Domestic Pet Bird Types

Keeping a pet bird can be both challenging and rewarding. While some birds, like finches, parakeets and cockatiels, are small and relatively easy to care for, otherbirds such as conures and parrots can display almost human needs and intelligence levels. When you're bird shopping, it's important that you do research before visiting pet stores so you'll buy the right type of bird for your lifestyle.

  1. Cockatiels

    • Cockatiels often have red "cheek" spots.

      Cockatiels are generally yellow, white and gray in color, and can measure over 5 inches in length. These birds are talented mimics and can be affectionate, dedicated pets. They are less complex than parrots and more intelligent than some smaller birds, such as canaries and finches.

    Parrots

    • The Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee features Einstein, an African gray parrot, in its outreach program.

      According to Aquatic Community, there are around 370 different species of parrot, including Amazons, African Grays and Macaws. The parrot group also includes conures and parakeets. Parrots range from very large (over a foot in length) to small (several inches long), and are almost all very colorful. Parrots are extremely intelligent and many can speak or mimic sounds. They require large cages, many toys and lots of personal time.

    Finches

    • Finches like to "hang out" together.

      Finches are small, bright birds that do best when kept in groups. They have a long history as pets and require simple cages with perches, toys and room to fly. They are seed-eating birds that chirp but do not sing or speak.

    Canaries

    • Canaries are small, mostly low-maintenance birds best known for their singing abilities. They originally hail from the West Indies but have been domesticated and specialized into three main groups as pets. Canaries don't require large cages, and eat seeds.