Not sure what bird is right for you? Check these genus profiles. If a ? is noted it means I don’t have enough experience with the species to say.

Genus/Common Name	Nymphicus
Includes	Cockatiels
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited. Good whistler.
Lifespan	20-25
Noise	Quiet, but their contact call may be annoying.
Dimorphic	Yes. See my Guide to Sexing Tiels Visually.
Comments	See species profile for more information. The cockatiel is a good beginner bird that enjoys being pet more than a budgie.

Genus/Common Name	Lories
Includes	Lories and lorikeets.
Size	Tiny to medium.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	Varies.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very colorful and playful. Specialized diet (expensive and causes squirts).

Goffin cockatoo

Genus/Common Name	Cockatoos
Includes	Cockatoos
Size	Medium to large.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet to loud. Large species are typically very loud. My Goffin is very quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very demanding pets, but playful and highly intelligent. They are the cuddliest birds you can find. Difficult to breed. Males known for killing, maiming, and trapping hens during breeding.

Genus/Common Name	Eclectus
Includes	Eclectus
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	Very. Males are green and females are red.
Comments	Matriarcal. Stunning colors and odd feather texture.

 

Genus/Common Name	Aussie Keets
Includes	Polytelis (suberb, regent, princess), king, Platycerus (rosellas), Psephotus (red-rump, mulga), Neophema (bourke, scarlet-chest, turquoise).
Size	Small to medium.
Talking Ability	Varies.
Lifespan	10-30
Noise	Pleasant.
Dimorphic	Some species are.
Comments	Good aviary birds but not commonly kept as pets. Rosellas are curious as pets and love to whistle.

 Budgies come in a variety of colors.

Genus/Common Name	Melopsittacus
Includes	Budgie.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Very good.
Lifespan	5-15
Noise	Constant chattering. Usually not offensive.
Dimorphic	Yes.
Comments	See species profile for more information. Great beginner pets, but they usually do not come tame.

 

Genus/Common Name	Cyanoramphus
Includes	Kakarikis
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Good.
Lifespan	10-?
Noise	Pleasant.
Dimorphic	Yes, but it takes experience.
Comments	See species profile for more information. Kakarikis are high energy pets that require a lot of space and supervision. They rarely sit still for long and make very entertaining pets.

Genus/Common Name	Agapornis
Includes	Lovebirds.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	10-20
Noise	Like budgie only higher pitched.
Dimorphic	Some.
Comments	Make feisty and curious handfed pets.

Genus/Common Name	Psittacula
Includes	Indian ringneck, African ringneck, Alexandrine, plum-head, blossom-head, Derbyan, Moustached.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	20-30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	Yes.
Comments	See species profile for more information. This genus is unfairly labeled “standoffish.” Ringnecks make excellent pets if well socialized. They are highly intelligent, curious and playful. They do tend to be strong willed and require a more experienced or assertive owner.

 

Genus/Common Name	Poicephalus
Includes	Senegal, meyers, cape, jardine’s, brown-head.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	30-40
Noise	Quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good apartment birds. Senegals are the most popular.

 

Genus/Common Name	Ara
Includes	Macaws (extinct/endangered ones in other genus).
Size	Medium to large.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	80-100
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Not as popular as once were, perhaps due to size, expense and noise level. They are the larger relatives of conures. Intelligent and playful.

 

Genus/Common Name	Aratinga.
Includes	Most conures. Nanday in another genus but the profile still applies.
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Very loud for size. Playful, curious pets. Very outgoing and fun-loving. Tend to become one-person birds if you let them.

 

Genus/Common Name	Pyrrhura
Includes	Green-cheek, maroon-belly, pearl, paint and most other small conures.
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Limited.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Usually quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good for someone who likes conures but hates noise. These guys are smaller and generally much quieter.

 

Genus/Common Name	Brotogeris
Includes	White-wing, canary-wing, grey-cheek, and other “pocket parakeets.”
Size	Small.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	30
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Used to be available in large numbers. Very limited supply since importation stopped and these birds are difficult to breed. Known to be outstanding pets. Most of these birds should probably be in breeding programs though.

 

Genus/Common Name	Poinites
Includes	Caique
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	South American species. Curious and feisty.

 

Genus/Common Name	Parrotlet
Includes	Parrotlet
Size	Tiny to small.
Talking Ability	?
Lifespan	?
Noise	?
Dimorphic	I think some species are.
Comments	These guys are known as “mini amazons.” They have a large attitude for such small birds. They cannot be bred in colonies.

 

Genus/Common Name	Amazona
Includes	Amazons
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Loud.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Outgoing and boisterous. Some species more mellow (mealy, lilac-crown, orange-wing). Can be very aggressive during breeding displays. Get hyper easily. Some, like double yellow heads and yellow napes, love opera and will make up their own songs.

 

Genus/Common Name	Pionus
Includes	Pionus
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Moderate.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet.
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Good apartment birds. Appealing to people who like South Americans but dislike noise.

 

Genus/Common Name	Psittacus
Includes	African grey
Size	Medium.
Talking Ability	Excellent.
Lifespan	50-80
Noise	Quiet but like to pick up household noises to repeat constantly (much to the annoyance of some owners).
Dimorphic	No.
Comments	Highly intelligent and excellent mimics, but shy and sensitive. Can be badly affected by change if normally kept on a strict schedule. Plucking very common if stressed.

© 1997-2016 by Karen Trinkaus. May not be reprinted or used in any way without the author’s permission.