Severe macaws are among the larger of the “mini macaw” species. They are similar to the larger macaws in personality and vocal ability, but, at around 18–20 inches long with a wingspan of about 30 inches, they are noticeably smaller. They have a predominantly green body, chestnut-colored patches on their forehead, and blue flight feathers.
Hawk-headed parrots are truly one-of-a-kind, combining beauty, intelligence, and a bold personality. Their dramatic crest, expressive behaviors, and playful demeanor make them a standout species among parrots, but they require experienced care to thrive as pets.
Blue-fronted Amazon parrots can make wonderful pets for those who can provide the time, attention, and care they require. With their engaging personalities and vocal talents, they are a joy to have in the right environment.
The yellow-collared macaw is often designated as a “mini macaw” due to its smaller size compared to the larger macaw species, like the blue-and-gold or scarlet macaw. Mini macaws share many of the same characteristics and behaviors as their larger counterparts, but they are more compact, making them more manageable for many pet owners.
Get to know the charming canary-winged parakeet! From their vibrant green plumage and striking white wing patches to their intelligence and playful personalities, find out why these small gregarious parakeets can make wonderful pet companions if shown the love and care they deserve.
Society finches make wonderful pets for bird lovers who appreciate their social nature, gentle disposition, and entertaining antics. Society finches are generally non-aggressive and can coexist peacefully with other small, friendly bird species. They are not known to be territorial or prone to fighting, making them ideal for mixed-species aviaries.
The vibrant Derbyan parakeet, garbed in jewel tones with inky mustache feathering, inhabits Asia’s highland forests. These medium-sized birds boast high intelligence and emotional sensitivities to match. As companions, these curious energetic birds needs plenty of healthy stimulation!
With brilliant rainbow plumage, the scarlet-chested parakeet captivates bird enthusiasts as an exquisite Aussie species. But behind the male’s dazzling blue, red, and green hues lies an introverted yet gentle personality. Females charm with more subtle earthy tones of green and yellow rather than scarlet chests.
With their gentle nature and comparably quieter vocalizations, lineolated parakeets have earned a reputation as one of the more easygoing small parrots. At rest, they strike a distinctive horizontal stance, heads aligned with tails – a mellow match to their calm temperament. Under those horizontal bodies and stripes lies an intelligent, engaging small parrot.
Bourke’s parrots have a reputation for being one of the mellower of the parrot bunch in terms of vocalizations and attitude. They tend to be most quiet during the day and active at sunset and dawn. They are often referred to as the “pink parakeet” because of their small size and popular pink color mutation.
You might think you know what a parrot is, but do you? Learn about parrot characteristics, behavior, care needs, and more. These feathered companions have more to offer than you might guess!
Goffin’s can also be a bit mischievous and can be quick learners. Don’t be surprised to find that your Goffin’s cockatoo quickly learns to open the cage after seeing you unlatch the lock.
Among companion parrots, vasa parrots are the most peculiar in looks, with their truncated bodies and long necks. Vasas are active birds that need spacious accommodations as well as playtime with their people and toys to keep their inquisitive minds engaged.
Psittacula are primarily green, with long tail feathers, and a ring of dark colored feathering around the neck. Psittacula are referred to as parakeets, but they are much larger than what many people think of with the word “parakeet.”
The crimson rosella’s colors are eye-catching, and its whistle sounds are equally enchanting.
With their vibrant colors, rosellas are hard to overlook. A rosella will charm you with its whistles, too!
If you want a gorgeous bird for an aviary or habitat setting, or have the space in your home to give this bird the appropriate room, then the golden-mantled rosella might be the bird for you.
Loyal, playful and talkative are words used to describe the Alexandrine parakeet, which can also learn tricks and is inclined to show off its acrobat skills.
Eclectus parrots look like they are straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! Their feathers have a fur-like appearance and their colors are bright red for females, and bright green with a ‘candy corn’ colored beak for males. Aside from their mesmerizing appearance, these parrots can also be great companions.
A Hahn’s macaw’s personality is much like that of its larger macaw cousins — bold, fun, active — but in a more manageable size, which makes this parrot a popular companion.
Don’t overlook the white-capped Pionus parrot as an companion. While it might not demand your attention as other parrots do, a well-socialized white-capped Pionus can certainly be an outgoing and social family pet.
Blue-headed Pionus can be laid-back, relatively quiet parrots, which makes them ideal for those who live in apartments.
The Pionus parrot is the best kept secret of the bird world. It’s got all of the good qualities of the popular companion species, with few of the negative aspects that often occur with parrots.
Caiques have been called clowns of the bird world for good reason — the clown is a truly appropriate metaphor for this high-energy, medium-sized mischief maker. You haven’t seen playful until you’ve seen a caique in action.
With its yellow irises and blocky head, the Senegal parrot can have an intense look. But don’t let its gaze fool you into thinking this bird is always uptight. Senegal parrots can be outgoing and playful and are the most popular of the Poicephalus species.
Poicephalus might not want to cuddle, but they can be playful and outgoing, and many certainly love to be petted.
The Meyer’s parrot might prefer to watch things from afar instead of being the center of attention. This bird is happy sitting quietly on a perch, destroying a toy. Meyer’s can be social, too, and tend to bond with everyone in the family.
It’s a pity that quaker parakeets are outlawed in some cities and states because this social parrot’s talking ability and intelligence rivals the much more expensive African grey and Amazon parrot.
Pacific parrotlets are very spirited, and can become aggressive if left for too long without handling. Even though it is tiny, do not underestimate the strong beak – its bite is much stronger than a budgie. These pint-sized parrots don’t seem to realize that they are small because they have a large bird personality — outgoing, curious and, at times, downright feisty.
