimulation.
9. Eclectus parrot
The eclectus parrot, Eclectus roratus, is famous for one of the most dramatic examples of sexual dimorphism in the parrot world. Similar in size to Amazon parrots at 13 to 14 inches, females are rich in red and purple with black beaks, while males are brilliant green with blue and red accents and beaks shaded like candy corn; they’re good mimics with a mild ability for speech, and because fruit makes up much of their diet, their droppings tend to run looser than other parrots unless fed an eclectus-formulated pellet.
Compared with louder, more demanding macaws, the eclectus tends toward a calmer, steadier temperament, which is part of why it shows up regularly on lists of low-maintenance pet birds for households that still want a large, visually striking parrot.
10. Yellow-naped Amazon
The yellow-naped Amazon, Amazona auropalliata, is a mostly green parrot marked by a bright yellow patch across the back of the neck, native to the Pacific coast of Central America from southern Mexico to Costa Rica. Amazon parrots as a group rank among the best talkers in the parrot world, often developing clear and varied vocabularies, and the yellow-naped Amazon is frequently singled out as one of the most articulate of the bunch.
That talking ability comes with a well-earned reputation for strong personalities, including seasonal hormonal aggression that catches new owners off guard. Among the many types of Amazon parrots kept in the United States, this species is better suited to owners who already have some parrot-handling experience under their belt.
11. Mexican Red-headed Amazon (Green-cheeked amazon)
Also called the red-crowned Amazon, Amazona viridigenalis is a compact, roughly 13-inch parrot with a green body and a bright red forehead and crown. It’s native to the lowland forests of northeastern Mexico, where habitat loss and trapping have made it far more common in captivity than in the wild.
Feral populations of this Amazon have become established in several warm-climate U.S. cities, where escaped and released birds formed self-sustaining flocks. As a pet, it tends to be an energetic, food-motivated bird that does best with an owner ready to provide daily out-of-cage time rather than a bird that thrives being left alone for long stretches.
12. Lilac-crowned Amazon
The lilac-crowned Amazon, Amazona finschi, gets its name from the soft lilac-to-blue coloring that washes across its crown, set off by a red forehead patch and an otherwise green body. It’s native to the Pacific slope of Mexico, and like several of its Amazon relatives, ongoing habitat loss and pet-trade collection have pushed it toward threatened status in the wild.
In captivity, this Amazon is generally quieter and less prone to constant vocalizing than a yellow-naped Amazon, though it still needs consistent daily attention. For readers comparing several mid-sized parrots at once, the table below lines up all three Amazon species covered here.
| Amazon Species | Typical Length | Notable Trait |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow-Naped Amazon | ~14–15 in | Exceptional talker; can be hormonal/aggressive seasonally |
| Mexican Red-Headed Amazon | ~13 in | Feral U.S. flocks; energetic and food-motivated |
| Lilac-Crowned Amazon | ~13 in | Generally quieter; still needs daily interaction |
13. Black palm cockatoo
Also known as the Goliath cockatoo, the black palm cockatoo carries the scientific name Probosciger aterrimus. It is the largest parrot in Australia and the largest cockatoo in the world, and while it isn’t quite as long as some macaw species, it outweighs its longer cousins, measuring 22 to 24 inches and weighing up to 2.6 pounds.
Its grey-black plumage is broken only by prominent red patches beneath the eyes, and it carries a bill surpassed in size only by the hyacinth macaw’s, feeding on nuts from the kanari tree and fruit from the pandanus palm across northeastern Australia, New Guinea, and West Papua. Males are also known for a rare behavior among parrots: drumming on hollow logs with sticks during territorial displays, a trait documented by researchers studying the birds of Australia.
14. Yellow-tailed black cockatoo
The yellow-tailed black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus funereus, is easy to pick out from a distance thanks to the bright yellow cheek patches and yellow tail band breaking up its otherwise black plumage. It’s native to southeastern Australia, where it forages in eucalyptus forests and pine plantations for wood-boring grubs, seeds, and cones.
This cockatoo typically travels in noisy, loose flocks and announces its presence with a distinctive wailing call that carries well beyond the treeline. It rounds out this list as a reminder that “biggest parrots” covers more than one body plan: long-tailed macaws, a flightless island giant, an extinct titan, and several stocky, big-billed cockatoos and Amazons all earned a spot for different reasons.
For anyone weighing whether a large parrot fits their household, size is really just the starting point. The African grey and yellow-naped Amazon reward experienced owners with exceptional talking ability but demand daily engagement, while species like the eclectus and certain Amazons appear more often on beginner-friendly bird lists thanks to steadier temperaments. Whichever species catches your interest, matching cage size, noise tolerance, and daily time commitment to the bird’s real needs matters far more than chasing the biggest wingspan on the list of the world’s biggest parrots.