Ever found yourself in the vast, blocky world of Minecraft and wondered, “Can I even have a pet bird?” The answer is a resounding yes! While not as common as dogs or cats, training birds in Minecraft is a rewarding experience that adds a unique flair to your gameplay. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from finding these feathered friends to teaching them tricks.
Discovering Your Avian Companions
Before you can train birds in Minecraft, you’ll first need to find them. Parrots are the only breedable and tamable bird species in the game. They can be found in the jungle biome, perching on treetops or soaring through the air. They come in a variety of vibrant colors, including red, green, blue, cyan, and gray.
Finding Parrots in Jungles
Jungle biomes are lush, dense forests characterized by tall trees, abundant vegetation, and unique structures. Parrots spawn naturally in these biomes, typically on the leaves of oak trees. Keep an eye out, as their bright colors can sometimes make them stand out against the green foliage.
Spotting Different Parrot Variants
As mentioned, parrots come in five distinct color variants. Each variant has the same behavior and tamability, so your choice is purely aesthetic. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find your preferred color immediately; explore different parts of the jungle, and you’ll likely encounter all the variations.
Taming Your Parrot: The First Step to Training
Taming a parrot in Minecraft is straightforward but requires patience. Unlike dogs, which you can tame with bones, parrots are enticed by seeds.
The Power of Seeds
To tame a parrot, you’ll need to obtain seeds. These can be gathered by breaking tall grass, which frequently grows in most grassy biomes, including the jungle. Wheat seeds and beetroot seeds will both work.
The Taming Process
Once you have seeds, approach a wild parrot. Right-click on the parrot with seeds in your hand. You might need to repeat this process a few times. If successful, hearts will appear above the parrot’s head, indicating that it has been tamed and is now your loyal companion. A tamed parrot will follow you and even perch on your shoulder!
Training Your Parrot: Beyond Basic Companionship
Now that you have a tamed parrot, the real fun of training can begin. While Minecraft parrots don’t have complex command systems like dogs, they can perform a few actions that make them unique companions.
Perching and Shoulder-Riding
A tamed parrot will automatically try to perch on your shoulder when you are standing. This is a charming visual and doesn’t impede your movement. To remove the parrot from your shoulder, simply jump. This feature makes your parrot a constant, visible companion.
Mimicking Sounds
One of the most fascinating behaviors of tamed parrots is their ability to mimic the sounds of nearby mobs. This includes hostile mobs like zombies, skeletons, and creepers, as well as passive mobs like pigs and sheep. This mimicry can serve as an early warning system for approaching dangers, as you’ll hear the distinct sounds of hostile creatures from a distance.
Breeding Parrots
If you want to expand your flock, you can breed two tamed parrots. Feed each of them seeds, and if they are close enough, hearts will appear above both birds, and they will then breed, resulting in a baby parrot. The baby parrot will be tamed from birth, so you don’t need to tame it separately.
Advanced Parrot Behaviors and Interactions
While their training options are limited compared to some other tamed creatures, parrots have unique interactions that enhance the Minecraft experience.
Parrots as Mob Detectors
As mentioned, their ability to mimic mob sounds is invaluable. If you hear a creeper hiss from a distance, or the clatter of a skeleton’s bones, your parrot will likely mimic it, giving you a crucial heads-up. This makes them excellent early-warning systems, especially when exploring dark caves or dense forests.
Parrots and Music Discs
Interestingly, parrots will dance when the player plays a music disc on a jukebox nearby. This quirky behavior adds a bit of life and entertainment to your base, making your parrots more interactive elements of your Minecraft world.
Parrots in Combat (Indirectly)
While parrots cannot directly attack enemies, their mimicry can sometimes cause confusion. For instance, if a parrot mimics a zombie sound, a nearby zombie might be attracted to the sound, potentially drawing it away from you or towards a different area. This is a subtle but sometimes useful indirect combat advantage.
What You Can’t Do: Setting Expectations
It’s important to manage expectations regarding parrot training in Minecraft. They are not battle pets, nor can they be given complex commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “fetch.” Their primary roles are companionship, sound mimicry, and aesthetic appeal.
No Attack Commands
Unlike wolves, which can be ordered to attack mobs, parrots do not have any offensive capabilities or command structures. They will not defend you in combat.
No Inventory or Storage
Parrots cannot be equipped with armor or used for carrying items. Their function is purely as a companion that follows you or perches on your shoulder.
Bringing Your Feathered Friend Home
Once tamed, you’ll want to ensure your parrot has a safe and comfortable place in your Minecraft world.
Designing a Parrot Habitat
Consider building a dedicated aviary or a cozy corner in your base for your parrots. You can use fences, glass panes, and various blocks to create an aesthetically pleasing environment. If you have multiple parrots, they will interact with each other, making a shared space more dynamic.
Transportation
If you need to move your parrots long distances, remember they will follow you if you are holding seeds. Alternatively, you can lead them into a boat or minecart for faster, more controlled transportation.
Conclusion: The Charm of Trained Parrots in Minecraft
Training birds, specifically parrots, in Minecraft offers a unique and charming dimension to the game. While their training is simpler than that of other companions, their ability to mimic sounds, ride on your shoulder, and dance to music discs makes them delightful additions to any player’s world. So, venture into the jungle, find yourself a colorful parrot, and enjoy the journey of bringing these feathered friends into your Minecraft adventures. They might not be the fiercest of companions, but their presence adds a special kind of magic and personality to your blocky escapades.
