Blue Quaker Parrot vs Green – What’s the Difference?
A question that sometimes comes up about Blue Quaker Parrots is if there is any difference between them and green Quakers other than the price. This is an important question, because Quakers are often chosen as pets not for their looks but for their great personalities. They truly are “a lotta parrot in a little package.” So if there is a difference in personality in blues vs greens, I agree that it should be noted.
I have two green Quakers, three blues, one split to blue (visual green) and one cinnamon blue (also known as a pallid blue). In addition, I have talked to many, many Quaker owners of all color varieties over the years. So here are my general observations of the differences, keeping in mind that this is not a scientific study and that birds are individuals with traits that don’t always follow the “rules.”
Size and Health
The first and most obvious difference is that Blue Quaker Parrots are usually a little smaller than greens. My green Quakers range in weight from 110 grams to 130 grams while my Blue Quakers are more in the 90 gram to 110 gram range. So in my personal experience, Blue Quakers can be 10-25% smaller than greens. Of course, as with anything else mentioned in this article, there are exceptions.
In case you are wondering, I have not noticed that blues are any more prone to health issues than greens are. On the other hand, I think that blues may be less prone to feather plucking than greens. None of my Blue Quakers have ever become feather pluckers, and I don’t often hear of other blues becoming feather pluckers, either.
Sweetness
Again this is in my experience, but I have found Blue Quakers to be a little “sweeter” than the greens. Of course, this is a very difficult thing to measure, and there are definitely many, many sweet green Quakers out there. However, I have to say that I’ve found the blues easier to work with, and they don’t seem to be quite as ”sassy” as the greens. I think that blues are more likely to be the birds that will go to anyone, and therefore may possibly be better suited as a pet that the entire family will enjoy and be able to handle.
Talking Ability
All of my Blue Quakers have learned to talk at least a little, and Kaylee (pallid blue) in particular has picked up quite a few words and phrases. Still, both of my green Quakers far outshine any of my blues when it comes to talking ability. Not only have my greens learned more words and phrases, but they use them more often and seem to be better at using human language in context than my blues. This seems to be an area where green Quakers are superior to the blues… in our little bird family, anyway.
Again, I have to remind you that these are my observations only and that not all blue and green birds will match these observations exactly. Each bird has its own individual personality, and that personality is determined not just by genetics (or color) but by how the bird is raised, first by the breeder and then by the owner. Still, this question comes up often enough that I thought it important to document the few differences that I personally have noticed.
What do you think? Do you have a Blue Quaker Parrot or a green? Do my observations hold true for your bird? Post your comments below and let me know.
Your last paragraph is more along the lines of truth in the quaker species. Size has more to do with genetics, I have not seen our blues mature smaller than greens, as for talking, we have 6 pets of our own, lutino, pallid, pallid blue and green and all of them have their moments to shine for speaking. we have been breeding and raising quakers for almost 25 years and have definitely seen smaller chicks than others, when the parents were remated up, that problem seemed to correct itself. Also, if a pair is older, they will tend to have smaller, weaker chicks(that goes for all colors) and also sometimes a very young pair will do the same. As far as talking ability and friendliness, that depends on how the baby was handled and raised. Color does not determine size or behavior,it is simply a color mutation.
I have one blue and one green- and I’ve babysat for another green. My blue is smaller than my green, but pretty close to my friends’, so I can’t attest for size. While Rocky is right in saying handling and care make the biggest impact on personality, my blue is more affectionate and my green is more talkative, and I have heard the same from many, many people. I highly doubt it’s a hundred-bird coincidence.
I am looking for a bird that is not too noisy. Is a blue quaker loud, soft or sweet sounding? And are females easier to handle than males?
Thanks for yr in-put. June 5, 2010
I am thinking about purchasing a quaker parrot either blue or green. A friend told me they can be mean and too much for me to handle. I now have a sun conure that I love very much, but the quakers have just caught my eye and their ability to talk and their little prankster ways just intrigue me and therefore I may get one. My question is … what is their demeanor? This person told me for the first two years they can be sweet as can be and then after that …. watch out. Any comments?
i have 1 sunconure 2 green quakers 1 blue quaker and out of all my birds i love the blue the best
Well, I ended up with an 11-week-old green quaker. The adjustment for all of us seems to be going smoothly. My sun conure is still happy as well. The quaker is playing with toys and is quite vocal but not loud and loves to ring bells and climb up ladders. I just love him and glad I got him.
I have a blue female quaker and a green male quaker. Both are housed in different rooms as I want them bonded to me and not each other.
The blue was hand fed and I have had her since she was 12 wks old. She is now a bit over a year old. She talks up a storm and is very friendly.
My green is age unknown and I obtained him from a bird rescue. He is very cage agressive and I have had him about six months. He says a few words and a couple of whistles but nothing to brag about. Over all I prefer my blue but then Quincy’s past is unknown. He could have been a good bird had he not been passed around so much.