A questions that we often hear at BirdTricks is: “what is a good first bird to get?”. It’s a difficult question and one that I answer reluctantly. I will try to offer my opinion…
First, I want to say that I don’t really believe in “starter” birds. It is often said that a smaller bird is more suitable for the first time owner. I don’t entirely agree.
All birds are created equally. There is no one species of parrot that requires less care or commitment than the others. Every single species needs the same considerations to health and diet, enrichment and attention. In this regard, there is no difference between a budgie or a hyacinth macaw. Basic care requirements are not minimized because a parrot is smaller.
You might ask yourself why a larger bird is more appealing to you. Believe me when I tell you that a smaller bird is every bit the parrot that a larger bird is.They are as intelligent, interactive and demanding – they just come in a smaller, less intrusive package. A larger parrot is not a better parrot.
There are, however, significant logistical differences in the ownership of larger vs smaller birds to consider. Size is very relevant in the following areas:
Vocalization: It only makes sense that the larger the bird, the louder the voice. If your hearing is sensitive, or if you have nearby neighbors that own shotguns, you might reconsider getting a larger parrot (check THIS out).
Biting: As a new owner, you will find yourself at a disadvantage when it comes to adeptly reading your bird’s body language. If you harbor a fear of being bitten, and chances are you will be at some point, a smaller bird might be right for you. Birds can sense apprehension and some will use it to intimidate and manipulate you.
Housing: Do you have the space in your living room for a cage that is 3 or 4 times the size of your refrigerator? Don’t forget about the play stand.
Damage: The bigger the bird, the bigger the beak, the bigger the holes in your shirts/furniture/carpeting/doorways…
Certainly, there are species that are correctly defined as high maintenance, either behaviorally or in their special needs. For instance:
- The Lory owner needs to be well educated about their unique diet and will need to find creative solutions to the “messes” they make because of their nectar-based diet. They don’t so much poop as squirt and the wall behind the cage will not fare well. Nor will closely placed furniture, or the floor, for that matter.
- The African grey can be overly sensitive to its environment, can be phobic, and will mimic every sound emitted in your household. This can be endearing, annoying and/or embarrassing. Dad will have to stop swearing like a sailor and couples will not want to keep their African grey’s cage in their bedroom. (A discovery some friends made when their bird replayed the audio portion of the night before in the presence of their dinner guests.)
- Then there’s the cockatoo who might be best served by an owner that has some serious experience in parenting, as they require someone who is adept at dispensing tough love to keep them from developing bad habits. Cockatoos always seem to be wanting things that are not good for them.They are constantly seeking attention. Sometimes you must deny them and it is difficult not to give in at times. It’s easy to make mistakes with them and many should have the number of a local rescue tattooed under their wing.(Some will simply come with the number 666.) Cockatoos are my favorite species, but this is a bird that I really think belongs in the hands of an experienced bird person.
In the end, the answer to the question of which bird to get is more related to the person considering parrot ownership than it is to any parrot species. It boils down to what kind of potential bird owner you are, what your circumstances allow for and how tolerant you are to the behaviors that certain species are famous for. There is no patented “right” first bird.
I have watched people who wanted a macaw as a first bird do the “responsible” thing and start with small birds, eventually graduate to a medium sized birds, and finally get their macaw. The result is a house full of birds, all needing attention, when all they wanted originally was a single macaw to dote on. I think that people should get the bird they want, but ONLY when certain, beyond a doubt, that they are up to the challenge. Many new owners do very well with a large first bird. I have also seen people fail miserably with cockatiels, who are known for their friendly and compliant natures.
Know what you are getting into. Exhaustively research any species you are considering. Understand that ANY bird will be a huge, long-term commitment. Most importantly, be brutally honest about your limitations as a potential bird owner and don’t go for a bird that you aren’t able to give 100% to.
Author Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.
36 comments
Consider a “used” or disabled parrot. They can be very appreciative, not always easy, but for someone who wants to make a difference, take in a “used” bird. I took in a 20 year old disabled blue fronted amazon who needed to be re-homed due to an illness in his family. Someone pulled his flight feather follicles off of the bone so he cannot fly. His right wing look askew, but otherwise he is a lovely parrot, not at all demanding, who loves to play with his toys and be handled. He has learned new words, to ring a bell, is working on roller skating and is a total joy. He gives great big kisses and understands what I say, loves to travel, is brave about new situations and is a joy. He is now 26 years young, microchipped and a good friend and both of us are lucky.
we wanted a large “first bird” and a yellow, collared macaw chose us as her parents when she was 5 months old. As the largest of the mini macaws, she is everything we had hoped for. She likes sounds better than words, but is definitely not loud at all. She is so sweet and will go to almost anyone, but favors men. Now 5 years later we are starting to think about a second bird and are leaning towards the military macaw, the smallest of the big ones.
