Which birds make good pets

They can live for up to 15 years if cared for well. Unfortunately, accident and illness are common. Due to their small size, budgies only need a small cage.

However, they still need room to fly around and be let out regularly for exercise. Budgies are social birds and are generally happier if they are kept with another budgie. The cockatiel is a medium-sized, Australian parrot. It is a popular pet choice due to its friendly yet outgoing personality. They love to socialise with humans, play with toys and forage for food at the bottom of their cage.

They can regularly be heard chirping and whistling. Whilst they can learn to talk with lots of training, they are more likely to copy random sounds they hear. Cockatiels can live up to 20 years.

Click here for more information. There are various species of cockatoo including sulphur-crested, umbrella, moluccan and rose-breasted galah cockatoos. They can range from medium to large sizes.

Cockatoos require a lot of socialisation and attention to be happy. They will bond strongly to their human and can be very affectionate. Before getting a cockatoo, consider if you have enough free time to give your pet the interaction it needs. Cockatoos can be very noisy and can learn to talk very well.

They love to chew — provide them with plenty of toys or they might destroy your belongings. They can be very messy with their food. Cockatoos can live years if cared for properly. Larger variations will live longer than smaller ones. They require a sturdy, high quality cage to withstand their strong beak. A cage with horizontal bars is best so that they can climb. There are many variations of conure including the sun, jenday, golden, green-cheeked, cherry-headed, black-capped and white-eyed conure.

They are all small to medium sized parrots with bright, colourful feathers. They are friendly and playful with a big personality. Conures are best for people that have owned pet birds before as they can be very active and loud. They require a lot of exercise and the ability to fly around throughout the day.

Conures are considered to be a wild, non-domesticated bird even if bred in captivity. They can learn to speak a few words if trained well. However, they are more likely to mimic random noises they hear around them. Suggested Bird Cage: The Somerzby Buddy bird cage is well suited to a smaller sized conure, which can be seen here. Doves and pigeons are the same thing, although some people in different areas will use the terms separately to describe birds of different size, colour, etc.

Doves are very gentle. They make soft cooing noises almost constantly. Whilst they can be timid around people, socialising them can assist with this. Doves typically live for 10 years, however some have lived as long as 25 years.

Doves require a large and wide aviary so that they can fly around. They spend time on the ground foraging so it must be a cage without a wire base. Doves are a great choice of bird for beginners for these reasons and will happily perch on your shoulder as parrots do.

When raised properly, they are highly affectionate birds that enjoy human interaction, including petting and cuddling. The most popular pet doves are ringnecks, which have an average lifespan of years.

The tiny Finch has become a popular pet bird species due to its quiet nature and hands-off maintenance. There are hundreds of different subspecies of Finches, the most popular pet varieties being the Zebra Finch, Owl Finch, and Society Finch. They are unlikely to be trained to perch on your shoulder, although some can be trained to with patience. Finches typically live for up to 10 years. One of the smaller species of parrot commonly kept as pets, Lovebirds get their name from the loving bond that they form with their mates.

There are 9 different subspecies of lovebirds, each with their own unique characteristics and coloring, but they are all active and loving parrots. Lovebirds are best kept in pairs, and there is a common myth that they will die of depression if kept alone. While this has been proved largely untrue, these birds should be given ample opportunity to live up to their name! The Macaw is one of the most famous of all parrots and for good reason. They are incredibly beautiful, brightly colored birds with large beaks and long tails.

While there are a few small subspecies, Macaws are typically large and extremely vocal birds that require a ton of attention and living space and are a massive responsibility. Macaws are playful and active birds that make popular pets. These birds can easily live for 50 years or more in captivity, so they will likely be a lifelong commitment.

Parrotlets are the smallest species of the parrot family that like their larger cousins, form strong bonds with their owners and are popular pets. Although they are small, Parrotlets can live for years if properly cared for and have big personalities. They have a small stature and are typically yellow-greenish in color with some yellow underparts. Most live up to 10 years with proper care. However, canaries are not really social birds and are often happy to live alone.

Many are timid and do not like being handled but do make the perfect pet for someone who enjoys watching birds but not touching. The hyacinth macaw are stunning birds with their cobalt-blue coloring and bright yellow accents. These birds often come with a hefty price tag and few people get the pleasure of owning one as a pet.

Unlike their more common counterparts, hyacinth macaws require a specific diet that is very high in fat. They can be destructive and require a lot of free time daily to play with their humans.

While they can be safely introduced with other birds, most hyacinth macaws do fine on their own as long as they have their human companion.

Without attention, these spunky birds are known to get cranky and may even scream out loud. When grown, an adult hyacinth macaw can extend 40 inches from head to tail and can have a wingspan of four feet, meaning they need plenty of room.

They have an average lifespan of over 60 years. However, they do provide their owners with enjoyment in the form of social interactions with other featured friends. There are many types of finches available, such as the zebra finch, owl finch, Gouldian finch, and society finch.

These birds require spacious housing as they spend most of their time in their enclosure. Finches usually live up to 10 years. The African grey parrot is known for its ability to mimic sounds. These traits are even more important for people with limited pet bird experience.

It's easier to bond with and care for an animal that has a naturally friendly disposition, rather than one that tends to be timid or aggressive. Here are eight of the friendliest pet bird species that typically make excellent companions.

Although all pet birds should be treated as individuals, it is possible to minimize the risk of biting and aggression by choosing a species known for having a gentle and sociable demeanor. Enjoying popularity around the world, budgies also known as parakeets are some of the best pet birds for good reason.

When properly tamed and cared for, these birds can be extraordinarily friendly and affectionate. On top of being small and fairly low-maintenance, budgies take well to training and can learn to perform many fun bird tricks, including learning to talk.

Physical Characteristics: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray. The captivating cockatiel is another great choice for anyone who wants a friendly and affectionate pet bird.

Hailing from Australia, these birds make excellent pets when hand-fed as babies and raised in positive environments. While they don't normally learn to talk, cockatiels are exceptionally intelligent. Many learn to whistle quite well and mimic common household noises, such as doorbells, telephones, and microwaves. Physical Characteristics: Gray body; yellow face and crest; orange cheeks; long tail; mutations include albino, lutino, pied, and cinnamon. If you prefer a large pet bird that is friendly and affectionate, a cockatoo can be a great choice.

These beautiful birds bond very strongly with their caretakers and prefer to be with them as often as possible. It is imperative that you have plenty of time to spend socializing with your bird. Cockatoos can become depressed if they aren't given enough attention and might resort to feather plucking or other destructive behaviors. Physical Characteristics: Primarily white plumage; pale yellow on wings and tail; large white crest; black beak umbrella cockatoo.