Parakeets (AKA Budgies or Budgerigars)
Perhaps the most common kind of pet bird worldwide is the parakeet. When properly trained and cared for, they make incredibly lovable and amiable companion birds.
Since parakeets are among the smallest companion birds and are relatively easy to train when they are young, they are among the lowest-maintenance bird species kept as pets. Particularly males are regarded as excellent birds for novice owners since they form strong bonds with them and are easy to train.
Parakeets, who are noted for their exquisite and varied feathers, are lively, gregarious, and eager to please birds. They can be trained to mimic spoken phrases as a fun party trick.
You can keep parakeets as single pets or in pairs. When left to their own devices, parakeets are singing birds that will fill your home with happy chirping sounds! After you’ve become comfortable and trained your first parakeet, you should think about getting a second one because they’ll enjoy having a playmate while you’re gone!
Species Info
Weight: 1 ounce
Length: 6 to 8 inches
Lifespan: A pet budgie can live for seven to fifteen years if given the right care.
Physical characteristics: Neon green, yellow, blue, violet, and other colors are among them, and it has black bars on its head, wings, and back.
Cockatiels are among the most communitive and emotional birds. Known for having a crest atop their heads, they utilize it to express their emotions to their flock, which includes you in this instance.
A cockatiel’s head crest reveals its emotional condition; a flattened crest denotes fear or anger, while a fully vertical crest suggests excitement or startling your pet. Although some cockatiels are trained to speak, their most famous habit is imitating sounds from their environment, such as phones, alarm clocks, and even birds that are outside.
Male cockatiels are a bit more feisty and prefer to imitate sounds and entertain their owners, whereas female cockatiels are some of the most affectionate bird pets.
Cockatiels are a type of bird that whistles at things they like, so if they whistle for you, it’s a compliment! Perhaps the cutest thing about them is their trademark whistle, so keep an eye out for them!
These intelligent little parrots, who belong to the family Parrotidae, are social butterflies who need a caregiver who can give them the time and care they require to flourish and avoid depression or loneliness. Cockatiels should be kept in pairs so they won’t become lonely when you have to leave the house; however, single cockatiels can be kept as pets, but they will need their owner’s near-constant attention to stay happy. Before adopting a cockatiel, keep in mind that they need a very large cage with plenty of perches to get the proper amount of exercise and feel comfortable in their home. Therefore, make sure you have enough space set aside for a suitable cockatiel habitat.
Species Info
Weight: 3 ounces
Length: 12 to 13 inches (adults)
Physical attributes: Mostly gray feathers with accents of yellow and white and orange spots around the ears Males are yellow-headed while females are almost completely gray.
Lifespan: A pet cockatiel can easily live for 15 to 20 years with the right love and care. These birds have been known to live up to 30 years in rare instances.
Doves usually don’t require their owners to give them a lot of time or attention, even though they’ll enjoy your time together. Because of this, doves are the perfect pet bird for people who lead hectic lives or are unable to stay at home all the time. These are laid-back birds that can make very gentle and affectionate household pets when handled or fed by hand.
However, they are social birds like most others, so if left alone, they should have plenty of opportunities to fly around and engage with their human caregivers. Pet doves are excellent for older kids who can appreciate the value of gentle care. Many dove owners love them for their soothing coos.
Doves, unlike parrots, are unable to climb cage bars; instead, they must fly from perch to perch, which means that in order for the small birds to feel comfortable, they need a large cage.
Species Info
Weight: 5 to 8 ounces
Length: 11 to 13 inches
Physical attributes include black eyes, a beak, brown and dull gray feathers, and a collar around the neck. Alternative colors include orange, white and pied (ring-necked doves).
Lifespan: Depending on the species, a well-maintained pet dove can live for eight to fifteen years.
The canary has long been a beloved pet among avian enthusiasts. More than 200 breeds of canaries have been created, each with a unique appearance and temperament, making them a diverse group of animals.
Compared to other birds on this list, canaries are more timid and dislike being handled, so after bringing one home, you may need to put in a little more effort to help them get over their shyness and form a strong bond. Canaries need a large flight cage to stay happy and healthy, just like doves do.
Although canaries are well known for their singing voices, only the males actually sing. A male canary might be the right pet for you if you want to make friends with a flighty bard who will sing in your house; however, if you want a more subdued friendship, you should consider raising a female canary. Species Info.
Weight: Less than 1 ounce
Length: 4 to 8 inches
Physical attributes: These beautiful birds can be bright orange, brown, yellow, or green. Canaries are great if you’re a beginner and aren’t sure if you want a bird that needs a lot of care because they have bright colors and can carry a tune. Although they would rather not be handled, canaries are content to act as the charming beauty However, take caution—these tiny birds are delicate and easily startled.
Lifespan: If given proper care, canaries can live for nine to ten years, but in exceptional circumstances, they can live up to fifteen years!
The mighty hyacinth macaw is the largest of all parrots. Though not everyone has the room to tend to these gentle giants, those who do can benefit from a long-lasting and close friendship with these incredibly gregarious and adorable birds.
Owner-handled hyacinth macaws are very affectionate and all they want is your love. Their striking cobalt blue feathers stand out, and the yellow surrounding their eyes and beak gives the impression that they are always grinning!
