Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona ochrocephala auropalliata) Peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis) Green-cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae molinae) You will also note that information is only provided for 14 species in the case of some of the very long-lived species, there was no information available at the time, indicating that very few birds had reached geriatric status so that research data could have been obtained. Very few birds reached their maximum lifespans until recently. The Geriatric-in-Years data below was not only the period at which the birds were considered geriatric, it was also the average lifespan of each species. Although the maximum lifespans are long, the actual average lifespan was much shorter. At that time, pet birds were not expected to live as long as their wild counterparts. The following table comes from Clinical Avian Medicine, published in 2006. 16 2.2 Geriatric Ages and Maximum Lifespans of Commonly Kept Companion Birds

Geriatric birds require more gentle handling and for shorter periods of time (image courtesy Doneley, Harrison, Lightfoot used with permission). At this age, even minor restraint has caused the bird to appear listless and sleepy. A 20-year-old lutino cockatiel is shown after having the jugular vein moistened with alcohol for venipuncture. Birds of the order Galliformes (pheasants, quail, chickens, turkeys) are weak fliers, and they appear to be exceptionally short-lived compared to strong fliers.” 2 In addition, birds that are weak flyers are thought to age more rapidly than strongerflying species. “This could be because flight enables animals to escape some of the environmental dangers they encounter, such as predators or destruction or deterioration of their habitats. In birds, species that are capable of flight live considerably longer than non-flying species of similar body size. Austed states that, “Most pet birds have the potential to live 20-80 years, depending on their size (larger birds live longer than smaller ones), diet (herbivores live longer than carnivores or omnivores), and socialization (highly social species live longer than solitary species).” 3 2.1 The Effect of Flight on Lifespans However, as the knowledge base of avian medicine has increased, so have the lifespans of pet birds. Infectious diseases, inadequate diets, and poor care meant that most pet birds did not live long enough to develop geriatric conditions. Until recently, geriatric medicine has been a neglected area of avian medicine. If these diseases had been caught earlier, many of the birds would have had longer lifespans. Greenacre, “The lifespan of a bird depends on its species, genetic inbreeding, size, concurrent disease, diet, and environment.” 20 Some of the more commonly seen geriatric diseases and conditions are arthritis, neurological disease, heart disease, neoplasia, obesity, atherosclerosis, chronic malnutrition, chronic aflatoxin exposure (carcinogenic mycotoxins, or mold-spore diseases), and cataracts. Longevity refers to the maximum lifespan that can be expected under ideal conditions. Many birds never reach their maximum lifespans nor even get close to reaching them. The average lifespan of a bird is the life expectancy for that particular species. Main Article: Overview of Avian Geriatric Disorders with Emphasis on Psittacines – Jeannine Miesle, M.A., M.

Cockatoo pet life span