8 Best Pet Birds to Own That Are Friendly

Are you considering keeping a bird for a pet? Our article provides a list of the 8 best pet birds that you should consider choosing from.

Let’s get started!

1. Parakeets (AKA Budgies or Budgerigars)

• Weight: 1 ounce.
• Average size: 6 to 8 inches.
• Average lifespan: 10 to 15 years.
• Sociability: They may be friendly and loving when trained and cared for properly.
• Medical concerns: Includes fatty liver disease, viruses, and bacterial infections.
• Talking ability: very talkative Can hear human voices after training and memorizing words and phrases.
• Care Tips: Keep parrots in a cage with enough space to fly between perches. Most of the time, you prefer horizontal space to vertical space.
• Physical Characteristics: Their various hues include neon green, yellow, blue, and violet.

The most common pet bird in the world might be the parakeet. Parakeets are incredibly loving and kind companion birds when trained and maintained properly.

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Due to their tiny size and relative ease of training while young, parakeets are among the most low-maintenance birds preferred as pets that puff out their chests. Males, in particular, are renowned for being excellent pets for new bird owners since they form strong attachments and require little training.

Parakeets are talking birds that may be trained to repeat spoken words as a fun party trick. They are known for their gorgeous and diverse plumage and are highly active, energetic, and eager to please.

Parakeets are singing birds that fill your house with joyful chirping when left to their course. You may keep parakeets as pets alone or in pairs. They are the best pet birds to think about getting a second one once you’ve settled in and taught your first parakeet; they’ll enjoy having a buddy while you’re away!

2. Cockatiel

• Weight: 3 ounces.
• Average size: 10 to 13 inches.
• Average lifespan: 20 to 25 years.
• Sociability: Cockatiels are happy living alone but require interaction from their owner.
• Medical concerns: Includes fatty liver disease, overweight, viruses, germs, or parasites.
• Talking ability: Talkative a lot! Able to mimic sounds, sing, whistle, and produce a variety of other noises
• Care Tips: Cockatiels need a lot of space in their cage to spread their wings since they are capable fliers even with their wings clipped. Additionally, they need a varied diet. Therefore, you should provide your cockatiel vegetables and seeds in addition to bird pellets.
• Physical Characteristics: The bird has mostly gray feathers with yellow and white highlights and orange patches around the ears. While females are almost entirely gray, males have yellow heads.

Are you looking for a small pet bird with a personality? Another great option for inexperienced bird owners is the cockatiel, the best pet bird with a loving disposition and a mohawked rocker appearance.

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Cockatiels are distinguished by their brilliant orange cheek markings and crest. Cockatiels appear in various colors, including gray, white, and yellow, in addition to these characteristics. These affectionate birds, who are also endemic to Australia, move in groups across the interior woodlands in search of seeds and socializing.

Cockatiels are the friendliest pet bird species. Cockatiels are a common pet bird for children who enjoy head scratching, snuggling, and spending time with you. They like being a part of your day and riding about on shoulders. Cockatiels may also learn to whistle; however, males are often better at picking up melodies than females.

3. Canaries

• Weight: 1 ounce.
• Average size: 3 to 4 inches.
• Average lifespan: 10 to 15 years.
• Sociability: Although they are not cuddly birds, they prefer to hang around in the same space as you.
• Medical concerns: Obesity and respiratory conditions. Canaries have extremely delicate respiratory systems that are readily damaged.
• Talking ability: Most of the time, females chirp. But anticipate lots of singing from males.
• Care Tips: Canaries require a large cage with space to climb and play. These little birds require a habitat with several toys, and different perches will be appropriate.
• Physical Characteristics: These adorable birds might be brilliant orange, brown, or yellow. Canaries are pleased to play the fascinating beauty, despite their preference not to be touched. However, watch out since these little pet birds are weak and easily startled.

Canaries are jovial, compassionate performers that demand discreet care.

