Thanks for the wonderful introduction Linda. Contrary to some opinions that exist about this unique and absolutely magnificent genus, Hawk-headed parrots certainly do make marvellous pets. If you are willing to accept and respect their special needs and behaviours, the rewards of keeping a pet Hawkhead (as they are commonly known) are tremendous. They are very affectionate and their entertaining body language and playful antics are a joy to experience. They also have great talking ability. If a unique, adorable and acrobatic pet is what you seek all wrapped up in a very conspicuous bundle of feathers, you need not look any further than this stunningly beautiful parrot.

Coco enjoying a "skritch"

Some experts like Rosemary Low do not recommend Hawkheads as pets. Others claim they are best suited for the experienced aviculturist. They cite incidents of aggression, territorial behaviour and difficulty in breeding as the basis for their opinions. Based on personal experience as a delighted Hawkhead pet owner and breeder, I strongly disagree with Rosemary's negative pet recommendation in particular. As a breeder, I do not find Hawkheads particularly difficult to work with or care for provided that proper methods and common sense are used when pairing birds. It is absolutely amazing to me how a few "words of wisdom" from one or two experts can "contaminate" an entire species; especially when the experience drawn from is not pet-related. This is unjustified and unnecessary fear-mongering in my opinion. It is regrettable that this wonderful species has on occasion been branded with an undeserved stigma. Whenever parrots are allowed to revert to a wild state such as being placed in a large free-flight aviary, kept in a mixed collection or paired up for breeding, certain natural behaviours designed for survival in the wild will surface that normally may not even be seen nor be of particular concern in a pet situation. Perhaps these environmental factors are the true basis of the concerns? To fault this species because the behaviour of some individuals doesn't measure up to certain unrealistic human imposed expectations is wrong. People must learn to understand, accept, and accommodate natural behaviour from any pet parrot giving special consideration to the environment the bird is placed into. It should be acknowledged that no species should be expected to conform to someone's every whim. Pet owners should appreciate and enjoy parrots for what they truly are, complex wonders of nature, not feathered toys and certainly not disposable pets.

I kept my first Hawkhead, a male named Gomez as a pet for the better part of eight years. Throughout this time he was the friendliest, most gregarious and trustworthy pet parrot you could ever imagine. Gomez absolutely loved the company of the few other birds in the house. I would consider him the perfect pet bird for just about any responsible person. I should point out that Gomez was entirely parent-reared, and subsequently tamed during his first year. Did I get lucky with his positive demeanour? Is Gomez an exception? Based on three other adult Hawkheads I have, I seriously doubt it. Gomez was always relatively quiet, extremely gentle and affectionate, and he enjoyed being handled to the max throughout the years as a pet. I tried for many years to locate a mate for Gomez without success. Reputable breeders couldn't supply one and several pet owners with a hen I spoke to couldn't bear to part with theirs under any circumstances. They spoke very highly of their cherished Hawkheads. Finally, I was given the choice between two lady Hawks; I chose the more aggressive aviary bird just to be different. Within a few hours of her arrival, Ceasar settled right in and quickly became a real sweetheart, displaying the same good nature as Gomez. These two mature birds clearly indicate that Hawkheads can be quite predictable under the right circumstances. This leads me to believe that a bird's environment plays a larger part in their behaviour than we may even realize, perhaps more with Hawkheads than with other species. Of course now that Ceasar and Gomez are "married", they want nothing to do with me and I can't fault them for that. They simply have more important things to do with their lives now.

Because of their relative rarity especially as pets, Hawkheads haven't received nearly all the good press they deserve. The old adage applies here - bad news travels at the speed of light but good news is rarely heard. As a result, their pet potential is highly underrated. This is the consensus of opinion from the experienced members of the Yahoo (Internet) Hawkhead discussion group. Properly raised, properly socialized and properly cared for, baby Hawkheads make endearing long term pets for their very lucky owners. The basics of raising and caring for Hawkheads long-term are similar to most other species. It is very important not to spoil the bird nor to encourage or reward negative behaviour. Unfortunately many pet owners do not understand the significance of this until they have a "problem child" on their hands.

