We’re used to our pets living for around 15 years and often far less. How often do we consider the lifespan of animals other than our domesticated dogs and cats?
Bird lifespans vary greatly among different species, but there are some birds that cling to life a little tighter than others! Keep reading to learn about 8 of the longest-living birds on earth, including the oldest one still alive today.
1. Macaw
First on the list is the macaw, a member of the Psittacidae bird family native to the tropical regions of North and South America. These colorful birds are famed and loved for their bright, bold feathers in reds, blues, and yellows, as well as for their vibrant and playful personalities and intelligence.
There are many different types of Macaws, such as the Scarlet Macaw and the Greenwing Macaw, which aren’t often found in their natural habitat anymore but live around the world as pets. The domesticated Macaw has a longer lifespan than one in the wild due to the fact that these pets have access to vet care and are protected from natural predators and diseases.
On average, these birds live for around 30 to 45 years, but pet Macaws have been known to live upwards of 65 years.
2. Cockatoo
Another species of bird that lives for many years is the Cockatoo, a large hookbill parrot. They come in many different varieties, including the Umbrella cockatoo, the Black Cockatoo, and the Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo.
Each variety has its own distinct personality and physical traits, but all Cockatoos are lively, social birds. In the wild, they live in large flocks of up to 100 birds and live for an average of 20 to 40 years.
However, when kept safely at home as a pet, Cockatoos can live for over 70 years, making them a true companion for life. They’re often referred to as “Velcro birds,” meaning that they bond closely with their owners and become incredibly attached – these birds love to talk and cuddle!
3. Amazon Parrot
The second parrot on this list is the Amazon Parrot, native to the Americas, with their range extending from South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. These brightly colored beauties sport lively green feathers with splashes of color, and are another popular pet option.
The lifespan of the Amazon Parrot, as with most creatures, is dependent on factors like their environment, diet, and overall care. This bird lives for an average of 40 to 60 years, but as with the other birds we’ve looked at, proper care and a healthy environment could help them live for up to 80 years or even more.
Amazons who are well-loved will reward their owners with years of playful companionship.
4. African Grey Parrot
Another long-term commitment pet is the beloved African Grey! These (obviously) grey-feathered friends sport a splash of red in their tails, and they’re just as lively and playful as their more colorful counterparts.
In the wild, African Greys, also known as Congo Greys, typically live for an estimated 23 years. However, Greys who live comfortably as pets on a good parrot diet are also known to live to the ripe old age of 60 or even 70.
This parrot happens to be one of the most talented talkers (or mimickers) on the planet, which makes for a very chatty but popular pet you’ll need years’ worth of patience for!
5. Budgerigar (Budgie)
Chances are, you didn’t know the Budgie’s full name until just now! These common household pets are loved worldwide for their bright, bashful colors and sweet temperament. They’re social birds and can be trained to sit on your finger, making them easy to handle, too.
Native to Australia, this is the only place where you might find a flock of Budgies in the wild. Here, these tiny birds can be expected to live for around 4 – 6 years under the threat of natural predators.
In a loving home with the right care and diet, they are easy to care for and can live for up to 15 years, though they average between 8 and 10 years. While this might not seem like much compared to the larger birds, this is incredible for their quaint size!
6. Swan
You either love them or you hate them – Swans are an incredible natural beauty and a romantic creature, but can be infamously aggressive when they feel threatened. Regardless of their temperament or your feelings towards them, these birds also have very long lifespans.
In the wild, Swans face numerous threats, from pollution and lead poisoning to dogs, cats, and injury from man-made structures. Because of this, their average lifespan in their natural habitat is only around 12 years.
A Swan in a protected environment, however, can live to the ripe old age of 30, making them one of the longest-living birds in the world when they’re removed from the usual threats, properly cared for, and living off a healthy bird diet.
7. Laysan Albatross
The Laysan Albatross is a larger-than-life seabird that lives in the North Pacific. With their white feathers and black wings and backs, they resemble oversized seagulls. Albatrosses are known for soaring massive distances and can live incredibly long lives—sometimes over 50 years.
The main reason the Laysan Albatross has made it onto this list is because it happens to be the species of the oldest bird currently alive today! Wisdom is a wild female Laysan Albatross who, as of July 2024, is 73 years old and still healthy and thriving.
Wisdom lives at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge near Hawaii and has hatched between 30 and 36 chicks in her lifetime, which is made even more impressive by the fact that a female Albatross only lays one egg each year.
8. Kākāpō
Last but certainly not least, the Kākāpō is a less commonly known bird native to New Zealand. It is often referred to as an Owl Parrot because of its distinct owlish features. This is a large, flightless bird that can reach up to 64cm long.
The Kākāpō is considered to be the world’s longest-living bird, reaching an average of 60 years but sometimes reaching up to 100 years of age. These ground-dwelling birds have faced serious adversaries and are also considered one of the most endangered of New Zealand’s indigenous species. However, conservation efforts have revived its numbers and the Kākāpō population is now soaring.