Because hyacinth macaws are known to live for over 30 years when given proper care, they are more expensive than most other types of pet birds and require a space that is significantly larger than average. Nevertheless, those who can afford to care for these handsome boys can have a lifelong companion.
Species Info
Weight: 42 to 51 ounces
Length: 40 inches
Lifespan: Often live 30+ years
Physical attributes include a black beak, solid blue plumage, yellow patches surrounding the eyes and beak, and dark gray feet.
The lovebird is the smallest species of pet bird in the parrot family and is completely different from their enormous cousin, the hyacinth macaw.
But don’t overlook these tiny birds—they possess all the charm and affection of their larger counterparts. The loving, caring relationships that lovebirds have with both their mates and their owners are the reason behind their name. Contrary to popular belief, lovebirds do not need to be kept in pairs; in fact, if you want an animal that is devotedly attached to its human flock, you should only keep one bird. That being said, having a pair of lovebirds can also make for wonderful companionship because there is less of a need for owners to meet their needs on a social level.
Although they are not as easy to care for as larger parrots, lovebirds are still preferable to other popular pet bird species that are thought to be more gentle, such as parakeets and doves. Lovebirds may not be the greatest choice for homes with small children because they have a tendency to push boundaries and occasionally attempt to assert dominance through biting or aggression.
Species Info
Weight: 2 ounces
Length: 5 to 6 inches
Lifespan: Lovebirds that receive proper care can easily outlive 20 years.
Physical attributes: primarily green, with an orange head and upper body, a blue rump and lower back, a red beak, and white eyerings
Although African grey parrots are not a good choice for novice bird keepers, many seasoned hobbyists have developed a strong affection for these demanding friends. African grey parrots are thought to be the world’s smartest birds because of their enormous vocabulary-learning capacity. Some African grey parrot owners claim that their birds are highly attuned to the emotions of their handlers and frequently appear to speak in context.
Due to their extraordinary intelligence, these parrots require approximately five hours of daily stimulation to prevent boredom or depression. Though some learning will be necessary for novice bird owners, they are relatively easy to train once one is familiar with operant conditioning and positive reinforcement. However, because these birds require more care than most others, they are a more sophisticated breed of pet bird. An African grey parrot can be a wise and caring friend for anyone wishing to commit to a lifelong friendship.
Species Info
Weight: 15 to 18 ounces
Length: 13 inches
Lifespan: Often live 30+ years
Physical attributes include the body’s various tones of gray and its eye-catching red tail feathers.
The most well-known quality of Pionus parrots is that they are loving birds that nevertheless retain their independence. This kind of pet bird will tolerate spending a lot of time by themselves to play with toys or exercise, even though they enjoy interacting with their owners.
Despite being medium-sized and needing to spend three hours a day outside their cage for exercise, they require less care than parrots with comparable intelligence and size. When compared to the more demanding macaws, pionus parrots are excellent choices for first parrots.
They make excellent pets for apartment dwellers because they are relaxed and generally quiet birds.
Species Info
Weight: 8 to 9 ounces
Length: 11 inches
Lifespan: Often live 30 + years
Physical attributes include a green body, a blue head and neck, black patches covering the ears, red on the underside of the tail, and a black beak with red sides.
The green-cheeked conure from South America enjoys interacting socially with its caregivers. Often a little mischievous, these clever and fun pranksters form strong bonds with their owners via their endearing dispositions and skillful performance.
This species of conure is typically much quieter as pets than other conure species; speaking is not something they will typically pick up.
A green-cheeked conure might be the ideal pet for you if you’re searching for a very amiable but somewhat reserved companion!
Species Info
Weight: 2 to 3 ounces
Length: 10 to 11 inches
Physical attributes include a maroon tail, blue-tipped wings, a gray head and breast, and a predominantly green body. Other colors include yellow, cinnamon and turquoise.
Lifespan: These amiable birds can live up to 30 years if they receive lots of love and care.
Signs You Should NOT Get a Pet Bird
By Dr. Laurie Hess, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)
Too many people, not knowing what they’re getting into, rush out and buy birds on impulse because they see vibrant, interactive animals and feel compelled to have one. These folks frequently bring a new bird home, and while they enjoy having it at first because it’s such a unique pet, they eventually lose interest in the bird due to the bird’s care requirements. When a bird grows up and receives little care from its owner, it may acquire bad habits like feather picking, screaming, or biting. This makes the owner dislike the bird even more, which feeds the vicious cycle of less interaction.
Many birds that were once a lot of fun are eventually given back to the store or are placed at shelters until their new homes can be found. It’s crucial to conduct research and decide if a bird is the right pet for you in order to prevent this situation. If any of the following situations describe you, it would probably be best to have a different kind of pet. : Chokniti Khongchum / Shutterstock.
You Have Little Time to Spend with a Bird
Most birds, and most definitely all parrots, are very social creatures that require several hours a day outside of their cages to interact with their owners, with the rare exception of very small birds like finches and canaries. Parrots will not be socialized appropriately, may grow bored, and may begin to scream or pick at themselves if they do not receive a great deal of handling and interaction from their human flock members. For that reason, if you don’t have the time to play with a bird on a daily basis, a less demanding pet would be a snake, turtle, or hamster. : Michelle D. Milliman / Shutterstock.
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