How Do I Choose a Pet Bird?
If you want to get a pet bird, it's important to learn about different kinds of birds and how they behave. You should also understand what different birds need for a home and what food they should eat. To find out more, you can talk to bird doctors (avian veterinarians), join local bird clubs, read books, or visit trustworthy websites. Also see Introduction to Birds.
Different birds have different personalities. For example, canaries and finches like to be on their own and don’t enjoy being held. They are happy just singing in their cages. But larger parrots, like cockatoos and African gray parrots, want a lot of attention and need to interact with people every day. Think about how much time you can spend with a bird, and choose one that fits your lifestyle.
Also consider how much the bird will cost, how much time and effort it will take to keep it healthy (like vet visits), how big it is (which affects the size of its cage), and how loud it can be. Some birds are very noisy, which could be a problem if you have nearby neighbors.
Popular Pet Birds
Popular Name | Location in the Wild | Types | Average Lifespan | Considerations for Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
African gray parrots | Africa | Gray feathers and red tail. | 30–50 years | Medium-size to large. The most intelligent of the parrots, so they often have behavior problems. Require a lot of time and attention. Do not scream, but do growl. Excellent mimics that potentially know the most words, but do not like to talk in front of strangers. |
Amazon parrots | Mexico, Central and South America | Most are green with various bright colors on the head. | 40–50 years | Medium-size to large. Most are great talkers and singers, and they're loud. Can be moody and often bond closely to one person. |
Brotogeris parakeets | South America, plus wild colonies in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles | Bee Bee, gray-cheeked, orange-winged, and other color varieties. | 15–20 years | Small and lively. Sometimes called “dwarf” parrots. Only some talk. |
Budgerigars (budgies) | Australia | Usually green in the wild. Many colors available. | 5–10 years | Suitable for apartment living because they're not usually loud. Can learn to talk. |
Caiques | South America | Black-headed and white-bellied (yellow-thighed). | 20–30 years | Active birds that actually hop. Personalities vary. Some talk a little. Most males whistle well. |
Canaries | Canary Islands, Madeira | Three main groups: colorbred (bred for their colors, including yellow), type (bred for their shape and feathering), and song (bred for their song patterns). | Up to 15 years | Males often have a lovely song, which is how they are distinguished from females. Territorial, so they prefer to be housed alone or in mated pairs. Suitable for most apartments. |
Cockatiels | Australia, South Pacific islands | Most are varied combinations of pale yellow, gray, and white. | Up to 20 years | Rarer color mutations might be more fragile. Often have lively personalities. Vocal, but relatively quiet, compared with macaws or cockatoos. |
Cockatoos | Australia, South Pacific islands | Most are mainly white. The rose-breasted is gray and pink. Several rare species are available. | 25–50 years | Some talk, and their speaking voices are quiet. Enjoy and might demand a lot of handling, cuddling, and attention, which can add to hormonal behavior problems. Very loud when they scream. Not for inexperienced owners. Very likely to chew wood, plastic, and other materials. |
Small conures (Pyrrhura species) | Mexico, Central and South America | Peach-fronted, maroon-bellied, and green-cheeked. | Up to 25 years | Small. Often described as charming. Relatively quiet. Most are smaller than cockatiels. |
Larger conures (Aratinga species) | South America | Sun, jenday, nanday, and gold-capped. | Up to 30 years | Active, beautifully colored, small to medium-size. Personalities vary. Voice is piercing when they scream. Not known for their talking ability. |
Doves | United States, Mexico, Europe | Relatives of the common pigeon. Many species available. | Up to 20 years | Considered beautiful and elegant. Less demonstrative than parrots, and quiet except for their cooing. |
Eclectus parrots | Indonesia, Pacific islands | Males are emerald green with patches of reds and yellows. Females are shades of deep red, often with a blue bib. | 20–50 years | Talking ability varies. Not as prone to screaming as cockatoos and macaws. |
Finches (Fringillidae family) | Mainly Africa | Many colors available. | 5–10 years | Usually kept in groups. Do not generally interact with humans. Not loud, but peep frequently. |
Grass parakeets | Australia | Bourke's, turquoisine, and scarlet-chested. Many species and colors available. | 8–13 years | Small, quiet, and usually not aggressive. Tend to be nervous. Generally do not talk. |
