Parker Aviary

Parker Aviary at the San Diego Zoo is a walk-through free-flight aviary where exotic birds from multiple continents live in a large enclosed space without glass barriers between them and visitors.

The format is what makes this experience distinctive. You enter through a weighted curtain door designed to prevent escapes, and then you're walking through the birds' habitat rather than observing it from outside. Toucans, hornbills, and other tropical species perch on branches and structures throughout the aviary — some at eye level, some above.

Birds occasionally fly close to the pathway in ways that produce genuine surprise and delight, particularly for children who've only seen exotic birds behind glass.

The trick to getting the most out of Parker Aviary is pace — moving slowly and staying quiet produces far more bird interaction than rushing through. Birds that are undisturbed by visitor movement will approach perching positions close to the pathway; birds that feel threatened will retreat to the aviary's highest levels. This is a good opportunity to teach young children about quiet, respectful wildlife observation.

The aviary is included in standard San Diego Zoo admission with no upcharge. It's located in a section of the zoo that tends to be quieter than the major mammal exhibits — which makes it a useful pacing break during a full zoo day. Morning visits, when birds are most active, produce the best experience.

For very young children — toddlers who love birds from children's books — seeing the real thing at close range is often a highlight of the zoo visit that parents don't anticipate as a major moment.