How To Pick Popular Birds For Pets

There are several popular birds for pets or bird companions. Parakeets are still highly favored pets; they are good pets for kids and people not accustomed to caring for birds. They chatter, sing, and whistle pleasant sounds. They are smart and their lifespan is from 12 to 14 years. Parakeets are in a category of birds with parrots as are Budgies and Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Parrotlets, and Conures.

The most small species of parrots are lovebirds. They are basically quiet birds. They are intelligent and have personality. They live about 20 years and are about 6-inches long. A highly intelligent bird is the African Grey, which is capable of learning 2000 words. The drawback of their intelligence is they get bored easily and need much attention. Their lifespan is 50 to 70 years.

Cockatiels are originally from Australia. They are favored because of their exceptional performance in singing and whistling. They can be taught to talk, but usually would rather mimic sounds like a ringing phone or doorbell. They live from 15 to 20 years.

The finch family includes: Finches, Weavers, and Canaries. These are little birds, but colorful and most of the types are 5-inches or less long. They are called waxbills or softbills, whereas the parrot family is known as hookbills. They aren't very interested in people, so that they are good pets for those that want a pet that requires minimum attention. They are nice to look at for bird watchers. If a finch or canary is well kept it can live 10 years.

Some other popular, but not as common domesticated birds are the tucans, mynahs, and doves. The mynahs are part of the starling family. They are naturally occurring in eastern and southern Asia. These birds are usually destructive, though they make a mess when eating. Mynahs eat pellets, fruit, veggies, and insects. They like to socialize with people. Their lifespan is 8 to 10 years.

The toucan isn't a cage bird and it needs an aviary to live in. They originally came from South and Central America. They are noisy and sometimes bite. They aren't very social with people and they live from 15 to 20 years.

When choosing a bird for a pet it is important to pick one that fits with your lifestyle and the amount of effort you want to put into the pet. Some birds need more attention and others less. Some big birds can be destructive, say parrots, which tend to chew furniture. In the wild they bite tree branches during the day. Larger birds are usually louder too. Parrots are smart and need mental activity and they are social animals.

Also, think of the nutrition, temperament, and maintenance involved in the kind of bird you want to get. Some birds like to get out of their cage and be social, others like to be left alone. Some species of birds need a special diet. Consider the amount of feeding, vet care, and housing a bird will require according to its lifespan before picking one.