Pet birds are a widely diverse bunch – from little canaries and finches, all the way up to turkeys and large parrots, this group offers a variety of choices. Birds tend to be very social, needing either lots of human attention or a flock of other birds to keep them happy, but not all birds are created equal. Beware – most birds are messy and loud! Read more to see if a bird may be the pet for you!
Parrots
Fowl
All Other Caged Birds
Parrots
Parrots are a highly intelligent, social group that require lots of attention from their human companion. Many parrots are vocal animals, and some may even be taught to speak a few words. Their vocalizations can be extremely loud so think about what your neighbors might think of your new pet! Larger than other caged birds, parrots need more space, toys and food – expect to spend a minimum of $400 or more a year, depending on the size of your parrot.
Caiques, Conure, Lovebirds, Senegal, African Grey, Amazon, Cockatoo, Eclectus, Macaw
Fowl
Fowl are larger than most caged birds, and prefer to live in flocks, so they need more space than their smaller cousins. They also thrive outdoors – trying to live in a city apartment with a duck is not recommended especially because ducks need water to be happy! Fowl like to spend their day searching for food and scratching the ground, so a potential owner shouldn’t expect these animals to want to cuddle and watch TV with them.
Quail, Chicken, Duck, Turkey
All Other Caged Birds
This category of birds includes several different types. Budgies are great first birds – they do not require as much space as some of the larger birds, and are affectionate companions. Canaries and finches are great pets for people who want to look at their birds, but not necessarily handle them – although they do still require some interaction with their owners. A hand-tamed cockatiel could make a wonderful pet for someone looking for the companionship and intelligence of a larger parrot, but who doesn’t have the space or resources to support one. Remember, like parrots, these birds can live a long time so be prepared to have this type of pet for at least 10 years.
Canary, Cockatiel, Dove, Finch, Parakeet (Budgie)