Bird Guide

Finches	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Zebra and Community Finches	5-6 inch	Show Little	Low	Beg.	Large Flight Cage	5-15 year	Seed Fruit Worms Greens	Social: Pairs or groups if adequate sized cage – keep all females unless you intend to breed. Personality: Does not bond with humans Easy to find Messy eaters Do not need time outside cage
	Gouldian Finch or Rainbow Finch	5-6 inch	Show Little	Low	Beg.	Large Flight Cage	5-15 year	Seed Fruit Worms	Social: Pairs or groups if adequate sized cage. Personality: Does not bond with humans Unless proper conditions, hard to breed. Do not need time outside cage
	Canary, domestic	3-4 inch	Show Little	Low	Beg.	Large Flight Cage	10-15 year	Seed Fruit Greens	Social: Pairs Personality: Does not bond with humans Only solitary males will sing Do not need time outside cage Come in several colors (not just yellow)
Doves and Pigeons	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information As most pigeons and doves are kept in aviaries, please find a good website on dove/pigeon care and free-flight. There are many species available.
	Pigeons and Doves	12-15 inch	Show Little	Low	Inter	Large aviary 6 feet x 8 feet	10-12 year	Seed	Social: Kept in colonies-can be terretorial Personality: Not affectionate birds. Do not bond with humans. Some can be allowed free flight – not all species will return – for example the smaller Ringneck Dove (see below) among others. Many species available.
	Ringneck Dove	11-12 inch	Show Medium	Low	Inter	Large cage or aviary 6 feet x 8 feet	10-15 year	Seed	Social: Kept in colonies-This Dove can be kept in a cage single or in pairs. Can be territorial. Personality: Sweet natured, tame Like flight time outside of cage.
Parrots Lovebirds SMALL	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Lovebirds, Fischer’s	5-6 inch	Handle/ Show Lots if one Medium if 2 or more	Medium	Beg.	Large or aviary minimum 24x24x 30 high	10-15 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: One or in pairs Personality: Curious, feisty, loveable, very active, can be jealous and territorial. Hard to tame. Mimic/Talk: Low to none – Females more apt to mimic than males Timid at first. Generally does not like to be handled/ touched. Will perch on shoulder.
	Lovebirds, Masked	5-6 inch	Handle/ Show Lots if one Medium if 2 or more	Medium	Beg.	Large or aviary minimum 24x24x 30 high	10-15 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: One or in pairs Personality: More shy and reserved than Peach Faced. Curious, Feisty, loveable, very active, can be jealous and territorial, Mimic/Talk: Low to none – Females more apt to mimic than males
	Lovebirds, Peach Face	5-6 inch	Handle/ Show Lots if one Medium if 2 or more	Medium	Beg.	Large or aviary minimum 24x24x 30 high	10-15 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: One or in pairs Personality: Curious, Feisty, loveable, very active, can be jealous and territorial, Mimic/Talk: Low to none – Females more apt to mimic than males Timid at first. Generally does not like to be handled/ touched. Will perch on shoulder
Parrots SMALL to MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information Most Parrots like to chew-provide safe toys.
	Budgerigar *Parakeet* *Shown Alexandrine Parakeet*	7-24 inch Range See Gen. Info.	Handle Lots if one Medium if 2 or more	Medium	Beg.	Medium to Large cage depend-ing on size.	10-40 year Range See Gen. Info	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: Either an even number of Males and Females or several males. Females may not get along together. Personality: Easy to tame if acquired young. Mimic/Talk: Moderate/High (can be hard to understand) Females like to chew, provide cuttlebone. Can cause hypertensive pneumonitis in handlers. Many subspecies/range of colors and sizes and lifespan.
	Budgies or Budgerigar, American *Parakeet*	7 inch	Handle Lots if one Medium if 2 or more	Medium	Beg.	Medium cage minimum 18x18x 20 high	10-15 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: Either an even number of Males and Females or several males. Females may not get along together. Personality: Easy to tame if acquired young. Playful, Active Mimic/Talk: Moderate/High (can be hard to understand) Females like to chew, provide cuttlebone. Can cause hypertensive pneumonitis in handlers.
