If you live in an apartment or simply want a calmer home, the noise a bird makes matters a lot. Some species are far quieter than others — though it is worth knowing that no bird is completely silent.
The quietest birds
- Finches — soft chirps and twitters; among the quietest birds you can keep.
- Canaries — the males sing, but it is a pleasant, gentle sound rather than a loud one.
- Budgie — chatty, but at a low volume that rarely disturbs neighbours.
- Cockatiel — moderate; whistles and calls, but far quieter than larger parrots.
- Parrotlet — a small parrot with a relatively modest voice.
- Dove — gentle, soothing coos.
Birds to avoid if you need quiet
Some birds are simply loud by nature. Conures, cockatoos, macaws and many amazons can scream at volumes that carry a long way — perfectly natural for them, but a real problem in a flat or a shared house. If noise is a concern, these are best avoided.
No bird is truly silent
It is important to be realistic: every bird makes noise, and even quiet species will call, especially at dawn and dusk. Choosing a naturally quieter bird helps, but so does meeting its needs — a bird that is bored, lonely or under-slept will be far louder than a well-cared-for one.