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They are among the best pet bird species to have as pets, partly because of this. Give canaries lots of stimulation with toys and perches since they are highly curious and will explore anything new in their habitat.

4. Doves

• Weight: 5 to 8 ounces.
• Average size: 10 to 13 inches.
• Average lifespan: 10 to 15 years.
• Sociability: They can survive independently; however, some enjoy petting or having you play with their toys.
• Medical concerns: Parasites, insufficient calcium
• Talking ability: They do not actually “reply,” but like cooing.
• Care Tips: Canaries require a large cage with space to climb and play. A habitat with several toys and different perches will be appropriate.
• Physical Characteristics: Black beak, eyes, and neck collar, with brown and dull gray feathers.

Doves normally do not make excessive demands on their owners’ time or attention; however, they will love spending time with you. Doves are, therefore, the perfect pet bird for people who have hectic schedules or cannot always be home. In addition, doves may make loving, wonderful pets since they are laid-back, peaceful birds that travel in flocks.

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Nevertheless, they are social creatures like most birds and, if left alone, should have plenty of opportunity to fly around and communicate with their human caregivers. Doves are wonderful companions for older kids who comprehend the value of gentle handling. Many experienced bird owners adore doves for their calming coos.

Doves require a large cage to feel comfortable since, unlike parrots, they cannot climb up and down cage bars but must soar from perch to perch.

5. Lovebird

• Weight: 2 ounces.
• Average size: 4 to 6 inches.
• Average lifespan: 15 to 20 years.
• Sociability: Some like being caressed, but some live in couples and can enlist participation in playing with their toys.
• Medical concerns: Calcium deficiency, parasites, and fatty liver disease
• Talking ability: They do not actually “converse” but like cooing.
• Care Tips: Ensure your lovebird has adequate space to play and spread its wings. Smaller birds may survive in smaller cages.
• Physical Characteristics: Mostly green, with an orange head and upper body, a blue lower back and tail, a red beak, and white-eye rings.

The lovebird is the smallest known parrot species and is the exact opposite of its enormous relative, the hyacinth macaw.

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Lovebirds are just as affectionate and personable as their bigger counterparts are. Contrary to popular belief, lovebirds need not be maintained in pairs; a solitary bird is better if you want an animal enthusiastically attached to its human flock.

Having a pair of lovebirds may also provide wonderful company, as owners will not have as much responsibility for meeting their social demands.

Lovebirds are an improvement over other popular pet bird species like doves and parakeets, which are noted for being friendlier.

These quiet birds might not be the greatest choice for homes with young children because they have a reputation for testing boundaries and occasionally attempting to assert authority through biting or violence.

6. African Grey Parrots

• Weight: 15 to 18 ounces.
• Average size: 10 to 13 inches.
• Average lifespan: Over 30 years.
• Sociability: They enjoy spending time with you but easily grow bored, occasionally resulting in hostility.
• Medical concerns: parasites, mites, allergies, and fungus
• Talking ability: Although not every bird can talk, African grey parrots can imitate and reproduce sounds.
• Care Tips: They may become agitated, ill, and self-destructive without the correct treatment. We advise most pet owners to refrain from acquiring an African Grey if they lack the knowledge and dedication to care for one, despite how endearing these pet birds are and how alluring it may be to have such an intelligent feathered friend.
• Physical Characteristics: The body is various degrees of gray, and the tail feathers have a stunning crimson color.

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First-time bird owners should avoid African greys parrots, yet many seasoned bird keepers have fallen in love with these difficult pets. African grey parrots have a reputation for being the world’s most intelligent birds and can pick up a wide variety of words. In addition, some owners of African greys parrots claim that their birds frequently appear to communicate in context and are well aware of their handlers’ emotions.

Because of its extraordinary intellect, the medium-sized parrot requires 5 hours of stimulation daily to prevent boredom or despair. Once one is accustomed to employing positive reinforcement and operant conditioning as training methods, they are simple to teach, but rookie bird owners will need to acquire some new skills.