Special needs of the pet Hawkhead:

Cages: Because they are so energetic and active, pet Hawkheads benefit from a relatively large cage (minimum size recommended is 30"wide X 24"deep). Bigger can be better because there is more room for exercise, multiple perches and for hanging toys. Several perches should be placed at different levels for interest and challenge. Bar spacing should be appropriate for the species (1" or less is ideal). Hawkheads will use up every cubic inch of cage space available to them with their antics. They prefer to fly from perch to perch rather than climb around on the bars as many other species do.

Diet: An inadequate or inappropriate diet can lead not only to health problems but can also be a major factor in many behavioural issues. Some people do not understand this, especially novices. For example, a recently weaned baby will become excessively noisy if it is continuously hungry. This happens all to often as a result of being given an insufficient amount of familiar food. A hungry bird is also usually very cantankerous and nippy which is a good start towards having a biting bird. Even though there may be food available in the dish, a bird can go hungry and certainly be unsatisfied if it doesn't recognise or accept the food offered. It will likely become less trusting towards its owner in short order. This stressful situation (for the bird & pet owner) sets the stage for further problems as the bird matures since it was deprived and made insecure from the beginning. Territorial, aggressive and unpredictable behaviour may be the unfortunate result. The principle of feeding familiar foods abundantly should definitely continue for an appropriate period whenever any new baby parrot goes to it's new home. Once the baby is doing well, it is ok to expand the food items offered but definitely not at the expense of depriving the bird of food it is familiar with.

A varied & nutritious diet is essential but it is impossible to provide a complete list of specific foods. However, our Hawkheads prefer a larger amount of fruit in their diet than our other species. They particularly relish apple, orange, pear and just about any exotic fruits available such as papaya, mango and pomegranate. Blueberries and raspberries are also a wonderful treat for them. Pine nuts and shelled almonds are offered on a regular basis. Peppers which are high in Vitamin A are quickly devoured along with many other vegetables. We also provide maintenance pellets daily. High protein items such as a bean and rice mix can certainly be offered in moderation to pet Hawkheads. However, be aware that overfeeding high protein foods can contribute to breeding (aggressive) behaviour in mature birds.

Negative Behaviour Avoidance: Potential for the development of bad or unpredictable behaviour in Hawkheads certainly does exist just as it does with other species. A wide variety of reasons apply but inadvertent mistakes made by the owner and the lack of proper training top the list. It seems that every dog owner understands the necessity and importance of proper handling and training of their animal. By comparison, very few pet parrot owners understand that the same requirements apply to parrots until bad behaviour develops as a result of inadequate or no training.

Hawkheads can become very excitable especially if you play rough with them. This may seem neat at first but it is a sure way to instil and reinforce aggressive behaviour. Avoid doing this at all cost. Instead treat them gently and with respect and you will be rewarded with a well-behaved bird.

In Summary: It has been my experience that Hawkheads really do make very suitable long-term pets. I find them to be just as stable and predictable as other species under the right circumstances. As with any other species, it is essential to treat and handle them appropriately to prevent behaviour problems from developing in the first place. If not, bad behaviour can occur through no fault of the bird. It is all too easy to blame the species in that case rather than to accept responsibility for causing the problem and correcting it. Advice on behaviour issues should ideally be obtained from someone who has a positive attitude toward Hawkheads and preferably has experience raising this species.

It is my goal to see this species become better established in Canadian aviculture and also as a deserving and very worthy pet species. In my humble opinion, it is extremely shortsighted of anyone to not support both endeavours. There are very few dedicated breeders working with Hawkheads in Canada and even fewer with breeding success. If only a handful of "experts" keep Hawkheads there is a significant risk that they will eventually and prematurely disappear from Canadian aviculture. All that is needed is for a few breeders to experience a contagious disease outbreak in their flock and old age will soon take care of the rest of the domestic bird population. This is especially worrisome in Canada where birds are mostly kept indoors. Importation from the wild is no longer a viable or legal option for replacement of birds. We must treasure and manage what we have very effectively, or risk losing them forever.

In conclusion: I extend an invitation to pet owners, breeders and anyone else interested in learning more about the fabulous Hawk-headed parrot to join the Yahoo Hawkhead Discussion Group - a forum where all manner of information regarding Hawkheaded Parrots is discussed: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hawkheads/