Popular Breeds

Birds make great pets. However, you need to know what you are getting into when you purchase your bird. Some birds are easier to handle than others. While every bird will bite now and then, some are prone to be a little nippy. The following are common breeds that are popular to keep as pet birds.

Parakeets/Budgies

The common parakeet makes an excellent starter pet. They are easy to take care of and require less space than larger bird species. They come in a wide range of colors and are very intelligent, despite their small size. Even though they are not great talkers, many will learn words. Their average life expectancy is 12 to 14 years.

Cockatiels

Cockatiels are medium size birds that are a favorite among pet owners. They are members of the parrot family and come originally from Australia. These birds have the ability to talk but mostly sing and whistle. You may find that they will mimic sounds that are found around your house, such as the ringing of the telephone. They live a little bit longer than parakeets. They have a life expectancy of between 15 and 20 years.

Finches and Canaries

Finches and canaries are rather small birds. Most types measure five inches or less. For this reason, they will take up less space than other bird species. These birds are part of a different family than parrots. While parrots are hookbills, they are known as softbills or waxbills. These birds will not interact with you so much and are more suitable for your viewing pleasure. A well maintained finch or canary will live up to 10 years.

Lovebirds

Lovebirds are one of the smallest parrot species. While they are very small, they still possess the characteristic personality of their family. These birds are somewhat quiet, so they are ideal pets for people who live in apartments. They are about six inches long and have a life expectancy of up to 20 years.

African Greys

African greys are known to be the most intelligent pet birds. They are excellent talkers and can acquire very large vocabularies. Due to their intelligence, they require a lot of stimulation. If they are not kept busy, they will get bored. Greys live for a long time if they are well maintained.

Cockatoo

Cockatoos are birds that require a lot of attention. They are known as the "love sponges" of the pet bird world. For this reason, you should purchase a cockatoo only if you are a very experienced bird owner. They are very loud. Moluccans can scream up to 135 decibels.

Conures

The Green Cheek Conure is one of the smaller Conure species and measures around 10 inches in length. Their average life span is 30 years or more. They are known to be affectionate and playful. However, they are also known to be a little nippy. They can be a little bit noisy, so they aren't necessarily a great bird for apartment dwellers. While they can learn some words, they are not known as being great talkers.

Caiques

Caiques are known as the clown of the bird community. Two species of Caiques are kept as pets. These are the black-headed Caique and the white-bellied Caique. While the Caique makes a great pet, they can be stubborn, beaky, and willful. Even though the Caique is a medium sized bird, it needs a large environment. You should give it as much space as you possibly can.

Only a fraction of common pet bird species have been mentioned here. However, the birds that have been mentioned are some of the most popular ones on the market. To get an idea of the full range of common pet birds, you should go to your local bird store and search the internet.