Lories and lorikeets | Australia, Pacific islands | Many species, including Moluccan (red), multicolor, red-and-blue, and others. | 15 years | Intelligent, curious, and fairly nervous. Striking coloration. Require special liquid diet, which is messy. |
Lovebirds | Africa | Four or five species commonly available. Peach-faced, black-masked, blue-masked, and Fischer’s are popular. | Up to 20 years | Sweet voices, not usually loud. Can be moody during breeding season. |
Macaws | Central and South America | Blue-and-gold (blue-and-yellow), scarlet, green-winged, military, and hyacinth are available. | 30–60 years | Largest of the parrots. Can talk, but usually know fewer words than Amazon or African gray parrots. Screaming voice is very loud, with potential to irritate neighbors. Require a lot of exercise and a lot of time and attention. |
Mynas (mynahs) | Southeast Asia, Indonesia | Feathers are usually dark, but some species have yellow head feathers. The Bali myna is light in color. | 12 or more years | Excellent talkers. Not typically very affectionate. Very messy droppings. |
Parrotlets | Mexico, Central and South America | Green-and-blue. Common species include Mexican and Pacific (celestial). | Up to 20 years | Small. Also known as “pocket parrots.” Relatively easy to tame when young. Quiet, compared with other parrots. |
Pigeons | Europe, North Africa, western Asia | Relatives of the common pigeon that live in cities. | Up to 20 years | Relatively quiet. Often kept in colonies. Some are raised and trained for racing. |
Pionus parrots | South America | Blue-headed, Maximilian, white-capped, dusky, and bronze-winged. | 25–30 years | Medium-size. Quieter than Amazon parrots, which are close relatives. Known for their gentle disposition. |
Poicephalus parrots | Africa | Most common is Senegal. Others include Meyer’s, Jardine’s, and red‑bellied. | 2–25 years | Small to medium-size. Engaging birds with distinctive colors. Quiet, compared with other parrots. Very playful when young. |
Psittacula parakeets | India, Southeast Asia, Africa | Indian ring-necked (rose ringed-necked), moustached, plum-headed, Derbyan, and Alexandrine. | Up to 20 years | Medium-size. Very colorful. Can be very affectionate if given enough attention and care. Many are good, quiet talkers. Their screaming voice is piercing, but they tend not to scream as much as many other parrots do. |
Quaker (monk) parakeets | South America, plus many other locations, including Florida, New York, and several other US states | Usually green with gray face and chest. Blue, dark green, and other color mutations are available. | 20–30 years | Illegal to own in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Considered pests by farmers in many countries. Hand-reared birds can be very affectionate and fairly good talkers. Sometimes loud. Known for chewing. |
Rosellas (Platycercus parrots) | Australia | Brilliantly colored. Crimson, eastern, and western are the most common. | 10–15 years | Tend to be nervous. Must be handled constantly to remain tame. |
Toucans and toucanets | Central and South America | Toucanets are smaller versions of toucans. | 10–25 years | Must be acquired young to make good pets. Require soft food and can be extremely messy. Toucanets tend to be more nervous than toucans. |
Where Can I Get a Pet Bird?
Once you know what kind of bird you want, you need to find a good place to get it. You can buy birds from reliable breeders or pet stores that specialize in birds. You can also adopt birds from shelters or rescue groups that know how to care for birds.
Make sure the bird was raised in captivity and not taken from the wild. Since 1992, it has been illegal to capture wild birds and keep them as pets in the United States. Wild birds can be sick and not as tame as birds raised in captivity. Be careful about buying birds from anyone who quotes a very low price, and always ask for proof of where the bird came from.
How Can I Tell If a Bird Is Healthy?
Before you take a bird home, check to make sure it's healthy (see Disorders and Diseases of Birds). Look at how the bird has been kept. Birds should be in clean environments and have roomy cages with fresh food and clean water. Healthy birds are bright and alert, with clear eyes. They should be active and not huddled together or puffing up their feathers, which can mean they're sick. Check for any injuries or missing feathers, and look for any strange substances oozing from their eyes, beak, or tail.
It’s a good idea to have a bird checked by a veterinarian who knows about birds before you bring it home. The person selling the bird should agree to take it back and return your money if the bird isn’t healthy. Be sure to get written proof of the bird's health before you buy it.