The parrotlet parrot might be small in size but it is big in personality. These pint-size parrots are bold and assertive, and they can learn to talk, too.
Doves are ideal for someone who wants a bird, but cannot accommodate the needs of a parrot (noise, one-on-one social interaction). Their interactions are fun to watch and some consider their cooing pleasant.
A ring-necked dove can make a great pet for those looking for a companion bird with an easy-going nature, potential to be hand-tamed and gentleness. If you like the sound of cooing,this might be the bird for you!
For a dove species, the diamond dove is surprisingly small, but eye catching nevertheless, especially with its prominent red eye ring. Many find its soft cooing a pleasant alternative to a boisterous parrot.
The song canary is one of the most popular in the canary group, and is typically sought out for its beautiful melodic song. As the name implies, song canaries are bred to sing, specifically male canaries. Female canaries vocalize mostly with chirps, while males can develop elaborate songs.
The most popular pet canary in the U.S. is the American singer, which not only can have a beautiful voice but also tends to be easy to keep. As with most bird species, only mature male canaries sing, while females produce only a single “cheep” vocalization
The red-factor canary’s body-type appears to be just like the other canaries, but with one special trait – when fed a special diet, this canary’s coloring can change.
The canary has been a favorite among bird keepers for hundreds of years, and has been bred into more than 200 breeds, much like dogs have, each breed prized for a particular skill or appearance.
The red lory’s playful personality and beautiful appearance make this high-energy parrot a favorite among bird fanciers and the more advanced pet bird owners alike.
The lory personality is intense, in general. This is not a shy species. The rainbow lory is bubbly and enthusiastic, the “coach” of the bird world, encouraging play whenever its favorite human is around.
The rainbow lory is one of the most stunning and beautiful companion birds available today. Lories, in general, need more care and attention than your more common companion birds due to their highly specific dietary and housing requirements. However, they are well worth the extra time and expense.
The Indian ring-necked parakeet is not a shy bird, and does best with an owner who appreciates an outgoing companion that is not afraid to demand what it wants! Indian ring-necks can also be quite talkative.
Pet cockatoos are often referred to as “velcro” birds because of their highly sociable nature and borderline obsessive need to be around the people in their lives. A cockatoo is a loving but demanding bird.
There’s a reason why the cockatiel is one of the most popular companion birds — this slender Australian parrot can be both cuddly and bold. Cockatiels can also be curious and, at times, feisty. With a cockatiel in the house, you are likely to hear a repertoire of chirps and whistles.
The umbrella cockatoo certainly makes a charming, affectionate pet, but it’s not for everyone. An umbrella cockatoo demands attention and needs an owner who can set boundaries.
Moluccans would like nothing more than to be sewn to your body 24 hours a day. They crave attention and love, and can become obsessive because of this trait.
The budgie (parakeet) is often thought of as a “beginner bird,” however, this social, outgoing little bird deserves just as much care and attention as larger parrots. Budgies are playful, love food and they can rival any parrot in terms of talking ability.
Finches are the perfect alternative for those wanting a feathered pet but not prepared to take on the challenges of caring for a parrot. Finches don’t talk and are hands-off birds, but they delight their owners with their aerial antics and social interactions with one another.
As their name suggests, owl finches look like little owls with their distinctive markings. These are curious and social little birds.
The Gouldian finch is prized primarily for its gorgeous plumage. This small bird is available in a variety of striking, vibrant colors.
Zebra finches are the most popular finch species due to its availability and price. This cute, little striped finch has been kept in captivity for more than a 100 years.
The Fischer’s lovebird has plenty of energy and can be a loyal friend if interacted with regularly. While energetic, Fischer’s tend to be gentler than other lovebird species, especially when in an aviary environment.
The popular peach-faced lovebird exudes a big personality in a small body. Peach faces love their playtime and positive interaction with their people. A peach-faced lovebird has a “busy beak” and might be inclined to tear up strips of paper and weave them in the cage bars.
A lovebird might be one of the smaller parrot species available as a companion pet, but this bird is inquisitive and seemingly always on the go. As their name suggests, lovebirds are known for the loving, attentive bond they tend to form with their mates.
Orange wings can be spunky and outgoing, but they tend to be mellower and less talkative compared to other Amazons. Like most Amazon parrots, they are social eaters and will appreciate the opportunity to share in healthy meals with their favored people.
Their outgoing personalities make yellow-naped Amazons one of the more popular Amazon species. Yellow napes can be talkative and gravitate toward toys that challenge them both physically and mentally. They also enjoy plenty of interaction with their people.
The lilac-crowned Amazon is one of the smaller Amazon species and tends to have a smaller voice compared to the larger, more boisterous yellow-crowned and double yellow-headed Amazons. Lilac crowns can be loyal companions and, like most Amazons, have hearty appetites.
There’s nothing shy about a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot. These birds are talkative, boisterous and inclined to burst out in song. Males are known for doing what is best described as a mach strut — tail feathers flared out, sliding across the floor while making shrilling sounds.
Amazon parrots are among the more popular medium-sized parrot species, which might have something to do with their gregarious personalities. They are often described as boisterous, playful, and outgoing — some even like to sing. Male Amazons have a reputation for exhibiting “macho” behavior — they might flare their tail feathers, pin their eyes and “strut” across the floor or table top.
The scarlet is a “sassy” bird, filled with energy and personality. It’s highly intelligent, as well as a capable escape artist.
The hyacinth macaw stunning cobalt-blue coloring and massive size will cause anyone to pause and take notice. Bright yellow around the eyes and at the base and the corners of the beak makes the largest of the macaw species appear to be in a perpetual smile. This is a parrot for someone who afford a hefty price tag and who has space to spare.
The green-winged macaw is among the largest macaw species. Its large beak can be intimidating, but this macaw has a reputation as a gentle giant.
