The initial gut reaction of most people is to choose the least expensive of the two. But in parrots, as in everything, you get what you pay for. A few extra dollars spent up front may make the difference between a parrot friend that becomes a bonded member of the family versus a nuisance animal that must be passed on to someone else at a great loss, both financially and emotionally.
Age is one of the greatest determinants of an individual parrot's value.
As a general rule, the younger the bird, the higher the price. The reason for this is simple. The interaction and socialization necessary for a youngster to become an integral part of a family must begin by this time, or the potential pet quality of the bird diminishes. Even at the tender age of one year, a parrot that has not been handled routinely becomes very difficult to tame, especially for a novice bird owner. By far the most important factor to consider is how the parrot baby was reared or raised.