[GENERAL] [BEHAVIOR/TRAINING] [DIET/HEALTH] [SPECIES-SPECIFIC] [WEBSITES]
Recommended Reading

Now you can help the birdies while you educate yourself! Avian Publications donates a percentage of your purchase to CPC when you start your purchase from our site! Just click on the links (book titles or photos) below, and CPC will receive up to 15% of your total purchase.
 
Publications marked with a CPC's macaw logo: are required reading for fosters and adoptions. Refer to our adoption and foster policies for more information.
GENERAL PARROT INFO, CARE & IDENTIFICATION

General Info & Care


Companion Parrot Handbook
 Sally Blanchard
a great first book for every parrot owner -- short, easy to read, informative sections interlaced with a good dose of humor

The Complete Pet Bird Owner's Handbook
 Gary Gallerstein, DVM
indispensible health, safety and emergency first aid sections
Birds for Dummies
Brian Speer & Gina Spadafori
Parrots for Dummies  
Nikki Moustakki
 
Abundantly Avian
Compiled works of Phoebe Greene Linden from Companion Parrot Quarterly
Available for purchase through Phoebe Linden's website

   
Identification
 
Parrots, A Guide to Parrots of the World
Tony Juniper and Mike Parr
a CPC favorite -- for those interested in parrot identification and geographic origins
Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide
Joseph M. Forshaw and Frank Knight

The Atlas of Parrots
David Alderton and Graeme Stevenson
BEHAVIOR & TRAINING
 
Wild Behavior
 
The Parrots of Luquillo 
Noel Snyder, et al
Available for purchase through World Parrot Trust
Where the Wild Greys Are (DVD)
Word Parrot Trust
PollyVision (DVD)
World Parrot Trust
Available as a thank you gift for your CPC membership!
 
Training & Behavior in Companion Parrots  
 
A professional in animal behavior has created an easy-to-read step-by-step guide that uses positive reinforcement for teaching your parrot acceptable behavior. This book will help you deal with screaming, biting, feather-picking, bonding, and other difficult parrot behaviors. Chapters include Preparing the Companion Parrot Owner, Screaming, Biting, Bonding to One Person, Cage Bound Bird, and Feather Picking. Training is a form of teaching. The companion parrot learns when the trainer positively reinforces (or rewards) each small step the subject takes towards the desired behavior. Using the principles described in training, it becomes easy to teach birds what is the desired response. The beauty of training using positive reinforcement is that it works! In this book the author prepares the trainer in the first chapter. She then describes some typical problem behavior scenarios experienced by companion parrot owners. She then provides an explanation as to why the behavior may be occurring and offers a step-by-step explanation of how to address the problem behavior using training techniques based on positive reinforcement. Barbara Heidenreich has been a professional in the field of animal behavior since 1990. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology she began her career teaching birds to present natural behaviors in zoos. In her fourteen years of working for various zoos, companies, and as an independent consultant, Barbara has been involved in the production of over fifteen different free flight bird presentations. Currently the President Elect of the International Association of Avian Trainers and Educators she is now a private animal training consultant working with zoological parks, nature centers, and the companion parrot community. Barbara hopes everyone can experience that truly rewarding relationship that can happen when animals are trained using positive reinforcement. $15.00 Good Bird!
Barbara Heidenreich


Parrot Behavior & Training Part 1 (DVD)
Barbara Heidenreich


Good Bird Magazine
a magazine dedicated to positive reinforcement training of companion parrots with "how to train this behavior" sections in every issue

available through www.goodbirdinc.com
The Parrot Problem Solver
Barbara Heidenreich

