Hawk-headed parrots are popular pets among bird lovers. They are known to be loyal, playful birds, and require diligent care and attention to thrive. To feed a Hawk-headed parrot, start by giving it a good balance of pellets, grains, and seeds. You should also feed the bird fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and dairy. Keep your parrot’s diet interesting by offering a variety of textures and flavors, and keep in mind that you may need to offer a food more than once before your parrot will try it. Once you determine the parrot’s diet, maintain a regular feeding routine so it gets the nutrition it needs.

Method 1 of 4:
Giving the Parrot Pellets, Grains, and Seeds

  1. 1
    Feed the bird whole grain foods. Parrots do well with whole grain foods in their diet, as they provide proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. Feed your bird quinoa, whole wheat pasta, sliced whole wheat toast, and brown rice. Whole grains should make up 40% of your bird’s diet.[1]
    • Give the parrot 1/2 cup (118 grams) grains.
    • Always cook quinoa, pasta, and rice before giving it to your bird. Do not add salt or spices to the whole grain foods.
  2. 2
    Give the parrot high quality pellets. Bird pellets are designed to fulfill your parrot’s nutritional requirements. Look for high quality bird pellets made for parrots at your local pet store or online. Your bird’s diet should consist of 10% pellets.[2]
    • Feed the bird no more than 1/4 cup (59 grams) pellets per day.
    • Do not feed your parrot only pellets, as they do not contain all the nutrients you need.
  3. 3
    Offer the bird a small amount of seeds and nuts. Seed mixes and nuts can be high in fat and salt. Only give the bird seeds or nuts in very small amounts. Use nuts like almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds as treats. Sprinkle a small amount of bird seeds on the pellet food before serving.[3]
    • Give the bird no more than 1 to 2 tablespoons (14.8 to 29.6 ml) (15 to 30 grams) seeds and nuts.
    • Do not feed your parrot only seed mix, as this will not provide the nutrients and vitamins they need.

Method 2 of 4:
Feeding the Parrot Fruits and Vegetables

  1. 1
    Give the bird a variety of vegetables, including leafy greens. Vegetables are great for parrots, as they provide vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables should make up 45% of the bird’s diet. Your parrot’s fruit and vegetable intake should consist of about 25% fruits and 75% vegetables. Offer your bird vegetables like peppers, zucchini, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, okra, and eggplant. Leafy green vegetables like kale, chard, mustard greens, parsley, and arugula are also good for the parrot.[4]
    • Parrots can also eat potatoes, yams, and sweet potatoes.
    • Legumes like lentils, pinto beans, navy beans, and garbanzo beans are good for parrots. Many pet stores offer pre-made bean and legume mixes formulated for parrots.
    • Give the parrot 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (14 grams) vegetables per meal.
    • Chop up all fruits and vegetables into pea-sized pieces before feeding in order to prevent choking.
  2. 2
    Cook vegetables before giving them to your parrot. Always wash vegetables well to remove any pesticides. Then, chop them up into small pieces and cook them so they are slightly soft. Do not add salt or fat to the vegetables.[5]
    • Some vegetables you can offer your parrot raw, such as carrots and peppers, in moderation.
  3. 3
    Offer the bird a variety of fruits. Fruits like apples, bananas, apricots, mangos, oranges, papaya, and pineapple are all good for parrots. Berries like blackberries, blueberries, and cranberries are also good options.[6]
    • Cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, dates, figs, and grapes are also good for parrots.
    • Give the parrot 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (14 grams) fruits per meal.
  4. 4
    Wash and peel fruits before serving. Always wash fruits and remove the rind or skin. If there are pits and seeds in the fruit, remove them. Take out any stems in the fruit as well.[7]
    • Chop the fruit into bite-sized pieces so they are easy for your parrot to chew and eat.
  5. 5
    Do not give the parrot avocados, rhubarb, and fruit pits. These foods are toxic to birds and should be avoided.[8]
    • Birds should also never be given drinks or food that contain caffeine or alcohol.

