How to Adopt a Pet Bird in Australia | PetzLover

Pet for Adoption6 min read

A rescue volunteer showing an African grey parrot to a family

To adopt a pet bird in Australia, apply to a bird rescue, an RSPCA shelter or an owner listing a bird for adoption, and expect an application, questions about your cage or aviary and often a home check before you pay an adoption fee. Check that your state lets you keep the species, and plan for a bird that may live for decades.

Rescues take in budgies, cockatiels and larger parrots whose owners could no longer keep them. Adopting an adult bird means its personality, noise and habits are already known, which makes it easier to choose one that fits your home.

Key points

RSPCA NSW lists birds among the animals it rehomes, and many bird rescues list their birds on PetRescue.
Adoption fees on rescue listings range from about A$100 to A$2,000, depending on the bird and the vet care it has had.
Some rescues ask for proof of suitable housing and for health clearances, such as chlamydia tests.
Native birds follow state licence rules whether you buy or adopt them.
Keep a newly adopted bird apart from your other birds for at least a week and book a vet check.

Why adopt a bird instead of buying one?

Many parrots outlive their first home. Cockatoos, galahs among them, typically live 25 to 50 years, and the Merck Veterinary Manual describes them as very loud, demanding and likely to chew, and not for inexperienced owners. One Australian rescue lists noise, biting in young adults and feather plucking among the common reasons ringnecks are given up.

An adopted adult bird comes with a known history. A good rescue can tell you whether a bird talks, screams at dusk, accepts handling or prefers one person, and it will often have had a vet check and disease tests already. If you would rather start with a young bird, see how to buy a pet bird.

Where can you adopt a pet bird in Australia?

Ways to adopt a pet bird
Option	What it is	What to expect
Bird rescue or sanctuary	Volunteer groups that foster parrots and smaller birds	Detailed application, home check, adoption agreement; often a no-breeding, no-selling clause
RSPCA and other shelters	RSPCA NSW, for example, lists birds among the animals it rehomes	A set process and fee; ask which health checks have been done
PetRescue listings	A national website where rescue groups list animals	Each group sets its own fee and steps
Owner adoption listing	An owner looking for a screened home	Full history and direct contact; you do your own checks

You can also browse pet birds for adoption from rescues and owners near you, and save a search to hear when a new bird is listed. If nothing suitable comes up, post a pet bird wanted ad describing the bird and home you can offer.

Can you legally adopt the bird you want?

Adoption follows the same wildlife law as buying. In New South Wales, 41 native bird species bred in captivity need no licence, including budgies, cockatiels and galahs; other native birds need a keeper licence, such as a Companion Animal Keeper Licence for a single bird. In Victoria, species without a licence requirement are listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024, and you may receive a licensed bird only from a licence holder or exempt person. In Western Australia, rainbow lorikeets may be kept south of the Kimberley only under a permit.

Ask the rescue or owner whether the bird needs a licence in your state before you apply. Injured or orphaned wild birds are cared for by wildlife carers for release, not adopted out as pets.

What is the bird adoption process?

Research the species: lifespan, noise, diet and how much time it needs each day.
Check your state's licence rules, and your lease or strata rules if you rent or live in a unit.
Set up the cage or aviary and take photos.
Submit the application, with references if asked.
Meet the bird, ideally more than once, and ask about its history and habits.
Complete the home check, sign the adoption agreement and pay the fee.
Collect the bird in a secure carrier, with its records and diet.

Some rescues offer a trial or foster period before the adoption is final, so you and the bird can adjust. Ask about it at the start, and message adoption listings with your questions before you apply.

How much does it cost to adopt a pet bird?

Each rescue sets its own fee. Rescue listings on PetRescue have ranged from about A$100 for a parrot that came with its cage to A$2,000 for a large parrot adopted by application only. One rescue explains that its ringneck fee is higher than its budgie fee because ringnecks have had more vet testing and a microchip, and every fee helps cover the care a bird received while it waited.

Ask what the fee includes and ask for copies of every record, including any beak and feather disease or chlamydia test. Then budget for the ongoing costs: a large enough cage or aviary, toys and perches to chew, food and yearly vet checks.

What does a bird adoption home check look at?

The cage or aviary: size, bar spacing, perches and where it will stand, away from draughts and the kitchen.
Wild birds: whether an outdoor aviary is covered, so wild birds and their droppings stay out.
Other pets: cats, dogs and other birds, and how you will keep them apart.
Your time: how long the bird will be alone, and who cares for it when you are away.
Noise: whether close neighbours will be a problem for a loud species.

Treat the visit as advice, not a test. Rescuers have seen what goes wrong and will often suggest simple fixes.

How do you help an adopted bird settle in?

An adopted cockatoo in a large cage with perches and toys in its new home

Keep it apart from your other birds; the Victorian Government recommends quarantining newly acquired birds for at least 7 days.
Book a check with a vet who treats birds, even if the rescue has done one.
Feed the diet the rescue used, and change it slowly.
Give it a quiet room and a steady routine; many birds bite or call more while they adjust.
Wash your hands after handling it. NSW Health says birds can carry psittacosis without looking sick.
Keep wild birds away from your bird, its food and its water. H5 bird flu reached Australia's wild birds in 2026; report sick or dead birds to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Stay in touch with the rescue; most are glad to help with early problems. If you ever need to rehome a bird yourself, read how to list a pet bird for adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to adopt a pet bird in Australia?

Fees are set by each rescue and vary with the bird and the care it has had. Rescue listings have ranged from about A$100 to A$2,000, with large parrots at the top. Ask what the fee covers, such as tests or a microchip.

Can a first-time owner adopt a cockatoo?

Some rescue listings for large parrots ask for previous experience, and the Merck Veterinary Manual says cockatoos are not for inexperienced owners. They typically live 25 to 50 years and are very loud, so a budgie or cockatiel is an easier first bird to adopt.

Do adopted birds need a vet check?

Yes. Book a check with a vet who treats birds soon after adoption, and keep the bird apart from your other birds until then. Birds can carry psittacosis or beak and feather disease without looking sick.

Do I need a licence to adopt a native bird?

It depends on the species and your state. In NSW, captive-bred budgies, cockatiels and galahs are among the 41 native birds that need no licence, while other native birds need a keeper licence. Check with your state wildlife agency before you apply.

Will a rescue send a bird to me interstate?

Some rescues adopt interstate if you arrange and pay for the transport, but many prefer you to meet the bird and collect it. Check that the species is legal in your state first.

What if the adopted bird does not work out?

Contact the rescue first. Most adoption agreements say the bird returns to the rescue, and some offer a trial period. Never release a pet bird; dumped birds can spread disease and may starve or be killed.