Y'all, if you haven't fallen down the rabbit hole of Meyer's Parrot content on TikTok and Instagram lately, you are seriously missing out. These tiny, chunky little African parrots are low-key the cutest pet birds out there right now, and weve collected so many adorable snaps of them being their silly little selves to share with you today. No fancy photoshoots either, all these are real pet owner pics that show exactly what it's like to live with one of these fluffy gremlins.
First up, we have that viral pic of 2-year-old Mango, a Meyer's Parrot from Ohio, curled up in a tiny knitted sweater that his owner made for him during winter. His little yellow belly peeking out the bottom, and he's got one foot tucked up under his feathers like he's judging you for not wearing a sweater as cute as his. The comments on that post were wild, everyone was begging for the sweater pattern, and his owner even said he sits still for 10 minutes straight while she slips it on him, cause he knows he gets a sunflower seed treat after. If that's not the cutest thing you've seen all week, I don't know what is.
Then there's the pic of Kiki, a rescue Meyer's Parrot that just found her forever home last month, sitting on her new owner's keyboard while they try to work from home. She's got her little beak pressed up against the screen, like she's trying to read the email they're writing, and her wings are fluffed up just enough to show she's super comfy. Her owner said she does this every single day, and if they try to move her, she just nips their finger very gently and squawks until they give her scratches behind the head. Oh, and she only does this when they're on work calls, too - little diva knows exactly when she's gonna get the most attention.
A lot of people see these cute pics and ask, wait, what even is a Meyer's Parrot anyway? They're a small species of parrot native to parts of Africa, way quieter than big parrots like macaws or cockatoos, which makes them perfect for apartment living. They only grow to be like 8 or 9 inches long, so they're tiny enough to fit in your pocket if you want to take them on a walk (just make sure you have a harness on them, obviously, don't be the person that loses their parrot at the park).
One of my personal favorite pics we found is of 4-year-old Blu, who's got a little obsession with stealing socks from his owner's laundry basket. The pic shows him sitting on top of a pile of clean white socks, holding one in his beak like he's just won a prize, and his little head is tilted like he's daring you to take it from him. His owner said he hides the socks all over the house, behind the couch, under his food bowl, even in the pocket of their winter coat. They once found three socks in his cage when they were cleaning it out, and he threw a tiny fit when they took them away to wash. Relatable, honestly, I'd throw a fit too if someone took my favorite collection.
Another cute pic we found was of a Meyer's Parrot named Kiwi sitting on the head of a golden retriever puppy, both of them napping on the couch. The owner said they've been best friends since Kiwi was a baby and the puppy was brought home, they eat snacks together, nap together, and the dog even lets Kiwi ride on his back when he runs around the house. A lot of people worry about having birds around dogs or cats, but if you introduce them slowly and supervise them, they can be the cutest little buddies. That pic went viral last year, and it's still one of the most shared Meyer's Parrot pics on Reddit, for good reason, it's impossible to look at it without smiling.
If you're looking at these pics and thinking "oh my god I need one of these little guys", hold up a sec, first let's go over a few quick things so you know if they're the right fit for you. First, they live for 20 to 30 years, so getting a Meyer's Parrot is a long commitment, not just a cute thing you post about for a year and then get bored of. They love to play, so you need to get them lots of chew toys, cause their beaks grow constantly and they need stuff to gnaw on, otherwise theyll start chewing your furniture, your phone charger, your headphones, basically anything you leave out that looks chewable. Trust me, I've heard so many stories from owners that lost their brand new AirPods cause their Meyer's decided they looked tasty.
We also got sent a super sweet pic of a Meyer's Parrot named Peanut cuddling with a tiny plush parrot that looks exactly like him. His owner said she got the plush for him when she had to go back to work after working from home for two years, cause she was worried he'd get lonely. Turns out he loves the thing more than he loves her some days, he sleeps with it tucked next to him every night, and he even preens its little fake feathers. The pic is so soft, his little eyes are half closed, and he's got one wing draped over the plush like he's giving it a hug. I may have teared up a little when I first saw it, no shame.
One of the things that makes Meyer's Parrots so photogenic is their pretty coloring, right? They've got that soft olive green on their backs, bright yellow on their bellies and their cheeks, and a little patch of blue or turquoise on their wings that pops in sunlight. So even if they're just sitting on a perch doing nothing, they look like a little work of art. There's a gorgeous pic of a Meyer's Parrot sitting in a windowsill with the sun hitting his wings, and the blue patch is so bright it looks like it's glowing. The owner said they took the pic completely by accident, they were just trying to take a pic of the sunset, and their parrot flew into the frame at the exact right second. It's so pretty, it got printed and hung up in their living room, which is totally deserved.
One thing that always surprises people about Meyer's Parrots is how goofy they are, even if they look a little serious in some pics. They love to dance, for real, if you put on upbeat music they'll bob their little head and tap their foot on their perch like they're at a concert. There's a viral video (and matching screenshot pic) of a Meyer's Parrot named Taco dancing to Lizzo, flapping his wings so fast he almost falls off his perch. His owner said he only dances to Lizzo, he ignores all other music, which is such a king move honestly, Lizzo is the only artist worth dancing to.
A lot of people think all parrots talk, right? Well Meyer's Parrots can learn a few words and phrases, but they're not as chatty as African Greys or Budgies. Most of them will learn to say their name, maybe a few little phrases like "hello" or "give me seed", but mostly they communicate with little chirps and squawks. There's a funny pic going around of a Meyer's Parrot mid-squawk, his beak wide open, and the caption says "when you ask him if he wants a treat and he yells YES so loud the neighbors hear". That's basically their version of talking, and it's just as cute as if they were saying full sentences.
All of these cute pics really show just how charming and lovable Meyer's Parrots are, right? They're not as popular as other pet birds, but they make such amazing companions for people that want a pet that's silly, low maintenance, and super affectionate. If you already have a Meyer's Parrot, you should definitely post more pics of them online, we need more of these little guys popping up on our feeds. And if you don't have one, go follow some Meyer's Parrot accounts on Instagram, trust me, your feed will be way cuter for it. Oh, and pro tip if you do get one: take lots of pics every day, cause they do something silly basically every 10 minutes, and you don't wanna miss capturing those moments.