Top 10 Friendly Pet Bird Species for Companionship’s

For beginners, the best pet bird species is one that is friendly, gentle, and makes a good companion. These traits are crucial for those with little experience with pet birds. Bonding and caring for a bird with a naturally friendly nature is simpler compared to one that tends to be shy or aggressive.

Here are 12 of the friendliest pet bird species that typically make excellent companions.

Tip

While every pet bird species is an individual, selecting a species known for its gentle and sociable nature can reduce the risk of biting and aggression.

1 Budgerigar

Budgies, also called parakeets, are very popular around the world and are great pets for many reasons. When they are well taken care of and tamed, they can be really friendly and loving. They like to sing and make lots of chirping sounds, and they can live alone or with another budgie. These bird species are small, easy to care for, and quick to learn. They can be trained to do fun tricks and even learn to talk. Budgies are a great choice for someone who is new to keeping birds as pets.

Species Overview

Length: 6 to 8 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Green abdomen; black and yellow back; yellow head; dark blue tail; mutations include blue, yellow, white, and gray

Life Span: Up to 20 years

2. Cockatiel

The friendly and loving cockatiel is a great pet for someone looking for a companionable bird. These bird species come from Australia and make wonderful pets if they’re hand-fed when they’re young and raised in a happy, caring environment. They are very emotional, and the feather crest on top of their head changes depending on how they feel. Even though they don’t usually learn to speak like parrots, cockatiels are very smart. Many of them can whistle and copy sounds from around the house, like doorbells, phones, and microwaves. They’re a good option for first-time bird owners, and it’s best to keep them with another cockatiel because they don’t like to be alone.

Species Overview

Length: 12 to 13 inches

Weight: 3 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Gray body; yellow face and crest; orange cheeks; long tail; mutations include albino, lutino, pied, and cinnamon

Life Span: 15 to 20 years

3. Cockatoo

If you like a big pet bird that is nice and loving, a cockatoo could be a good option. These pretty bird species form strong bonds with their owners and really want to be around them a lot. It’s really important that you have a lot of time to spend playing and talking with your bird. Cockatoos can feel sad if they don’t get enough attention, and they might start pulling their feathers or doing bad things. These birds are usually better for people who have experience with birds, not for people who are just starting out.

Species Overview

Length: 18 inches 

Weight: 16 to 26 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Primarily white plumage; pale yellow on wings and tail; large white crest; black beak (umbrella cockatoo)

Life Span: 30 to 70 years depending on the species

4. Hyacinth Macaw

Known as “gentle giants,” hyacinth macaws are the biggest type of parrot. They are very social and friendly, and they really enjoy playing and snuggling with their owners. Because they are so large, it’s hard for most people to give them the right kind of home. However, if someone can provide everything they need, they will form a wonderful bond with their macaw. These birds are best suited for people who have a lot of experience with keeping birds.

Species Overview

Length: 40 inches

Weight: 42 to 51 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Solid blue plumage; yellow patches around eyes and beak; black beak; dark gray feet

Life Span: 60+ years

5. Dove

You may not think of a dove as a friendly pet bird right away, but when they are raised by humans and fed by hand, they are very sweet and gentle. These bird species don’t bite often, and even people who aren’t very experienced with birds usually find it easy to get along with and train doves. They like being near their caretakers but don’t always need a lot of attention. However, they need a big cage and the chance to fly between different perches because they can’t climb.

Species Overview

Length: 11 to 13 inches

Weight: 5 to 8 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Plumage of dull grays and browns; black collar around nape of neck; black eyes and beak; mutations include white, orange, and pied (ring-necked dove)

Life Span: 12 to 15 years

6.Parrotlet

Parrotlets are spunky and not too hard to take care of. They have big personalities despite their small size. If you’re thinking about getting one, you need to be ready to spend a lot of time playing and talking with them. Without regular attention, they can get a bit wild. People who spend time with their parrotlets every day often end up forming strong friendships with these funny little birds.

Species Overview

Length: 4 to 5 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Green head and body; blue on back and behind eyes; mutations include blue, yellow, and white

Life Span: 20 to 30 years

7.Green-Cheeked Conure

Green-cheeked conures are from South America and love spending time with their people. They’re smart, fun, and a little tricky, but they’re not as loud or energetic as some other conure types. They don’t usually learn to talk, but their friendly and lively nature makes them great and enjoyable pets to have around.

Species Overview

Length: 10 to 11 inches

Weight: 2 to 3 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Predominantly green; olive cheek patches; gray breast and head; maroon tail; blue flight feathers; mutations include turquoise, yellow, and cinnamon

Life Span: 30+ years

8.Hahn’s Macaw

Hahn’s macaws are also from South America and are the smallest type of macaws. Despite their small size, they have a lot of character. They are smart and fun-loving birds that can be calm and kind if they are raised and cared for properly. These bird species enjoy being around their people and may get sad if they are left alone too much. They can be loud, but some of them can learn to speak. Hahn’s macaws are best suited for people who have experience with caring for birds.

Species Overview

Length: 12 to 14 inches

Weight: 6 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Primarily green plumage; blue forehead; red edges of wings; orange eyes; white rings around eyes

Life Span: 20 to 30 years 

9. Eclectus Parrot

The eclectus parrot comes from the rainforests of the Solomon Islands. This bird species has a special kind of difference between the males and females, called dimorphism. Males are bright green, while females are red. These big parrots are friendly and smart, but they do best in a quiet home. They get stressed by loud noises and busy surroundings. They enjoy being around people and having a regular daily schedule. Eclectus parrots can learn to speak, but they usually aren’t as loud as other types of parrots.

Species Overview

Length: 17 to 20 inches

Weight: 13 to 18 ounces

Physical Characteristics: Males are bright green with blue and red under the wings; females are bright red with purple on the chest

Life Span: 30 to 50 years 

10 Canary

Canaries are friendly birds known for their sweet songs. They are a kind of finch that comes from the Canary Islands, and there are over 200 different types. These small, cheerful, and smart bird species are easy to take care of, which is why they are a great choice for beginners. They like to be handled gently and enjoy being touched and given attention, but they don’t like being handled too much.

Species Overview

Length: 5 to 8 inches

Weight: Less than 1 ounce

Physical Characteristics: Yellow, orange, white or red feathers over the entire body

Life Span: 5 to 15 years