Don’t Shoot the Dog  
Karen Pryor
the operant conditioning "bible" -- a must have for all bird owners

available for purchase through www.clickertraining.com
 
Can a parrot understand complex concepts and mean what it says? Twenty years ago Irene Pepperberg set out to discover whether the results of earlier pigeon studies necessarily meant that other birds-particularly parrots like Alex the Grey-were incapable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. This scientific, technical book represents the long-awaited synthesis of the studies constituting one of the landmark experiments in modern comparative psychology. $50(hardcover) / $21.95(paperback) The Alex Studies
Dr. Irene Pepperberg
Training Your Parrot the Alex Way
Dr. Irene Pepperberg
Clicker Training for Birds 
Melinda Johnson

available for purchase through www.clickertraining.com
 
If you think your parrot can't shoot a basket or bowl a strike, think again! Using the information in this book, you'll be able to train your bird to perform over 30 entertaining tricks, including shooting a basket, bowling, roller-skating, waving, and more. Training your bird is not only entertaining, but it actually helps build a better relationship between the two of you. You'll spend more time together and come to know and trust each other…and you will both have fun! Training your bird reduces boredom and increases mental and physical activity. Author Robin Deutsch, a professional bird trainer, guides you through all the steps to train each trick. Her introductory chapters on bird behavior and basic training concepts lay the groundwork for training your bird to perform complex tricks, and she offers simple directions for building props. $14.95 The Click That Does the Trick
Robin Deutsch
  Your Outta Control Bird 
Nikki Moustakki
 
Unfortunately many parrots lose their homes because their caregivers don't have the information they need to provide effective behavioral guidance. This is the first comprehensive book with practical information about understanding, preventing, and solving aggression and biting behaviors in companion parrots. With her theory of Nurturing Guidance, Sally Blanchard provides parrot caregivers with a logical, common sense, trust-building approach to maintaining a positive relationship with companion parrots. $19.95 The Beak Book 
Sally Blanchard
Parrot Training:
A Guide to Taming and Gentling Your Avian Companion
Bonnie Munro Doane
My Parrot, My Friend
Bonnie Munro Doane
Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior  
Mattie Sue Athan
Why Does My Bird Do That?  
Julie Rach
  The New Parrot Training Handbook 
Jennifer Hubbard
  Why Does My Parrot…?
Rosemary Low
HEALTH & DIET
 
Health & Safety
 
The Complete Pet Bird Owner's Handbook (Revised Edition) by Dr. Gary A. Gallerstein The Complete Pet Bird Owner's Handbook
Gary Gallerstein, DVM
The Parrot in Health and Illness
Bonnie Munroe Doan
An Owner's Guide to First Aid in Birds
Gary Gallerstein, DVM
   
   
SPECIES-SPECIFIC
 
Amazons
Amazon Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Budgies
Budgerigar Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Cockatiels
Cockatiel Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Cockatoos
Cockatoo Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Conures
Conure Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Eclectus
Eclectus Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Greys
African Grey Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
The African Grey Parrot Handbook
Mattie Sue Athan & Dianalee Deter
If you or a friend have an African Grey, are a breeder of African Grey Parrots, are planning on getting one, or would just like to know more about these amazing birds, then this book is a must! The author shares her knowledge and experience with African Greys in the areas of socializing, behavior, nutrition, breeding, and more. $23.95 For the Love of Greys
Bobbie Brinker
Can a parrot understand complex concepts and mean what it says? Twenty years ago Irene Pepperberg set out to discover whether the results of earlier pigeon studies necessarily meant that other birds-particularly parrots like Alex the Grey-were incapable of mastering complex cognitive concepts and the rudiments of referential speech. This scientific, technical book represents the long-awaited synthesis of the studies constituting one of the landmark experiments in modern comparative psychology. $50(hardcover) / $21.95(paperback) The Alex Studies
Dr. Irene Pepperberg
Training Your Parrot the Alex Way
Dr. Irene Pepperberg
Where the Wild Greys Are (DVD)
Word Parrot Trust
Lories
Lory and Lorikeet Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
Lovebirds
Lovebird Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
Macaw Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
 
Pionus
Pionus Parrots: A Complete Guide by Roger Sweeney
 
Senegal Books and Video Tapes from Avian Publications
Guide to the Senegal Parrot
Mattie Sue Athan & Dianalee Deter