Owning a pet bird is a longterm commitment. Larger parrots can live for 20–50 years, and they form strong bonds with their owners, making it hard for them to adjust if they need to change homes. Smaller birds, like budgies and canaries, can live about 5–15 years.
Birds can be noisy, and people who live in apartments should probably choose quieter species. Before bringing a bird home, research how loud it is. Also think about how often you can clean its cage, because birds can be messy.
Birds can’t sweat, so they need a comfortable cage to live in, away from direct heat and extreme cold. Kitchens can be dangerous because of smoke and fumes. Always check the environment where your bird will live to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for the bird's size.
Birds and people might seem very different, but they share some similarities. For example, birds have all the same senses that people have: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. And birds use their beaks for many functions that people would typically use their hands for, like eating and grooming.
How Big Are Pet Birds?
Pet birds come in various sizes, from tiny finches that are only about 4 inches long to large parrots with wingspans of up to 40 inches. Their colors range from dull grays and browns to bright reds, yellows, greens, and blues. Most birds don't weigh much, which helps them fly. Even the largest parrots usually weigh less than 3 pounds.
How Do Birds' Bodies Work?
Birds have a faster metabolism than people. Their body temperatures range normally from 101°F to 107°F, depending on the species. Some active birds, like hummingbirds, can eat as much as their body weight in food each day. Birds also have special digestive systems that help them break down food efficiently to generate the energy they need while keeping their weight down.
Birds' heart rates are also often much higher than people's. For example, a small songbird's heart can beat 500 times per minute, while a hummingbird's can reach 1,000 beats per minute. Birds' heart rates go up with stress or exercise. Unlike people, birds have lungs that don’t expand and contract. Instead, they have little pockets of air called air sacs under their skin and inside their bones that help move fresh air through their bodies and help keep their weight down.
Birds don’t sweat, so they cool down differently from people. They might spread their wings to let air flow over their bodies and release heat or take baths to cool off. A bird that's panting might be too hot, so you should check on it. If the bird's feet and beak feel hot and it's panting, it's an emergency, and you should contact a veterinarian.
In cooler weather, birds fluff up their feathers to trap warm air close to their bodies, keeping them insulated. If they are puffed up for long periods or sitting low over their feet, they could be cold or sick and should be checked on.
Do Birds Sense Things Like People Do?
Just like people, birds have strong senses. They rely heavily on sight, which is important for flying, finding food, and avoiding danger. Compared with people, birds have larger eyes relative to their head size. Their eyesight is so sharp that they can see many colors, and even ultraviolet light, that people can't see.
Birds also have good hearing. Their ears look like small holes—one on each side of their head, behind each eye, covered by small feathers. Although their hearing range might be narrower than people's, birds can sense small changes in sounds very well. This ability helps them communicate, find mates, and avoid dangers.
Though it was once thought that birds had a weak sense of smell, they actually use smell to find food and get around. They can even find their favorite foods with their noses!
How Do Birds Eat?
Birds don’t have teeth. Instead, they use their beaks to break food apart. They have a two-part stomach to help digest food. One part uses acids to break down food, like the human stomach does, and the other part grinds up the food. Some birds, like pigeons and doves, swallow seeds whole without chewing off the outer seed hull and need to be offered small stones, called "grit," to help them grind up these whole seeds in their stomachs.
How Do Birds Use Their Beaks and Feet?
Birds’ beaks have changed over time to help them eat different foods. Hummingbirds have long beaks for sipping nectar. Parrots, which are also called "hookbills," have strong, curved beaks to break seeds and nuts. Canaries have smaller, shorter beaks to eat tiny seeds.
Birds’ feet also have adapted to their lifestyles. Ducks have webbed feet for swimming, while eagles have sharp talons for catching prey. Parrots can even use their feet like hands to hold and manipulate objects.
How Do Birds Fly?
Birds have wings that help them fly. The shape of each bird's wings fits its way of life. For example, some birds have long, narrow wings for soaring, while others have shorter, pointy wings for fast flight. Many wild birds fly a lot, at speeds from 15 to 50 miles per hour, but most pet birds don't fly much at all, because they tend to spend more time in cages. As long as they are watched carefully so that they don't get into trouble, pet birds should be allowed out of their cages every day to exercise.
Why Do Birds Have Feathers?
Birds have numerous feathers that help them fly, keep warm, and stay dry. They have to take care of their feathers by preening, which involves cleaning and arranging them. Birds also have a special gland in their skin for preening that produces oil to help waterproof their feathers.
Losing old feathers and growing new ones is called molting. Most birds replace their feathers gradually throughout the year to stay protected and warm.
