Captive-bred birds were hatched from parents in human care; wild-caught birds were trapped from the wild — illegal to sell for most species, and behaviourally and ethically a poor choice.
Captive-bred (often abbreviated CB) is the only legitimate origin for a pet parrot in the UAE. The parents may be wild-origin (an older bird brought into captivity decades ago) but the bird being sold was hatched in a controlled breeding setup.
Wild-caught (WC) birds were trapped from their native range, typically in South America, Africa, or Southeast Asia. The trade is illegal for most CITES-listed species, the mortality rate from capture and transport is very high, and surviving birds are typically traumatised, parasite-loaded, and very difficult to socialise.
Asking the seller "is this bird captive-bred or wild-caught?" is the single highest-leverage question you can ask before any UAE bird purchase. The honest answer should be CB, with a leg band and paperwork to back it.
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