Are you considering getting a bid for the first time as a pet? Your major priorities should be that your new bird's species is friendly and gentle, but it's important to check on other personality characteristics and their average adult size before you decide which kind of bird would work best as a pet. Here are a few suggestions from our South Wilton vets.
What Are The Best Types Of Birds For First-time Owners?
A bird can be an excellent addition to your home if you are looking for a colorful addition to home life with plenty of character.
Birds can brighten your day with their colorful plumage and even perform tricks or tunes. But when deciding on the best first bird to have as a pet, you need to make sure you do your research first.
Make sure you keep in mind that different types of birds need different levels of love, attention, and stimulation, as well as a diet tailored to their species' needs. These pets may also require veterinary attention.
Before choosing the best bird for your household be sure to research the specific personality traits, size, and weight, as well as their lifespan.
Today our vets at South Wilton Veterinary Group share some of the characteristics of a few of the most popular species of pet birds for first-time owners:
Canary
Species Info
Weight: Less than 1 ounce
Length: 4 to 8 inches
Physical Characteristics: These delightful birds come in yellow, green, orange, and brown. They are known for their ability to carry a tune and their vibrant colors. Canaries are excellent pets if you would like a bird who may not need lots of attention and engagement. Canaries don't like to be handled but are happy to entertain their owners.
The canaries are easily frightened and can be shy. But, they will need some space to fly about to stay healthy and happy.
When you're shopping for a pet bird, always buy from a reputable breeder or bird store. Healthy and well-socialized birds will make the best pets.
Lifespan: Canaries typically live for between 9-10 years if well cared for, although in rare cases these little birds can live for 15 years or even longer!
Budgie / Budgerigars
Species Info
Weight: 1 ounce
Length: 6 to 8 inches
Physical Characteristics: Found in a variety of colors including neon green, yellow, blue, violet, and more with black bars on the head, wings, and back.
Budgies (also referred to as parakeets or budgerigars) are well known to be exceptionally warm, friendly, and gentle when properly cared for and trained.
These wonderful birds are among the smallest species kept as pets, are easy to care for and if you get one when they are young, they are easy to train too! Budgies are also quite affordable, playful, and active. They can learn to talk and provide their owners with hours of amusement.
Lifespan: When cared for properly a pet budgie can live for 7 -15 years
Cockatiel
Species Info
Weight: 3 ounces
Length: 12 to 13 inches (adults)
Physical Characteristics: Predominantly gray feathers with orange spots around the ears and yellow and white accents. Males are yellow-headed while females are almost completely gray.
Easy to read, the crest on top of a cockatiel's head indicates the bird’s emotional state; a flattened head crest means the bird is fearful or angry; a completely vertical crest indicates your cockatiel is startled or excited.
Female cockatiels are as gentle as they come, and males are particularly good at mimicking sounds around them including phones, alarms, and even outdoor birds. But you should be aware that cockatiels need a huge cage with several toys and perches to keep them stimulated.
These intelligent parrots love social interaction and engagement. Because of this, they need an owner who will be able to provide them with the time and attention they require to thrive and prevent loneliness and depression. We highly recommend that you either find them a companion bird or spend significant amounts of time interacting with them.
Plus: Be sure to watch out for their whistle: if they do one for you, it’s a compliment as they whistle at things they like.
Lifespan: With proper love and care a pet cockatiel can easily live for 15 - 20 years. In rare cases, these birds have been known to live for as long as 30 years.
Dove
Species Info
Weight: 5 to 8 ounces
Length: 11 to 13 inches
Physical Characteristics: Brown and dull gray feathers, black eyes, beak, and a collar surrounding the neck. Alternative colors include orange, white and pied (ring-necked doves).
Doves can be very sweet and gentle when it comes to hand-feeding and domesticating them. They are easygoing and not overly demanding of the attention or time of their owners.
That said, unlike parrots, doves cannot climb up and down cage bars but instead need to fly from perch to perch which makes a huge cage essential.
Lifespan: When well cared for a pet dove can live from 8 -15 years depending on the species.
Green-Cheeked Conure
Species Info
Weight: 2 to 3 ounces
Length: 10 to 11 inches
Physical Characteristics: Mostly green with gray head and breast, blue-tipped wings, and maroon tail. Other colors include yellow, cinnamon, and turquoise.
On the quiet side but just little mischievous, green-cheeked conures are playful and smart birds who typically don’t talk but are charming species nonetheless. They’ll entertain and engage, and can be comical and outgoing under the right circumstances.
Lifespan: With plenty of love and attention these friendly birds can live as long as 30 years.
If you are searching for a pet bird or if you own a bird that needs veterinary attention, contact South Wilton Veterinary Group. Our vets are well-versed in providing quality veterinary care for cats, dogs, birds, and more
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