Top 10+ Types of Birds That Make Perfect Pets

1) Cockatiel

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

While their cousin the cockatoo is even needier, according to Abbott cockatiels require plenty of one-on-one attention from their human or they can become depressed and act out with avoidance and even biting. To keep your buddy happy and healthy, think about getting them a friend, but make sure it's the same sex as your pet so you don't end up with more cockatiels than you can handle!

"Cockatiels are overall a sweet, personable little bird, native to Australia," Abbott says. "Males can have extensive vocabularies as well as quite the repertoire in whistling. The girls are just as sweet and devoted but generally don’t have the vocabulary beyond a few simple words and perhaps an even more expansive playlist of whistles."

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 12–13 inches
  • Weight: 3 ounces
  • Appearance: Mostly gray with orange spots on the cheeks and yellow and white accents. Males have yellow heads.
  • Life Expectancy: 25 years

2) Finch

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

Finches, which include the Gouldian and the zebra finch, are a popular choice for pets but not the cuddliest of critters. "These beautiful and busy little birds are more for our listening and viewing pleasure," Abbott says. "They can become tame enough to fly to their humans for some attention; however, overall they are better suited to be kept in pairs or a small group."

These songbirds, which are found across the world, can get stressed easily, so cages should be placed in a quiet corner of the house—although you should make sure to visit them in their enclosure often. Just don't pick them up or hold your finches in your hands against their will.

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 3–6 inches
  • Weight: 0.3-1.3 ounces
  • Appearance: Varies widely depending on the species.
  • Life Expectancy: 5–10 years

3) Dove

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

A nearly universal symbol of peace, the dove is a serene and graceful bird with a pleasing coo. There are hundreds of species, although the diamond dove, which is native to Australia, and the ring-necked dove, which hails from Africa, are probably the most popular to keep as pets. Abbott calls doves "Quite a sweet, passive, and soothing bird to keep, though having them in pairs is best for their own mental and emotional health."

Mellow and undemanding, doves make great pets for busy families who aren't home a lot, although they do like spending time with their people. They can be kept in outdoor aviaries in mild climates, but because doves can't climb cage bars they need considerable space to fly around.

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 11–13 inches
  • Weight: 5–8 ounces
  • Appearance: May be brown, gray, orange, pied (mixed colors), or white, depending on the species.
  • Life Expectancy: 10–15 years

4) Canary

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

Native to the islands near northwestern Africa for which they're named, canaries are a diverse lot, with more than 200 known breeds. Fragile and a bit nervous, canaries typically don't like to be handled. They make good pets for people who are looking for a more independent-natured bird than one that requires a lot of interaction to be happy. Just don't keep two males together—they will fight—although you can house canaries of the opposite sex in one cage.

Best of all, canaries are "nature's songbird," Abbott says. "So much so that new owners become very worried when the singing stops. This part is perfectly normal when they are out of their mating season. Males are the best crooners if you're looking for those lovely songs."

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 4–8 inches
  • Weight: Less than 1 ounce
  • Appearance: Most famously yellow, but can also be green, brown, or orange.
  • Life Expectancy: 10+ years

5) Hyacinth Macaw

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

This massive and beautiful blue bird is the largest of all parrots, with the world's most powerful beak, according to Abbott. "They are capable of snapping macadamia nuts as if just a peanut—never feed birds peanuts please—and yet the hyacinth when raised with love, daily touch, and lots of input, are often described as ‘big, goofy, gentle giants’ and it’s absolutely true," she adds.

Significant time, money, and energy are all required to care for a hyacinth macaw, which can have a wing span of five feet. Actual rooms rather than cages are recommended for their enclosures, and this highly intelligent bird, like all parrots, needs a significant amount of attention from their human, including cuddling.

  • Difficulty of Care: Expert
  • Length: 40 inches
  • Weight: 2.6–3.2 pounds
  • Appearance: Blue, with bright yellow around the beak and eyes.
  • Life Expectancy: 30–50 years

6) African Grey Parrot

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

Known as the world's smartest bird, the African grey parrot can learn a huge array of words and is even said to speak them in context. They are a challenge to keep because they need hours of daily enriching activities, including human contact, or else they may become depressed and even destructive.

