Instructions
Look up the expected lifespan of the potential pet. Some exotic birds, such as parrots, can live to be 40 or 70 years old. If you do not think that you will outlive the bird, you will need to appoint a guardian for it if you decide to purchase it.
Research how much time the care of the bird will require and if you have that time to spare. If you have a very busy lifestyle, select a low maintenance bird such as a canary, finch, cockatiel, or a parakeet. Birds such as parrots, macaws and toucans are high maintenance birds that require a lot of care and attention.
Disregard birds that want to be left alone if you want to be able to handle the bird outside of its cage. Do not purchase a finch, or canary as these birds are better left inside their cages. You're better off with a parakeet or cockatiel.
Examine your monthly budget to determine how much money you can afford to spend caring for the bird. Smaller birds cost less money to maintain. Larger, exotic birds can cost much more. Some birds, like finches and canaries prefer to have other birds around so if you choose them you should budget for more than one. Parakeets and cockatiels are among the birds that don't mind living alone.
Research the type of food that each bird eats. Some birds eat standard seed and millet from a pet store. Other birds have special dietary requirements such as fruit that will require extra preparation time and possibly more money.
How to Select a Pet Bird
There are a wide variety of birds available that make great pets. Some of the more popular varieties of pet birds include parakeets, canaries, finches, and more exotic birds such as parrots and cockatiels. With so many types of birds to choose from, it can be hard to select the right pet bird for you. It's important to select a bird that fits your needs as well as a bird that you can take care of properly.