Embark on your avian journey with ease, discovering the best pet parrots for beginners to ensure a delightful experience as a first-time bird owners
Are you considering welcoming a feathered friend into your life for the first time?
Well, parrots🦜 can be fascinating and affectionate companions, but not all parrot species are equally suited for beginners.
As such, when choosing your very first pet parrot, it’s crucial to make an informed decision based on factors like size, temperament, longevity, cost and ease of care.
Smaller species like budgerigars, cockatiels, lovebirds, green cheek conures, parrotlets, and quakers (monk parakeet) are excellent choices. These birds are known for their friendly, playful nature and are not too demanding, making them a great introduction to the world of parrot companionship, even for younger owners.
If you’re looking for a slightly larger but still beginner-friendly parrot, consider large conures, Indian ringnecks, Senegal parrots, Meyer’s parrot, pionus, and caiques. These mid-sized parrots are known for their vibrant personalities and adaptability to home life, without the exagerated demand of large parrots.
Evenso, if you are willing to invest time, money, and energy into your feathered friend, a tad larger parrots mini-macaws can be rewarding choices. They are talkative, intelligent, and form strong bonds with their owners.
Now, while large macaws, cockatoos, African greys, and Amazons are undeniably stunning and charming, they are extremely demanding in terms of care and attention, and only work for experts who are fully committed to meeting their needs and willing (and able) to continuously educate themselves on owning and training parrots.
Lories and lorikeets can be perfect for beginners but require a unique diet consisting of nectar and fruits. They are known for their vibrant plumage and playful behavior.
If parrots don’t seem like the right fit, consider finches, canaries, and doves as delightful alternatives. These birds are generally easier to care for and can still provide companionship and beauty in your home.
…with that introduction out of the way!
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the characteristics, care requirements, and personalities of these parrot species, helping you make an educated choice for your first feathered friend.
Whether you’re seeking a small, medium, or large parrot, or even exploring non-parrot options, we’ve got you covered with valuable insights and tips to ensure a happy and harmonious life with your new pet.
Best Parrots for Beginners
- Budgie
- Cockatiel
- Lovebirds
- Green cheek, Sun and Jenday Conures
- Quaker (Monk parakeet)
- Parrotlet
- Senegal parrot
- Meyer’s parrot
- Lorie
- Lorikeets
- Ringneck parakeets
- Pionus parrots
- Bourke’s Parakeet
Best Small Pet Parrots for Beginners
When it comes to choosing your very first pet parrot, size does matter. Smaller parrot species are often a perfect choice for beginners, offering a gentle introduction to the world of avian companionship.
Among the small options, budgerigars (budgies), cockatiels, and lovebirds are standouts for various reasons. They are friendly, easier to care for, well-sized for small space (apartment living), not as longlived, not too demanding in terms of socialization, and they get along with other birds.
- Budgies
- Cockatiels
- Lovebirds
- Green cheeked conures
- Parrotlets
- Quaker parrot
1 — Budgies
Budgerigars, or budgies for short, are often recommended as the ideal choice for first-time parrot owners.
They are petite parrots, which means they won’t demand a massive living space.
Even in a small apartment, you can provide them with a comfortable and spacious cage.
Budgies are also relatively easier care for and maintain. Their diet is simple and budget-friendly, and their accessories won’t break the bank. They’re affordable even in terms of both upfront and ongoing costs.
These tiny parrots are sociable and friendly, and readily bond with their human caregivers, making socialization and training enjoyable and rewarding experiences.
Although they may not match the verbal levels of larger parrots, budgies are excellent talkers and mimics. Their cheerful chirps and delightful chatter will brighten your day without overwhelming your home with noise.
Like all pets, budgies can present behavioral challenges such as nipping or territoriality but rarely get to serious levels, like feather plucking and self mutilation, which is common in large parrot that are not well socialized.
Budgies are generally compatible with other birds and even some well-behaved pets like cats and dogs but always supervise interactions to ensure everyone’s safety.
For individuals with allergies, budgies produce less dust and dander compared to cockatiels and larger species, such as cockatoos. This makes them a safer choice for asthmatic and allegic owners.
In many places, owning budgies usually doesn’t require special permits or licenses, simplifying the legal side of pet ownership.
You’ll also find a wealth of guidance and support for budgie care because they are not as rare. Avian communities, online resources, rescues and local bird clubs can provide invaluable advice and experience before getting one.
2 — Cockatiels
Cockatiels are the second small pick for newcomers to the world of pet parrots.
Their small size fits well in apartments and smaller living spaces and are low-maintenance, both in terms of diet and affordability.
Their friendly nature and eagerness to bond make them easy to socialize and train. Cockatiels are also talented whistlers with pleasant, moderate noise levels but not the best talkers.
Cockatiels are low-maintenance, both in terms of diet and affordability and owning a cockatiel typically doesn’t require special permits in most places.
