This is the best resource to consider if you are trying to find the friendliest pet bird species.
Birds are a wonderful addition to any home. They’re wonderfully entertaining and can be trained to do tricks, talk, sing, and more.
There is no shortage of species for families to choose from when it comes time to get a new bird friend. But which birds are the most friendly?
Different species of birds have many different behaviors and sizes, so it should be no surprise that there are many different species to choose from when looking for a pet bird.
Some birds are less friendly than others, but there is always one with the right temperament for you!
Here are some tips on how to find the friendliest pet birds.
15 Friendliest Pet Birds Breakdown
| Friendliest Pet Birds Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Cockatiel | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 3 ounces Lifespan: 10-15 years |
| Budgerigar | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 1.1-1.4oz Lifespan: 5-8 years |
| Dove | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 4.3oz Lifespan: 15-20 years |
| Green Cheeked Conure | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 2.1-2.8oz Lifespan: 25+ years |
| Cockatoo | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 10-30oz Lifespan: 20-40 years |
| Hyacinth Macaw | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 2.6-3.7lbs Lifespan: 50 years or so |
| Parrotlet | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: .9-1.2oz Lifespan: 15-20 years |
| African Gray Parrot | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 14oz Lifespan: up to 23 years |
| Owls | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 3.5-4oz Lifespan: 15-25 years |
| Hahn's Macaw | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 5.3oz Lifespan: 30 years |
| Parakeet | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 1.1-1.4oz Lifespan: 7-10 years |
| Finch | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: just under 1oz Lifespan: 2-3 years |
| Pionus | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 8-9oz Lifespan: up to 25 years |
| Meyer’s Parrot | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 4.1oz Lifespan: about 35 years |
| Lovebird | Length: 12-13 inches Weight: 1.5-2oz Lifespan: 15-25 years |
15 Top Friendliest Pet Birds
It should come as no surprise that the vast majority of pet owners cite “friendliness” at the top of their lists for desired characteristics in a pet.
After all, you probably aren’t interested in having a pet bird who nips and bites at your hand every time you try to feed it!
It is far easier to care for and bond with a pet who is naturally friendly – instead of one who is timid or, worse, aggressive.
Therefore, you’ll want to put these 14 top friendly pet bird species at the top of your list as you’re looking for your next friendly pet bird.
1. Topping Our List of The Friendliest Pet Birds Is The Cockatiel
Cockatiels make the top of our list when it comes to the friendliest pet bird species. They are native to Australia and make wonderful pets.
You can increase your odds of having a friendly pet bird by choosing a young cockatiel – those that are hand-fed, starting from the time they are babies, are much friendlier, as are those who are reared in calm, positive environments.
Unfortunately, the cockatiel is not the best choice for raising a pet that can talk. This isn’t a skill that these birds have.
However, many learn to whistle and can also mimic household noises like microwaves, telephones, or even doorbells.
2. Budgerigar
Budgerigars, or budgies, are sometimes referred to as parakeets. They are some of the most popular pet bird species since they are easy to tame and care for.
They are known for being affectionate and friendly. Plus, they’re small and low-maintenance, making them good options for busy pet owners as well as those who live in more cramped living environments, such as apartments.
Budgies can easily be trained, as they can easily talk and perform other tricks.
You can find these birds in just about any color, including green, black, yellow, blue, white, gray, and more, at just six to eight inches long.
3. Dove
The dove might not be the first bird that comes to mind when you’re searching for the friendliest pet bird species, but rest assured – doves are easy to domesticate and are known for being quite gentle and sweet.
Doves rarely bite or show any aggression. You should find it easy to train your doves, too.
They enjoy attention from their owners but don’t require as much attention as other bird species do.
4. Green-Cheeked Conure
Conures of all kinds are known for being friendly and easy to handle. However, green-cheeked conures, native to South America, are some of the most social.
These Birds are curious, playful, intelligent, and – we’ll say it! – downright mischievous at times.
However, they are also easygoing and love affection from their owners. Typically, they don’t learn to talk, though the ear occasional exceptions.
That said, they offer endless charm and appeal, making them perfect companions for owners who are looking for friendly pet bird species.
5. If You Have Space, The Cockatoo Might Be The Best Friendliest Pet Bird For You
Cockatoos are large, generally growing to about a foot and a half in length. However, they are captivating to look at and can make great pets if you have a bit more space to spare.
These birds bond easily with their owners, so it’s important only to choose a cockatoo as a pet if you know that you can be home often to take care of it.
Many owners have described the experience of raising a cockatoo as being similar to that of raising a dog – that’s how much attention these friendly pet birds need.
They can become depressed if they aren’t provided with enough attention. This depression can lead to symptoms like feather pulling and other described behaviors.
6. Hyacinth Macaw
Hyacinth macaws are some of the most beautiful – as well as the largest! – birds you can raise. They are sociable and fun-loving – there’s nothing a macaw loves more than cuddling with its owners!
Though, they are huge, tipping the scales at 42-51 ounces and more than 40 inches in length.
Therefore, you will need to make sure you have the space to provide enough leg (and wing!) room for these birds.
That said, if you can provide enough space, you’ll be handsomely rewarded. These feathered giants are some of the friendliest birds around.
7. Parrotlet
As you may have deduced from the name alone, parrots are essentially smaller versions of parrots. They are prized for their spunky, larger-than-life personalities.
They require a bit more time from their owners in terms of socialization and handling, but they will offer you a ton of fun in return.
Most parrots form strong bonds with their owners, especially with regular handling.