Michelle is right every bird has a completely different personality. I compare them to my 3 sons… as with kids each is individual and unique. You just need to give them your love and hope you’ve made the right decisions as you go along I married at 16 had my first child just before my 18th BD. I often joke “I wish I had my birds before I had my kids, I would have been a much better parent” I
Well Chet, I started out with a cockatiel that I found out on the driveway half dead from the weather & exhaustion, then bought her a young mate of which we stil have. A lutino we called him chuckie as he is a bit cheeky. Then I fell in love with a friends cockatoo. Now we have Crawford. We had no idea what we got into but after 7 months of loving him and earning his trust, we now have a reasonably well behaved 17year old that has missed the love & affection he never got with his previous owner. He use to bite me & scream whenever my partner left the room but now accepts life in our flock with me & my partner.
good afternoon ! thanks for making me laugh ! i have 4 birds grey cockatiel sun and jenday conures and yes a 666 bird an umbrella cockatoo 3 years old and a bad 2 year old for the next 50 !! seriously though he is loving and fun does need lots of activities i meet the challenge and everyday is a new adventure. he is loud once in a while but beeps like a horn barks like a dog does chinups and laughs at people, oh sun conures jenday conures and grey cockatiels are all great and have plenty of my attention. cockatiels are very brave birds
For 4 years I thought about getting a bird, before I agreed to adopt a 15-year old Orange Wing Amazon, from a “rescuer” who could no longer keep “Kermit.” (It was the “the-bird-or-me” demand from her husband…) Kermit took to me and my other pets with no hesitation, and has become a big part of our routine for 10 years now. He is demanding, noisy, messy, and affectionate — just like any 2-year old. Sometimes I need a vacation from him — but usually he gets to go; he loves to travel!
Umbrella Cockaoos – “Velcro Birds” are very loud, especially when you walk away from playing with them – and they do stick like velcro, don’t come loose easily, and peek out from under their cage covers to see where you are! The ultimate stalker bird, peeking around corners to see if they can see you, and if they do, well cover your ears! My African Grey even tells her “QUIET!” when she starts! LOL – but I love her anyway!
I have had Love Birds for 30 years and I now have 2 Macaws also. I studied, researched, read books and took classes but still there is no way to know how any bird will act or how you will manage it until you are in that situation. I wish they were all as easy as my first Love Bird because he was perfect. Unfortunately it’s like people, all different personalities
This is where my reluctance to answer “what is a good first bird?” comes from. The right answer is found in self evaluation. No one can answer this question better than themselves. The problem is getting people to be look honestly at their capabilities and possible life changes in the future. I’m sorry people on the forums were so hard on you. Their advice comes from the heart, but they can be forceful about it at times, perhaps because they have seen things go so wrong when people don’t heed their warnings. I think a better plan is to accept a person’s decision, right or wrong, and be there to help if things come undone, if only for the bird. Obviously, they made a mistake when evaluating you.
Having been a rescue for going on twelve years, I have had experience with so many different species of birds, and in some ways I do believe in “starter birds” because there are certain birds that are just not a good bird for someone who has never had a bird before. I do not believe that a Lovebird should be owned by a person who has never had a bird before because Lovebirds tend to be so much moodier than their counter-parts. I have a Lovebird now that does prove my point. In my opinion, a Green Cheek Conure is a GREAT first time bird because although they require a lot of attention and care, they are pretty easy going, while at the same time having all of the qualities of larger birds. Other Conures tend to be a little louder and demanding than the Green Cheek, and in my opinion, they tend to be a bit nippier. If the person has TRULY done the research on the bird that they want, then they should look for their bird, which would be one that picks that person or is adaptable to change. The problem that I have found is that not very many people do TRULY research the type of bird that they have gotten, then they get dishearted with that bird, which leads to neglect, and in many times abuse. That is usually the time that I get the bird here and the owners have already done their damage to the bird. I am even on file with my local animal shelter, and I am the one that they call when they get birds in, or they will sent the people directly to me. If it truly a love that the owners have for the bird, then I work with the owners so that they can keep their bird, but 9 times out of 10, the people have gotten so disenchanted with the bird that they just want rid of it, and some people have even tried to flat out kill their birds before contacting me.
I got an amazon for my first bird, after about 12 months of research. I joined a bunch of forums, interested to learn from experienced bird owners and swap stories. Almost all the bird people I spoke to were extremely rude and condescending, telling me I shouldn’t get one because they are not “first birds” and that I should get a conure instead. They would cite all the reasons why I couldn’t take on a parrot like that (none of which were relevant to MY character, as none of these people knew me). Some even went so far as to sabotage my attempt to buy another forum member’s amazon. It was very disheartening, and although I understand their concerns, it put me off talking to other bird people. They never took into account my personality, or the amount of research I’d done, or anything. They just jumped to the conclusion that I had no idea what I was getting into and that I’d fail miserably. I now have my amazon, and he is brilliant. He has no bad habits, his training is going well and he is a very happy bird. I might have made a few mistakes (and might make a few more in future) but I’m committed to him and I’m not going to give up or toss him aside if it gets “too hard”. I would only give him away if it was better for him, not for me.
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