If you are thinking of getting your first bird, some species are far easier to start with than others. The best beginner birds are hardy, affordable and manageable — here are the top choices and who each one suits.
The best beginner birds
- Budgie (parakeet) — the classic first bird: cheap, small, social, hardy, and can even learn to talk. The top all-round beginner choice.
- Cockatiel — gentle, affectionate and a lovely whistler. A little bigger than a budgie and wonderful with patient owners.
- Canary — a low-maintenance bird to watch and listen to rather than handle; the males sing beautifully.
- Finches — best kept as a small group to watch; active, charming and undemanding, but not for handling.
- Lovebird — small, bold and full of personality, though they need daily attention to stay tame.
- Parrotlet — a tiny parrot with a big character, for those wanting a small, hands-on bird.
Do you want to handle or just watch?
This is the key question. If you want a bird to tame, handle and interact with, a budgie, cockatiel, lovebird or parrotlet is ideal. If you would rather watch and listen to birds being birds, canaries and finches are happier left largely to themselves and are very easy to care for.
What every beginner bird needs
Whichever you choose, the basics are the same: the biggest cage you can fit, a good diet of pellets and fresh vegetables (not just seed), fresh water, daily company or interaction, sleep in a dark quiet space, and an avian vet you can call. Get those right and a beginner bird is a rewarding, long-lived companion.