Best Small Parrots – Which One Is Right For You?
We LOVEEEE small parrots around here!!!! They are so funny and such joys to have in your home. There are so many different kinds of small parrot how do you know which ones are right for you. When determining how suitable a parrot species is for you and your home you must consider the following.
- personality
- noise vs loud
- what they do/how they live in the wild?
- lifespan
- time requirements
- space requirement
- cost
- how available they are
Budgies
Budgies/parakeets have for the longest time been one of the most commonly owned pet parrots, with that the are also very misunderstood and they are the most neglected parrot species out there due to how much misinformation is out there and how easy they are to find and cheap they are to purchase. SO PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH FOR ALL SPECIES!!!
Personality
Budgies are like that bubbly girl in high school who is always chatty and super energetic. They are extremely social and do not do well alone Can you have a budgie/parakeet alone? – Optimal Avian
Noise vs Loud
Their are loud birds that do not make noise often but when they do its LOUD and then their are noisy birds that are going to chatter all day long but wont necessarily scream your house down. Budgies are noisy, that being said because they are excitable they can get loud don’t underestimate their lungs but they definitely are not as loud as other species on this list.
What they do in the wild
Budgies spend majority of their time in the wild in BIGGGG flocks. All parrots spend up to 90% of their day in the wild foraging (searching for food) and this is where a lot of the behavioural issues in birds come from when they are kept in captivity. Just like any other parrot budgies need lots of foraging opportunities and materials to forage through and destroy. They spend lots of time foraging, flying, playing in puddles and pulling apart tree branches with their flock in the wild.
lifespan
budgies live if bred properly and cared for properly (we can help you with that here just check out some of our many other blogs!! 😉 ) 10-15 years!!! so they are a big commitment but not nearly as long and as big of a commitment as other parrots on this list or even some of the larger parrots.
Space Requirements
when you compare the space requirements of a budgie to a macaw a budgie obviously will take up less space BUT budgies still need space! they still need a big cage (flight cages are awesome) room for them to get out and fly around play with toys and play stands!
Costs
the cost of purchasing the bird is SUPER CHEAP you can find an average budgie for 50$ (which is part of why they are so commonly neglected it is super easy to impulsively purchase a 50$ in comparison to a 500+$ bird) you can get super cool mutations or show line budgies which are more expensive.
How available they are
this goes hand and hand with the above it is super easy to find budgies at pet shops and breeders are everywhere so it is beyond easy to find a budgie which also is a downfall for them as they are the easiest to impulse buy. There are also TONS of budgies at rescues!
Cockatiels
Personality
They are extremely affectionate and social birds! they are very cuddly. That being said cockatiels tend to be VERY fearful of hands, as well as just being overall fearful.
Noise Vs Loud
Cockatiels like budgies are more so noisy than they are loud but that being said they absolutely can be loud
Life Span
The average lifespan of a cockatiel is anywhere from 10 – 25 years old, the oldest one reported being 36 YEARS OLD!! so it is very important to keep in mind your future life plans when you are buying/adopting a cockatiel!
Space Requirements
Cockatiels like budgies also need a flight cage, and lots of time outside their cage to fly around and play! play stands around your home with toys will absolutely be essential to having a happy and healthy cockatiel.
Costs
The care of a bird will always be more expensive than the actual purchase price of the bird but cockatiels depending on where you live can range from 150 – 500 dollars depending on colour mutations and the breeder or if you are adopting etc.
How available they are
Some pet stores will sell cockatiels but more so you will find yourself at a breeder or rescue for a cockatiel. There are lots of breeders who have very interesting colours, but also tons of birds at shelters that would love a forever home with a prepared bird owner
Conure
Conures come in a ton of different subspecies if you want to call it that and they each have different personality so it is important to figure out exactly which parrot you are looking at.
Sun Conures/Jendays are a whole other level of noise that I encourage everyone hangout with prior to them deciding to bring one into their homes.
I will more so be covering green cheeks in this as they are the most popular
Noise Vs Loud
Conures are loud, now green cheeks are the quieter of the species but they are much louder than budgies, cockatiels, and parrotlets.
Life Span
Conures can live up to 30 years.
