National Pet Bird Day arrives every September 17, inviting us to celebrate the unique joy and companionship that pet birds bring into our lives. This day, sponsored by the Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition (BEAK), promotes responsible ownership and highlights the special bond between humans and their feathered friends. Discover new ways to enrich your bird’s life, share your favorite avian moments, and learn more about these intelligent creatures.
History of National Pet Bird Day
Keeping birds as pets goes back nearly 4000 years. The ancient Sumerians — speakers of the world’s oldest known written language — ostensibly kept pet birds as they had a word for birdcage, and we know that ancient mariners used pet birds to help them discover land (if the bird spied it they’d fly off, otherwise, they stick with the boat). Pliny the Elder wrote of the ancient Romans keeping birds as pets, and even some of Alexander the Great’s generals brought pet birds back from conquests in India during the fourth century B.C.
Pet parenting became popular among the royal courts of Europe throughout the early part of the last millenia. The famous canary was brought to the royal court in Portugal in the 1340s and they became particularly popular in the late 15th century. As new global trade routes were discovered, birds were brought in from all over the world, including the newly discovered Americas, and graced the homes of some of Europe’s most famous monarchs.
Today, there are nearly 6 million homes in America with pet birds and never has there been a better time to share in the many ways pet birds enrich our lives. Bird ownership has been cited as an excellent form of companionship (49% of Americans), stress relievers (44%), and good for improving one’s health (25%). These numbers illustrate what humans have known for thousands of years, having birds as pets can demonstrably improve your life.
National Pet Bird Day timeline
While we don’t have direct evidence of ancient Sumerians keeping birds as pets, their language did have a word for birdcage.
Voyagers to the Canary islands returned with these little songsters in tow and they quickly became the squawk of the royal courts of Europe.
Pet bird parenting wasn’t only for monarchs. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Calvin Coolidge were all proud parrot parents.
BEAK was formed to promote responsible treatment of pet birds and in 2016 launched a campaign dedicated to “sharing the joys and benefits of birds as pets” and educating the public on responsible care.
National Pet Bird Day FAQs
National Pet Bird Day Activities
Spoil your pet bird just a little
Maybe you want to give them a little extra treats, or a new toy. Perhaps they get a little more time outside of the cage to wander or even just a few extra cuddles. Really, there’s no wrong way to spoil your pet bird, but NPB day is the best day to do it.
Share your love with others
There are many ways to profess how much you love being a pet bird parent. Share pictures or video on social media, talk about your own personal pet bird parenting story, or support your local bird store or rescue.
Consider being a pet bird parent
If you have been considering bringing a pet bird into your home, today is the perfect day to learn a little bit more about the right bird for your lifestyle and maybe even start your journey toward bringing home a feathered friend. What better way to celebrate National Pet Bird Day than to make it the day you decided on opening your home to a pet bird?
Why We Love National Pet Bird Day
It Gives Us Something to Squawk About
Bird parents love to talk about their feathered friends and National Pet Bird Day is the perfect day to do it. But they aren’t just talking to other bird lovers. The holiday is an excellent opportunity to convince someone on the fence to become a pet bird parent.
It promotes responsible pet bird ownership
Like any pet ownership, there are ways to do it responsibly. National Pet Bird Day highlights those best practices to ensure that your pet bird stays healthy and vibrant for a very long time.
It’s a chance to pamper our parakeets
National Pet Bird Day is an opportunity to show our pet birds a little more love than we normally do, like we needed a reason. They bring us so much joy, fun, and companionship throughout the year, it is nice to have a dedicated day to celebrate everything they do for us.
National Pet Bird Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | September 17 | Thursday |
| 2027 | September 17 | Friday |
| 2028 | September 17 | Sunday |
| 2029 | September 17 | Monday |
| 2030 | September 17 | Tuesday |
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