Of all the tameable mobs in Minecraft, parrots stand out as genuinely useful companions rather than decorative pets. They ride on your shoulder, warn you about nearby hostile mobs by mimicking their sounds, and dance whenever a Jukebox plays. The taming process is straightforward once you know what seeds to bring and where to look. Here's everything you need.
Where do parrots spawn in Minecraft?
Parrots only appear in jungle biomes. You can find them in the regular jungle, the bamboo jungle, and the sparse jungle. They tend to perch on trees or wander along the ground, so scan branches and clearings as you explore. If you're struggling to locate a jungle, searching for a seed specifically designed around jungle spawns will save a lot of time.
What seeds do you need to tame a parrot?
Parrots accept six different seed types, so you're not locked into a single option. Any of the following will work:
- Wheat Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Melon Seeds
- Beetroot Seeds
- Torchflower Seeds
- Pitcher Pods
Wheat seeds are the easiest to farm in bulk early in a playthrough, making them the default choice for most players. The tame chance is identical across all six types at 10% per feeding, so quantity matters more than variety.
Red hearts confirm a tamed parrot
How to tame a parrot
Once you've gathered your seeds and located a parrot in the jungle, the process is simple but requires a bit of patience:
- Spot the parrot resting on a tree or the ground nearby.
- Hold your chosen seeds in your hand and approach slowly. Moving too fast can spook the bird into flying away.
- Right-click the parrot (or use your platform's interact button) while aiming directly at it with the seed equipped.
- Repeat the feeding process. Red hearts will appear above the parrot's head once it's successfully tamed.
Expect to use anywhere from 1 to around 10 seeds per parrot given the 10% probability per attempt. The variance is wide, so don't get discouraged after the first few misses.
How do you get a parrot on your shoulder?
Once tamed, getting the parrot onto your shoulder requires no special command. Simply walk directly into the parrot while it's standing on the ground (not sitting) and it will hop up automatically. The parrot then faces the same direction you look, which makes for one of the more satisfying companion moments in the game.
The parrot will leave your shoulder under any of the following conditions:
For most overworld travel, the parrot stays put. Plan around the triggers above before heading into the Nether or any situation where you'll take hits.
What can a tamed parrot actually do?
Mob sound mimicry
The most practically useful parrot ability is sound mimicry. A parrot within range of a hostile mob will imitate that mob's sound, effectively acting as an early warning system. The list of mobs parrots can mimic includes Creepers, Zombies, Skeletons, Endermen, the Warden, Blazes, Ghasts, Pillagers, and Piglins, among others. Hearing a sudden Creeper hiss from your shoulder when the area looks clear is a strong signal to stop and look around.
Dancing
Place a Jukebox within range of your parrot and insert any music disc. The parrot will start bobbing its head and moving rhythmically for as long as the music plays. This works whether the parrot is perched on a nearby block or sitting on your shoulder. It's a purely cosmetic behavior, but it's one of the more charming details in the game.
Can parrots breed?
No. Unlike wolves, cats, and most other tameable mobs, parrots have no breeding mechanic. Each parrot in your collection has to be found and tamed separately in a jungle biome.
Parrots dance to any music disc
Parrots are one of the more rewarding companions to track down given their mob-warning utility. For more on what Minecraft has to offer beyond taming, check out our full Minecraft strategy guides covering everything from rare items to crafting mechanics. If you're after specific collectibles, the guide on how to get the Moonlight Trail Cape is worth reading, and the Shelf Mushroom guide covers another easy-to-miss item worth grabbing during your jungle runs. For a broader look at what makes the game tick after all these years, our Minecraft review breaks it down.