They often get along with other parrots, especially budgies, and some pets, under supervision.
While generally well-behaved, cockatiels may show some behavioral quirks, like nippings but can be managed with patience. Cockatiels also produce a lot of dust and dander and may not be ideal for person with asthma or dust allergies.
Overall, cockatiels are common pet parrots and there is a wealth of resources and communities available to assist you in caring for your new feathered friend.
3 — Lovebirds
Lovebirds are another small but excellent choice for novice parrot owners.
Their compact size makes them suitable for small living spaces and the birds are relatively low-maintenance and affordable in terms of food and supplies.
Lovebirds are highly social birds, eager to form strong bonds with their owners and are receptive to training. They are prone to behavioral issues if left lonely or bored but companion birds are a good solution if you do not have sufficient time to socialize with your birdie.
They often get along with other parrot, and even birds and some pets, provided they are introduced carefully.
However, keep in mind all parrots demand plenty of social interaction with their owners, so if you have a busy schedule or travel a lot, do not get a lovebird or any parrot for tha matter.
Lovebirds have melodic calls but aren’t excessively noisy. They are somewhere between budgies and conures, more or less like cockatiels.
These colorful parrots produce less allergenic dust, than cockatiels, making lovebirds and budgies a safer option for those with allergies but information on lovebirds is not in abudance compared to tiels and budgies.
4 — Green Cheeked Conures
Green-cheeked conures make wonderful pets for beginners, but there are several factors to consider before getting one. In terms of size, these parrots are smaller than some conures (and parrots), which make them more manageable.
However. their lifespan, ranging from 15 to 30 years, means you’re making a long-term commitment.
In terms of care and accessory needs, they require a spacious cage with plenty of toys and perches to keep them mentally and physically active but are small enough for apartment living.
They need a balanced diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, pellets, and seeds. You’ll also need to provide them with clean water and engage in daily cage cleaning and maintenance.
Green-cheek conures are social birds and require a considerable amount of time and attention. Regular interaction and mental stimulation are crucial for their well-being.
Training can be a rewarding experience, as they can be taught various tricks and commands. However, patience and consistency are key.
These conures are not known for their extensive talking ability compared to some other parrot species, but they can learn a few words and phrases. Their behavior is generally playful and affectionate, and they can form strong bonds with their owners.
However, GCCs may become territorial or nippy if not properly socialized, so early training is important.
In terms of noise, they are quieter than larger parrots but can still be noisy, especially during the morning and evening hours. Their vocalizations consist of chirps, whistles, and occasional squawking, and noise levels can vary among individual birds.
Green-cheeked conures are compatible with families and other pets if they are properly socialized and supervised. However, they may not always tolerate handling from young children, so caution is advised.
Support, resources, and information are readily available, especially with online forums, books, local bird clubs, and rescues.
5 — Parrotlets
Parrotlets are another tiny parrot suitable for beginners, given the right circumstances. They have a relatively short lifespan, around 15-20 years, which can be more manageable for novice bird owners.
Care and accessory needs are similar to other parrot species, including a spacious cage, toys, and a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-quality pellets.
They are small but can have demanding social needs almost as large parrots and require a significant amount of time and interaction to stay happy.
They are intelligent and need mental stimulation and socialization to prevent boredom and potential behavioral issues.
Training can be challenging due to their stubborn nature, but it’s essential for bonding and reducing potential aggression. Parrotlets are prone to biting and can be noisy, especially if they’re not engaged.
Their compatibility with other pets varies; and caution is required as their daring nature can lead to accidents.
Due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, rehoming should be avoided if possible and done carefully if it is a must.
6 — Quaker Parrot (Monk Parakeet)
Quakers, also known as Monk Parakeets, could be your perfect choice. They’re not just ideal for beginners but also suit intermediate bird enthusiasts.
They have a respectable lifespan, often living for 20 to 30 years. They’re relatively small to medium-sized parrots, making them manageable in terms of care and housing.
Quaker needs encompass a spacious cage, a balanced diet, and regular interaction. Their care expenses are reasonable, and budget-friendly for pet owners.
They are sociable but not overly demanding. They appreciate human interaction but can also entertain themselves, making them more suitable, than lovebirds, GCCs, and parrotlets, for those with varying time commitments.
They bond well with their human companions and can also coexist with other birds but some may become “one-person birds” and may not be very cuddly.
They also exhibit territorial behavior, particularly around their cage.
Quakers, like other bird their size, have a reputation for being a bit nippy, but with patience and training, this behavior can be managed.
While not as loud as some parrot species, quakers can be noisy and might not make them the best choice for apartment living. They engage in vocalizations, including mimics and whistling.
That said, the birds are very intelligent. They can learn commands, tricks, words and phrases and have decent talking skills, and mimicking sounds.
A thing to note is quaker parrots are considered an invasive species in some states and may be illegal to own, so check you local area regulation before you get one.