12 Friendly Pet Bird Species

 

 The Spruce / Mary McLain

The best pet bird, especially for a beginner, is friendly, gentle, and well-suited to being a companion. These traits are 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 12 of the friendliest pet bird species that typically make excellent companions.

Tip

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.

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Budgerigar

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. They are also singing birds that love to chirp, and can be kept solo or in pairs. 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. Budgies are good for beginners to bird ownership.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 6 to 8 inches

WEIGHT: 1 ounce

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray

LIFE SPAN: Up to 20 years

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Cockatiel

 Brenda Hughes / Getty Images

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. They’re very emotional, and the crest on the top of their head reflects how they feel. 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. Cockatiels are good for beginners, and it’s best to keep them in pairs because they don’t like being alone.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 12 to 13 inches

WEIGHT: 3 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Gray body; yellow face and crest; orange cheeks; long tail; mutations include albino, lutino, pied, and cinnamon

LIFE SPAN: 15 to 20 years

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Cockatoo

  Jochen Schlenker / robertharding / Getty Images

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. These birds are better for experienced bird owners than beginners.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 18 inches 

WEIGHT: 16 to 26 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Primarily white plumage; pale yellow on wings and tail; large white crest; black beak (umbrella cockatoo)

LIFE SPAN: 30 to 70 years depending on the species

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Hyacinth Macaw

 Toshihiro (Bill) Shoji / Getty Images

Known as "gentle giants," hyacinth macaws are the largest of all parrots. And as sociable and friendly birds, they love nothing more than to spend time playing and cuddling with their owners. Due to their size, it can be difficult for most people to provide proper housing for these birds. But those who are able to meet their needs are rewarded with an incredible relationship with their feathered friend. Hyacinth macaws are best for experienced bird owners.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 40 inches

WEIGHT: 42 to 51 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Solid blue plumage; yellow patches around eyes and beak; black beak; dark gray feet

LIFE SPAN: 60+ years

Dove

You might not immediately think of a dove as a friendly pet bird, but domesticated, hand-fed doves are known to be extremely sweet and gentle. These birds rarely bite, and even people with limited bird experience generally find it easy to train and bond with doves. They enjoy their caretakers' companionship but usually won’t be overly demanding of attention. However, they do need a large cage and the ability to fly between perches because they don’t climb.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 11 to 13 inches

WEIGHT: 5 to 8 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Plumage of dull grays and browns; black collar around nape of neck; black eyes and beak; mutations include white, orange, and pied (ring-necked dove)

LIFE SPAN: 12 to 15 years

Parrotlet

Spunky and relatively easy to care for, parrotlets are known for having personalities much larger than their tiny bodies. Those considering parrotlets must have plenty of time to play and socialize with their pets, as these birds can become a little wild without regular handling. People who interact with their parrotlets every day are usually able to form strong bonds with these comical little birds.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 4 to 5 inches

WEIGHT: 1 ounce

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Green head and body; blue on back and behind eyes; mutations include blue, yellow, and white

LIFE SPAN: 20 to 30 years

Green-Cheeked Conure

Hailing from South America, green-cheeked conures thrive on spending time socializing with their caretakers. By nature, they are intelligent, playful, and slightly mischievous birds. But compared to other conure species, they tend to be quieter and more easygoing. They usually don’t learn to talk, but their charming personalities are more than enough to make them entertaining and engaging companions.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 10 to 11 inches

WEIGHT: 2 to 3 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Predominantly green; olive cheek patches; gray breast and head; maroon tail; blue flight feathers; mutations include turquoise, yellow, and cinnamon

LIFE SPAN: 30+ years

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Hahn’s Macaw

Also native to South America, Hahn’s macaws are the smallest macaws. But they pack a lot of personality into their compact bodies. They are intelligent and playful birds that tend to be gentle when properly socialized and handled. These macaws prefer to spend as much time interacting with their caretakers as possible and might become depressed if they feel ignored. They also can be rather noisy, though some do learn to talk quite well. Hahn’s macaws are best for experienced bird owners.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 12 to 14 inches

WEIGHT: 6 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Primarily green plumage; blue forehead; red edges of wings; orange eyes; white rings around eyes

LIFE SPAN: 20 to 30 years 

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Eclectus Parrot

Native to rainforests in the Solomon Islands, the eclectus parrot is a species with striking dimorphism, meaning the males and females look very different; the males are bright green while the females are red. These large parrots are very friendly and intelligent, but do best in a home without too much hustle and bustle, as they are easily stressed by noise and tumult. They thrive with lots of socialization and predictable daily routines. Eclectus parrots easily learn to talk, but generally aren't as noisy as some other parrot species.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 17 to 20 inches

WEIGHT: 13 to 18 ounces

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Males are bright green with blue and red under the wings; females are bright red with purple on the chest

LIFE SPAN: 30 to 50 years

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Canary

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Known for the sweet singing of the males, canaries are friendly birds that are a type of finch native to the Canary Islands, and there are more than 200 types of canaries. They are cheerful and intelligent small birds that can be easily trained to sit on their owner's hand, and they are easy to care for, making them a good beginner's bird. They don't care for heavy handling, but they enjoy gentle stroking and attention.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 5 to 8 inches

WEIGHT: Less than 1 ounce

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Yellow, orange, white or red feathers over the entire body

LIFE SPAN: 5 to 15 years 

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Lovebird

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Also known as pocket parrots, lovebirds are small and colorful birds with a lot of personality. They can be playful and feisty, and can form a strong bond with their owners. However, if they are not tamed and handled properly from a young age, they can exhibit negative behaviors like jealousy and aggression. If you have enough time to devote to these birds, they can be good for beginners. It’s best to keep them in pairs.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 5 to 6 inches

WEIGHT: 1.5 to 2 ounces 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Variety of colors, including peach, teal, green, and white; head and face different color than main body; some have white eye ring; bill varies from orange-red to pale beige

LIFE SPAN: 10 to 15 years

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African Grey Parrot

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African greys are native to central African rainforests, and are larger parrots that require a lot of attention and care. These are extremely smart birds that can quickly learn to mimic sounds and speech. If ignored, they can get noisy and develop self-mutilating behaviors, so daily interaction, training, and play is necessary to keep them happy and mentally stimulated. Because of their size, they require a large cage and are best for experienced bird owners.

Species Overview

LENGTH: 13 inches

WEIGHT: 1 pound 

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Grey body; white mask; black bill; yellow eyes; red tail

LIFE SPAN: 40 to 60 years

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