Abbott calls them the geniuses of the bird world, adding, "Because of that genius, these birds fare well with lots of input. Puzzle toys, TV shows with birds, or children’s programming...they need visual stimulation, auditory input, and something new to do now and then. Their toys and puzzles need to be updated perhaps monthly. Touch and handling must be done every day."

  • Difficulty of Care: Expert
  • Length: 13 inches
  • Weight: 15–18 ounces
  • Appearance: Gray, with red tail feathers.
  • Life Expectancy: 30–60 years

7) Lovebird

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

So dubbed for their ability to form deep bonds that last the length of their lives, lovebirds are among the smallest of the pet parrot breeds. Despite their name, "It’s a myth that lovebirds need to be in pairs," Abbott says. "One does well as long as their human gives them plenty of attention and touch every day. Singing to them, whistling, playing music, and bee-bopping around to it will find your bird joining in or at least watching with sheer joy and amusement."

Lovebirds, which are also known as pocket parrots, are available in several different subspecies including the popular peach-faced lovebird and the Fischer's lovebird. While less challenging to keep than the bigger parrots, they can be decidedly feisty and even aggressive when they don't receive proper training or enough stimulation.

  • Difficulty of Care: Intermediate
  • Length: 5–6 inches
  • Weight: 2 ounces
  • Appearance: Varies, depending on the species, but most often a green body with an orange head.
  • Life Expectancy: 15+ years

8) Pionus Parrot

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

Smaller than parrots like the African grey, the pionus parrot is more relaxed, even-tempered, and quieter than his cousins, too. In general, he's easier to care for than many larger parrots, and the subspecies of this bird, including the blue-headed parrot, make popular pets for beginners. Be aware that the pionus parrot, which hails from Central and South America, requires several hours of exercise every day.

"Full of energy and inquisitiveness, these birds tend to enjoy toys that have moving parts and noisemakers like bells," Abbott says. "Nothing pleases them more than being with their human and even if it’s just sitting on a lap being stroked and watching TV, to them it’s everything!"

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner to Intermediate
  • Length: 11 inches
  • Weight: 8–9 ounces
  • Appearance: Varies, depending on the species.
  • Life Expectancy: 40+ years

9) Green-Cheeked Conure

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

These spunky and playful little guys are a favorite pet bird, but they can be a bit noisy. "I have found that pretty much all conures are in-home alarms," Abbott says. "When they see something, they say something in the loudest, most persistent screeching they can muster. Honestly, this isn’t a bad thing. With daily love and interaction, their noisemaking tends to be minimal. These birds should have puzzle toys made for birds and foraging options where they have to open a drawer or turn a wheel for a treat."

Whip-smart, active, and beautiful, this South American species is not known for talking, though they're so charming you probably won't care. Other types of conures include the peach-front and maroon-belly conures.

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 10 inches
  • Weight: 2–3 ounces
  • Appearance: Green with blue-tipped wings and red tail.
  • Life Expectancy: 30+ years

10) Parakeet

1) Cockatiel, 2) Finch, 4) Canary, 5) Hyacinth Macaw, 6) African Grey Parrot, 7) Lovebird, 8) Pionus Parrot, 9) Green-Cheeked Conure, 10) Parakeet

Also known as budgies or budgerigars, these are immensely popular birds across the world. They're famed for their ability to mimic their humans' words and sounds, and for their song. Native to Australia, they are affordable, easily trainable, and one of the smallest pet parrot breeds. Gentle but spirited, parakeets "can bond deeply to a human," according to Abbott.

However, she adds, "These are ‘flighty’ birds, easily startled or intimidated and so, for many humans they are a ‘look at, listen to’ bird. Again they tend to flourish in flocks. Be it one other bird with them or a large flight cage with multiple birds, being alone doesn’t bring out the best in a parakeet."

  • Difficulty of Care: Beginner
  • Length: 7 inches
  • Weight: 1 ounce
  • Appearance: Common colors include yellow, neon green, blue, and violet with black bars on head, wings and back.
  • Life Expectancy: 10–12 years

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