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However, these pet birds are a more sophisticated kind of companion bird than most others because of the attention they require. A clever and devoted friend may be found in an African grey parrot for those looking to commit seriously to a lifelong friendship.

7. Finch

• Weight: 1 ounce.
• Average size: 4 to 8 inches.
• Average lifespan: 8 to 10 years.
• Sociability: Although they generally do not care for human touch, some can be trained to perch on their parents’ fingers.
• Medical concerns: Infections from mites and respiratory ailments
• Talking ability: Although they do not speak, they are highly loud.
• Care Tips: Finches may become devoted companions with practice and constant care!
• Physical Characteristics: The body has various gray hues with stunning white tail feathers.

Another little, friendly bird that makes a good calm pet is the Finch. The finches’ preference for interacting with other finches over people is one of their greatest qualities. Finches could be a decent option if you want a low-maintenance bird and do not mind keeping more than one in a big cage.

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You can maintain Finch in groups of two or more people. Finches are a lot of fun to see and listen to, even though they cannot learn basic commands like parrots. Society, Gouldian, and zebra finches are the three most prevalent varieties.

8. Hyacinth Macaw

• Weight: 40 to 50 ounces.
• Average size: 36 to 40 inches.
• Average lifespan: 8 to 10 years.
• Sociability: They love attention, so they put the cage near the kitchen or in the living room so they can see what is going on.
• Medical concerns: Yeast infections, mite infections, and respiratory conditions.
• Talking ability: Although they do not talk, they are highly loud.
• Care Tips: Macaws require a big cage filled with toys. We advise you to construct an additional play area for many larger parrots in addition to their cage toys.
• Physical Characteristics: Solid blue feathers, yellow eye and beak patches, a black beak, and dark gray feet.

The biggest parrot in the parrot family is the giant hyacinth macaw. However, not everyone has the space to care for these gentle giants, those who do stand to benefit from a long-lasting bond with these playful birds.

These parrot species in Arizona adore being held by their owners and are only interested in receiving your love.

Although hyacinth macaws are more expensive than other pet birds and need enough room to call home, those who can afford to care for these handsome guys can enjoy a lifelong friendship.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Friendly Pet Bird Species

There are various factors that you should consider before getting yourself a bird for a pet. They include;

a) Appearance

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Pet birds come in various sizes and hues, from finches with a few inches of wing spread to macaws with a four-foot span. The colors of bird feathers range from the typical grey, yellow, red, and green seen in nature to uncommon color combinations produced by selective breeding.

b) Personalities

Birds exhibit a wide range of personality characteristics. If purchased when they are young, parakeets are amiable and reasonably simple to tame. Typically energetic and happy birds, cockatiels.

Conures have distinct personalities that call for their owners to invest more time and effort in meeting their social and behavioral demands. However, weaned young birds are generally simple to train and tame.

c) Companionship

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Birds may be excellent company. They make amusing playmates and partners for various pursuits. Having just one bird increases the likelihood of forming a link with its owner and responding to them.

Some specific birds seem to thrive when kept alone. Other birds, like finches, thrive best when they live in tight-knit communities. For example, parakeets make great pets because they may be maintained single, in pairs, or in small groups in a flight cage.

d) Pet Birds’ Average Lifespans

Remember that a bird’s lifespan varies when considering getting one as a pet. For example, although birds can live up to 18 years, parakeets typically live for six years.

Although cockatiels typically live around 16 years, several have survived for beyond 30 years. However, finches have been known to live up to three times longer than the normal lifespan of four to five years. Even canaries, whose lifespan is typically eight years, have been known to reach 20 years old.

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For bigger birds (parrots, conures, macaws, and cockatoos), recorded life spans range from 20 to more than 100 years! So always remember that when you pick a pet, you promise to provide for it throughout life.

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