Space Requirements
Conures also require a flight cage honestly it would be best to see them in a double flight cage, with lots of out of the cage fly time and play stand time.
Costs
These birds depending on the colour mutation can run you 250 – 600+ dollars.
How available they are
Some pet stores will sell conures but more so you will find yourself at a breeder or rescue for a conure. There are lots of breeders who have very interesting colours, but also tons of birds at shelters that would love a forever home with a prepared bird owner.
Parrotlet
Personality
These little birds are one of the most fearless you will ever see for their size. They have been known to attack other pets because of this so maybe keep that in mind when considering a parrotlet. They are extremely active little birds!!
Noise Vs Loud
Parrotlets are one of the quietest parrots you will find and they are noisey rather than loud.
Life Span
The average lifespan of a 10 – 15 years
Space Requirements
you want the biggest cage you can find, BUT with them being the smallest parrot species you really need to look at bar spacing! Go as big as you can with the smallest bar spacing. flight cages are great as long as the bar spacing is correct. also out of cage time is still required for these little birds.
Costs
These birds will roughly cost you 100 – 350$
How available they are
I have never seen them at a pet store, I’m sure some have them, but they are more difficult to source than the previously mentioned. You may see some at rescues. breeders are another option.
Lovebird
Personality
The best way to describe a love bird is like the parrot worlds version of a Chihuahua they definitely have a big personality in a small parrot’s body. They tend to be very bossy nippy birds making them not a very good first-time bird. they are very curious birds as well.
whoever named them really didn’t know them very well because housing 2 lovebirds together can actually be a horrible idea! if they are not properly bonded and even then, sometimes, they don’t enjoy sharing their space as they tend to be territorial. If they are bonded with a clutch mate that could absolutely work out though and is probably the best way of going about it.
Noise Vs Loud
Lovebirds have a pitch that some would not find desirable to have in your home. but they are definitely not the loudest parrot you can get but they definitely are not a budgie.
Life Span
The average lifespan of a 10 – 15 years
Space Requirements
Just like conures cockatiels and budgies flight cages are ideal with plenty of time outside their cage to play around on playstands and fly around.
Costs
These birds will roughly cost you 50 – 200 dollars depending where you live how available they are where you live and what colour mutation you are getting. Peach faced love birds are usually referred to as being more pet quality than some of the other lovebirds you may find available.
How available they are
I have never seen them at a pet store, im sure some have them but they are more difficult to source than the previously mentioned. You may see some at rescues. breeders are another option.
Linnie/Lineolated Parakeet
Personality
Linnie’s are generally regarded as very social birds they generally seem to enjoy being around humans and are not fearful like budgies. They also tend to be great for apartment dwellers as they are a quieter more peaceful parrot, while also being playful and quite fun to watch.
Noise Vs Loud
Linnie’s are probably one of the quieter species on this list.
Life Span
The average lifespan of a 10 for a linnie
Space Requirements
Just like conures cockatiels and budgies flight cages are ideal with plenty of time outside their cage to play around on playstands and fly around.
Costs
These birds will roughly cost you 150 – 300 dollars.
How available they are
I have never seen them at a pet store, i’m sure some have them but they are more difficult to source than the previously mentioned. You may see some at rescues. breeders are another option.
Quakers
Personality
Quakers can get really aggressive if you dont know what you are doing.
They are quite comical and have very big personalities (common theme among the little birds). They are not as prone to becoming a one-person bird like some other species but they MUST be socialized properly.
Noise vs Loud
yes they are loud they more so shriek than scream though, but depending who you are that could almost be worst. These birds are absouletly not birds to have in an apartment.
lifespan
they range from 20 – 30 years
Space Requirements
they require a large cage with stronger bars than a flight cage. These cages will be costly but they are necessary for the health of your parrot. They do also require lots of time outside the cage flying and playing.
Costs
they can range from anywhere from 250 – 550$ the purchase of the parrot will be your smallest expense though you will have 20 – 30 years of food, and toys lots of toys to purchase.
How available they are
Quakers are super available at rescues, people see videos of them talking run out and get one then to find out they are loud, demanding and a lot of work (like all parrots). Please make sure they are right for you before you adopt one.