At just four to five inches long, parrotlets are easy to domesticate with regular handling.
8. African Gray Parrot
The African gray parrot is often considered the most intelligent of all pet bird species – it can comprehend most human speech, solve problems, show empathy, and speak up to 1000 words!
It is also extremely affectionate, offering the best of both worlds when choosing a pet bird species.
It’s a great choice if you want a pet who is loyal, understanding, and capable of most human emotions.
This pet bird species will give you plenty of support and attention, even though it does need a bit more species to spread out.
9. Owls
Owls might not be the first birds you put on your list when you’re deciding what kind of pet birds you want to raise!
However, they should be at the top of your list after reading this article.
It can be tough to find owls in many places, but you should jump at the opportunity to raise them if you do.
These big-eyed birds are good-natured and loyal, with most people who raise owls having rehabilitation licenses that allow them to raise reduced injured owls.
Owls are loving and friendly, especially if you have the patience necessary to regularly interact with your owl and train it to your presence.
Barn owls and snowy owls are some of your best options in this regard.
10. Hahn’s Macaw, Besides Being Beautiful It’s Considered One Of The Friendliest Pet Birds
There are many reasons to own macaws – one of the best is how beautiful these birds are.
However, lots of pet owners steer clear of macaws due to their size. The good news is that Hahn’s macaws tend to be a lot smaller than other options.
They are only about 12 to 14 inches long yet manage to pack a ton of persona into one pint-sized package.
As intelligent, playful birds, Hahn’s macaws are gentle when they are socialized and handled regularly.
The more time you can spend interacting with your pet, the better – if they don’t get enough social activity, they can easily become depressed. They can also be incredibly noisy!
11. Parakeet
Parakeets, also known as budgies, are great choices if you are interested in raising friendly birds. They are easy to train and don’t take up much space.
They’ll whistle, learn basic commands, and charm your whole family with their sweet gestures and songs.
12. Finch
Finches are great choices if you’re looking for friendly birds. They are beautiful and charming, preferring to stay inside their cages.
They can be a bit shy, but the more you interact with your pet finches, the better.
13. Pionus Is One Of The Friendliest Pet Birds To Everyone
The Pionus parrot is one of the best pet birds you can raise if you are looking for a long-term commitment.
These birds can live up to 40 years – much longer than the lifespan of the average family dog, we might add.
Pionus parrots generally grow to around 10 inches long and enjoy playing.
They won’t become overly attached to a single person in your household but will instead bond with everyone, great detail to note if you have a family with multiple members.
14. Meyer’s Parrot
Another parrot species to consider raising if you are looking for a friendly pet bird is Meyer’s parrot. This bird can be a bit aggressive at times, sometimes nipping and nibbling, but that’s not usually due to aggression.
Instead, it’s more out of curiosity than anything else. A cool, calm, and collected pet bird species, Meyer’s parrot is gorgeous to look at and is also quite intelligent.
15. It’s In The Name of This Friendliest Pet Bird, The Lovebird
As the name alone suggests, you’re sure to get a lot of love out of your pet lovebird!
Lovebirds are friendly and easily form bonds with their owners and other companions – regardless of whether those companions are feathered or not.
Lovebirds have beautiful feathers and also are easy to care for. Just keep in mind that you will want to give them a bowl of water to bathe in a few times a week.
This will help them keep those feathers neat and tidy and provide the opportunity for a bit of playtime!
After Learning About The Friendliest Pet Birds, Which Ones Are The Easiest to Keep as a Pet?
Any of the pet bird species we listed above will be friendly – but what about when it comes to how easy it is to care for your pet?
Choosing the ideal bird for your needs will vary depending on your preferences and your family makeup.
Some birds do best with just one owner, as they bond quickly and strongly to that person.
Others, however, will form attachments to every member of your family – making them good options for households with multiple individuals (the Pionus parrot is the best example of this).
If you’re new to raising birds, you might want to choose smaller species like finches, canaries, or budgies.
These birds are small and easily cared for, making them good options if you aren’t sure you want the lifelong commitment of a Pionus parrot.
Talk to the experts at your local pet store to find out which of these pet bird species will be a good option for you – particularly if you are looking for a low-maintenance bird and easy to care for.
While it may be more tempting to raise one bird, remember that some birds prefer a bit of companionship, and you might actually find it easier to raise multiples instead.
Besides Considering The Friendliest Pet Birds, What Are The Best Pet Bird Species?
Remember that all pet birds should be treated as individuals – so while some species might be predisposed to being more friendly, you shouldn’t assume that your bird will be gregarious just for that reason alone.
Like people, each bird has its own unique personality!
There are also steps you can take to encourage your bird to be friendlier.
By following certain steps (like staying calm and relaxed around your pet bird), you can minimize the risk of aggression and bite.
Concluding Thoughts About The Friendliest Pet Birds
That said, choosing any of these friendly pet bird species is a great place to start if you want to ensure that your bird-raising experience is relaxed and enjoyable.
Which one is best for you? The best pet bird species for you and your family might differ from the best pet bird for someone else.
This is because people have different lifestyles, interests, and living spaces.
Consider the top options listed above to help you decide which of these friendly, fun-loving species is right for you!
READ NEXT: 14 of the Most Popular Companion Birds
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Whomever posted this isnt very well informed on cockatiels if they flat out say they cant talk. Their vocabulary might not be as extensive as other birds, but THEY CAN TALK. They can be taught and will imitate humans in the form of speech. Not just sound.