Method 3 of 4:
Offering the Parrot Meat, Fish, and Dairy

  1. 1
    Offer the parrot a small amount of lean meat. Lean meat and dairy should make up 5% of your parrot’s diet. Offer your parrot chicken and turkey. Red meat like beef and lamb can be given to the parrot in small amounts.[9]
    • Give the parrot 1.5 tablespoon (22.2 ml) (23 grams) meat or dairy per meal.[10]
  2. 2
    Cook all meat before serving. Never give the bird raw meat. Cook the meat so it is well done. You can give the parrot meat on the bone, as some birds like to break open the bone and suck out the bone marrow.[11]
    • Monitor the parrot while it eats meat on the bone. Make sure the parrot does not swallow any broken bone pieces as this is a choking hazard.
  3. 3
    Give the bird tuna and salmon. Fish like tuna and salmon can also be given to the parrot in small amounts. Remove all bones in the fish before serving.[12]
    • If you are giving the bird canned fish, make sure it has no bones and is low in sodium.
  4. 4
    Feed the parrot a small amount of cheese, eggs, and yogurt. Parrots can tolerate a very small amount of dairy. It provides the bird with much needed calcium in its diet. Give the bird cheese, cottage cheese, cooked eggs, and yogurt.
    • Avoid giving the bird cheddar cheese, as it is high in fat. Offer the bird white cheeses like feta, Parmesan, and Swiss instead.

Method 4 of 4:
Maintaining a Feeding Routine

  1. 1
    Feed the bird twice a day. Put a serving of food in the parrot’s food dish before the sun is up, as this is its natural feeding time in the wild. Only provide enough food for half the day so it does not overeat. You should then feed the bird again at around 5-6 pm so it gets enough to eat.[13]
    • You can also use foraging toys and play games with the parrot so it has to forage or find its food. This will help to keep the parrot mentally stimulated at feeding time.
    • If your parrot is picky, try offering the first meal about two hours after your bird wakes up. This will give your parrot time to pick at any leftovers from the previous night and ensure that it gets all the nutrients it needs.
    • Make your parrot’s morning meal the biggest meal. Your parrot should have one big meal in the morning, with small treats offered throughout the day. In the evening, offer a medium-sized meal.
  2. 2
    Offer fresh water throughout the day. Make sure the parrot has access to fresh, clean water in a water dish or a water bottle with a drinking spout. Refill the water as needed and check to make sure the bird has enough fresh water in its dish or bottle.[14]
  3. 3
    Remove any uneaten fruits or vegetables before the morning meal. If your parrot is a picky eater, it may not eat all its food right away. Leave food offered in the evening overnight to give your parrot plenty of time to pick at it and get all the nutrients it needs.[15] If there are still any leftover fruits and vegetables in the dish when it’s time for the morning feeding, toss them out before they go bad. This will prevent bacteria and mold from forming in the bird’s food.
  4. 4
    Give the parrot a variety of different meals. Offer the parrot different fruits and vegetables throughout the week so it gets a variety of foods. Try giving the bird different meats or dairy products. This will keep the parrot interested in its food and ensure it is getting enough nutrients. Offer a choice of healthy foods at each meal. Your parrot will be more likely to eat and get the nutrients it needs if you offer different options to choose from.
  5. 5
    Offer the parrot treats in moderation. Limit the parrot to only one to two treats a day. Give the parrot fruits and vegetables as treats so they get healthy snacks as rewards. Go for treats that are healthy and not full of fat, sugar, or sodium.
    • If you are training the parrot, try to use very small treats as rewards so your parrot does not overeat. Break up larger treats into smaller pieces and give them to the parrot.
  6. 6
    Avoid over-feeding your parrot. Giving your parrot too much food will not only lead to waste, but can also contribute to health problems, like obesity. Limit treats and snacking throughout the day, and avoid giving your parrot lots of high-fat foods. You can also help your parrot burn excess calories by allowing it to get plenty of exercise outside the cage every day.
    • If you you’re not sure how much to feed your parrot, consult your vet. They may be able to give you some guidelines about how much food your parrot should get based on its size, age, and overall health.

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      About this article

      Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN
      Co-authored by:
      Licensed Veterinary Technician
      2 votes - 50%
      Co-authors: 9
      Updated: February 10, 2021
      Views: 276
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 276 times.

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