How to Select a Parrot

Know how much space you have available for a cage in your home. Birds must be able to spread both wings inside a cage. If you don't have much space, choose a small parrot, such as a lovebird.

Decide how much time you have to devote to your bird and how much noise you can tolerate. Larger birds tend to be noisier and require more social interaction. Smaller species of parrots (such as cockatiels and lovebirds) cost less, are easier to care for, and use a smaller cage. Larger species require more care and are more expensive.

Decide if it's important that your parrot talk to you. Gray parrots are most likely to talk, although all parrot species have some vocal capabilities. Grays have a greater ability to understand words. Smaller birds tend to talk less.

Determine how much you can spend on your parrot purchase. Prices range from $10 to several thousand.

Consider any experience you've had as a bird owner. Look for a bird that has the characteristics you liked in your previous bird. Avoid characteristics you disliked.

Think about how a parrot would fit in with other members of your household, including pets. If a child will be the primary caretaker, buy a smaller, more manageable bird.

Read a book or Web site that describes the different species of parrots and their characteristics. Make a list of the types of parrots that fit your requirements.

Go to a local pet store and spend some time looking at, listening to and interacting with different types of parrots. Buy a species that you interact with well.

Talk with the pet store owner about the decision.