Before You Get Your Bird

Do you long to hear the melodious songs of a bird in your own home or dream of a bird sitting on your shoulder? But maybe you are also new to the world of pet birds. If you’ve never owned a bird, you’ll discover they require specialized care and need to be handled cautiously. So if you’re considering buying a bird as a pet, here are some of the best birds for a beginner owner.

First, though, here are some things you need to consider before purchasing your pet bird.

Before You Get Your Bird

Where to Get Your Bird

Some big-box pet stores carry smaller birds for sale, but there is always the concern about whether their store caretakers are bird savvy. Look instead for specialty bird stores that deal only in birds and bird supplies. These stores are few and far between, so you may need to travel a bit to find a good one.

Cage Size

A bird should be able to extend and flap his wings in its cage fully. It should also provide enough space for him to move up and down quickly.

Food

Once weaned, younger birds mostly eat seed, but they should be switched to good quality pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables after about a year when they get older.

Best Birds for Beginners

Parakeet

Also known as Budgies, these pretty little birds come in various colors, including mixes of green, yellow, black, and blue. They are friendly birds who enjoy hopping up on your finger and cuddling after you have trained them, and they know you. They require relatively little maintenance and can be trained to talk! With proper care, you can expect your parakeet to live about ten years.

Cockatiel

The most popular pet bird in the United States, cockatiels stand out due to their feathered crowns, which shift position depending upon their mood. You can find cockatiels in many color configurations based on the basics of yellows, whites, grays, and blacks. They are generally friendly birds once they come to trust you but can become angry and will nip. They require a larger cage than parakeets and need to be allowed out of their cage each day. When you let your bird out, it should be in an area where he can’t find his way into hidden nooks and crannies. Cockatiels also need toys in their cage to keep themselves entertained. Your cockatiel can live as long as 20 years with reasonable care and attention.

Parrotlet

These tiny, spunky birds are easy to maintain and will delight you with their mile-wide personalities. Parrotlets require a lot of interaction with their humans and securely bond with you if you hand-feed and play with them. Your parrotlet also needs exercise and time out of his cage. This bird makes a great companion but won’t be a good fit if you can’t spend good quality time with him. These birds can live to be 20 years old.

Lovebird

Nothing is as endearing as seeing two lovebirds all cuddled up together. So, the first question is, if you decide on a lovebird, do you need to get two? The answer is no. In fact, with training and attention, you will become the object of their love and affection. Lovebirds come in every color imaginable. They love to chew, so they need good, hearty, zinc- and lead-free toys to gnaw on. They will entertain you with their chattiness and playfulness. Your lovebird can live an average of 20 years.

Canary

These lovely little birds want nothing more than to delight their owners with their exquisite singing voice. A canary’s songs will put a smile on your face and a dance in your step. These birds also come in a variety of colors and are content to live solo in a cage. However, they still need exercise and time out of their cage daily. Unfortunately, their life span is not as long as some others, at an average of 10 years.

Pionus Parrot

The Pionus Parrot is a sweet, quiet bird that blends easily into family life with its affectionate and social nature. They are on the quieter side and larger than the birds we’ve previously discussed. Beautiful birds with shiny green feathers, the Pionus Parrot is higher maintenance and requires a large cage. They are also on the pricier side. A long-living bird with good care, you can expect your pet to live from 25 to 40 years.

Amazon Parrot

If you are looking for a talking bird, the Amazon Parrot is the one! We are talking about advanced beginning bird ownership with this bird, which is loaded with personality and loves to clown around and interact with its owners. Besides their love of talking, these birds are quieter than other avian species and can occupy themselves with toys. As do all birds, they do need time out of their cages to get exercise. Your Amazon should live 30 plus years.

Once you decide on the best pet bird for you, get set to enjoy many happy hours and years together.