Birds come in all sizes and personalities, but some feathered companions require far more time, preparation, and handling than others. Popular birds such as macaws are beautiful, but they need hours of interaction and large, expensive enclosures to prevent problem behaviors.
When you’re new to the avian world, consider smaller birds, like canaries that don’t require a lot of interaction and still make great pets. To help you find your best-feathered friend, we look at the top five birds for first-time owners.
1. Canaries
If you love the sound of singing and tweeting birds in the morning, the canary could be your next best friend. Canaries are known for their sweet sounds, but the male is the real star of the show as he belts out a tune every morning. These brightly colored songbirds weigh up to one ounce and reach eight inches in length.
Despite their tiny size, a single canary needs a spacious cage of at least 16×8 inches to spread its wings and fly. Canaries are quite shy and have an aversion to being handled compared to other birds, but they enjoy chatting and singing, of course! Feeding your canary is simple, as they only need two teaspoons of grains and pellets per day.
Should you be interested in a low-maintenance pet bird that will fill your home with beautiful sounds, the canary is a great choice.
2. Budgies
Budgies, also known as parakeets, are the world’s most popular pet birds, and for good reason. These little birds are friendly, enjoy human interaction, and they’re pretty intelligent. A budgie can mimic a few spoken words and can be taught basic tricks, from climbing bird ladders to rolling objects around.
For a first-time bird owner, budgies are easy to care for and do well with gentle petting. They’re also relatively quiet birds and won’t screech the way parrots do. All parakeets rely on exercise to stay healthy and should be freed from their cage for about an hour each day. Always ensure that the windows and doors are closed to prevent them from flying out of the house!
These birds weigh one ounce and grow to eight inches, so you won’t need a large cage to house them. While budgies are sweet and playful, remember that they can reach the ripe old age of 15 years, so prepare for a long-term feathered friend.
3. Cockatiels
Known for their unique hairstyles and very talkative nature, cockatiels are the top choice of pet bird in the U.S. These feather-crested and rosy-cheeked birds make excellent first-time pets as they’re engaging, smart, and not that hard to care for. You will have to spend some time training your cockatiel if they aren’t already socialized.
Cockatiels must be gently handled and should spend plenty of time with their owners to remain affable. If they aren’t trained, cockatiels can become noisy and nippy. This cheerful bird loves to bathe, so provide them with a shallow dish of lukewarm water at least twice a week. Compared to other talking birds, cockatiels are small, reaching 12 inches in height with a weight of three ounces.
4. Lovebirds
Lovebirds are adored because of their gorgeous green and sunset colors, along with their cuddly nature. They’re simply wonderful avian companions because they bond very deeply with their family. While they are suited to first-time bird owners, they do need some more time and effort compared to canaries and budgies.
Lovebirds must be trained to be friendly, which means handling them gently, talking to them frequently, and providing a spacious cage so they can fly. A lovebird will do well with a partner because they’re incredibly social creatures. These pet parrots only reach six to seven inches, and they aren’t costly to feed or house.
If you are looking for a pretty pet bird with lots of personality and moderate maintenance, then lovebirds are for you.
5. Pionus Parrots
Perhaps you’re interested in more of a small parrot than a tiny bird as a pet. If so, then the Pionus parrot is an excellent choice. These South American or blue-headed parrots have a loving nature and attach themselves to one person very quickly. It’s important to have all members of the household interact with these birds in a kind and caring way to avoid aggressive behavior.
If a Pionus parrot bonds to a single person, it will bite everyone who gets too close to them. These exotic-looking parrots will need large cages at least 32 inches high with small gaps between the bars to prevent them from escaping. The green parrots need toys, ladders, and puzzles to keep them stimulated, or they’ll get bored and destructive.
Don’t forget to consider their lifespans! Pionus parrots can reach 25 to 40 years of age, so think about this long-term commitment before you decide to adopt one.
How to Prepare for Your New Bird
As a first-time bird owner, you’ll need to know how to prepare for your new feathered companion. The first step is to invest in an enclosure suited to their size and activity levels. Cages should always be kept away from windy spots to prevent birds from getting too cold. Moderate amounts of sunlight are important to provide them with vitamin D.
The next step is to look into their specific dietary requirements to meet your feathered friend’s nutritional needs.
Lastly, all birds require deworming every three to four months, access to a small bird bath, and vet checks when they fall ill. Most birds will be shy when they first arrive, so be patient. Train them with regular interaction and give them enrichment in the form of toys and time spent outside of their cage. These simple yet important steps will keep your new bird healthy and help you build an inseparable bond for many years to come.