	Parrotlets	4 ½ - 5 inch	Handle Medium/ Lots	Low	Beg.	Medium/ Large cage minimum 18x18x 20 high	20-30 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg	Social: Single Personality: Can learn tricks, playful, active, territorial, Mimic/Talk: Low/Moderate – Males more than females. Clip wings
Parrots Lorikeet/Lory SMALL/ MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Lories/ Lorikeets Small Australian *Shown Purple Crowned Lorikeet*	7-8 inch	Handle Lots	Low to Medium	Inter	Large cage or aviary	10 year	Nectar based diet Fruit	Social: Do not keep with other parrots because of diet. Best single or pairs unless in aviary. Personality: Curious, high strung, ‘clownish’, acrobatic, playful, like to dance Mimic/Talk: Low Messy due to their diet (watery droppings) Lorikeets have longer tails than Lories Many different species
	Lories/ Lorikeets Large Tropical *Shown Rainbow Lorikeet*	9-12	Handle Lots	Loud	Inter	Extra Large cage or aviary	20-25 year	Nectar based diet Fruit	Social: Do not keep with other parrots because of diet. Best in single or pairs unless in aviary. Personality: Curious, high strung, ‘clownish’, acrobatic, playful, like to dance, can be stubborn. Needs obedience training. Mimic/Talk: High Messy due to their diet (watery droppings) Lorikeets have longer tails than Lories
	Lory Black Capped	12-13 inch	Handle Lots	Very Loud	Inter	Extra Large cage or aviary	20-25 year	Nectar based diet Fruit	Social: Do not keep with other parrots because of diet. Best single or pairs Personality: Curious, high strung, ‘clownish’, acrobatic, playful, like to dance, can be stubborn. Needs obedience training. Mimic/Talk: High Develops a strong bond with owner Messy due to their diet (watery droppings)
Parrots Mini Macaw SMALL/ MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Hahn’s, Red Shouldered or Noble Mini Macaw	12-15 inch	Handle Lots	Medium to Loud	Beg.	Large cage with perch	20-25 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg	Social: One or in pairs Personality: Most adaptable, friendly and trainable of all the mini-macaws. Mimic/Talk: Moderate
	Severe or Chestnut- Fronted Macaw	18 inch	Handle Lots	Medium to Loud	Inter	Large cage with perch	30+ year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg	Social: One or in pairs Personality: Playful, like to be handled, animated Mimic/Talk: Moderate
	Yellow Collared macaw	15 inch	Handle Lots	Medium to Loud	Inter	Large cage with perch	30+ years	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg	Social: One or in pairs Personality: Nervous. Does not do well with children or noisy household. Mimic/Talk: Moderate
Parrots MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Caiques, White Bellied shown, and Black Headed	8-10 inch	Handle Lots	Medium	Inter	Medium/ Large cage minimum 18x18x 20 high	20 years	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: Do not like other species of parrots Personality: Active, stubborn, outgoing, fearless Mimic/Talk: Low – will mimic sounds Has unusual odor Not good flyers – prefer to hop, jump walk and climb
	Cockatiel	12-13 inch	Handle Lots	Loud/ Medium	Beg.	Large cage minimum 20x20x 26 high	15-20 year	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pair (although pairs don’t bond as well to humans. Do not mix with larger birds or aggressive birds-may get ‘picked on’. Personality: Calm, can whistle tunes, easy to tame, friendly, can vary from shy to social, some birds ‘hiss’ when upset, docile, playful Mimic/Talk: Low-will mimic sounds more than speech. (can be hard to understand) males better ‘talkers’ than female.
	Pionus Parrots Blue headed shown, Dusky, White Capped, etc.	10-13 inch Range	Handled Medium	Quiet	Beg.	Large cage minimum 20x20x 26 high	50+ years	Seed Pellet Fruit Veg	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Quiet, gentle, good for children, reserved, independent, low maintenance, sweet. Mimic/Talk: Low/Moderate Other Pionus include Maximilian’s and Bronze winged. These birds are generally overlooked, but are more quiet and require less attention than most other parrots.
	Quaker or Monk Parrot	11-12 inch	Handle daily Lots	Medium	Beg.	Medium/ Large cage minimum 18x18x 20 high	25-30 year	Seed Pellet Veg. Fruit	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Intelligent, comical, social, learns quickly Mimic/Talk: Moderate/High Does well in most climates, including cold – may be illegal in some states such as Massachusetts-it is adaptable and hardy, so may become a nuisance to certain ecosystems.
Parrots Conures MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Conure, Sun or Sun Parakeet	12 inch	Handle daily Lots	Loud	Beg /Inter	Large cage with perches	25-30 year	Seed Pellet Veg. Fruit	Social: Community (get along with other birds) Personality: Active, Playful, Bold, Moody, Learn tricks, friendliest of conures. Mimic/Talk: Low Best to buy hand-reared Conure Bleeding Syndrome – lack of Vitam. K Watch perch placement so tail does not get caught Clip flight wings
	Conure, Green cheeked shown and Maroon Bellied	10 inch	Handle daily Lots of Atten.	Medium	Beg/ Inter	Large cage with perches	25-30 year	Seed Pellet Veg. Fruit	Social: Community Personality: Active, Playful, Bold, Moody, Learn tricks Mimic/Talk: Low Conure Bleeding Syndrome – lack of Vitam. K Watch perch placement so tail does not get caught Clip flight wings
	Conure, Jenday	11 inch	Handle daily Lots of Atten.	Loud Not as high pitched as Sun Conure	Beg/ Inter	Large cage with perches	25-30 year	Seed Pellet Veg. Fruit	Social: Community Personality: Active, Playful, Bold, Moody, Learn tricks Mimic/Talk: Low Conure Bleeding Syndrome – lack of Vitam. K Watch perch placement so tail does not get caught Clip flight wings
Parrots Poicephalus MEDIUM	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Jardine’s Parrot	11 inch	Handled Lots	Low/ Medium	Beg/ Inter	Large 4x3x3 feet or outdoor aviary	25+ yea	Seed Pellet Veg.	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Sweet nature, does not favor just one person Mimic/Talk: Moderate
	Meyer’s Parrot	8-9 inch	Handled Lots	Low	Beg/ Inter	Large 4x3x3 feet or outdoor aviary	30+ year	Seed Pellet Veg.	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Lively, friendly, playful, timid, can be nervous Mimic/Talk: Low, but mimics sound
	Red Bellied Parrot	8-9 inch	Handled Lots	Low	Beg/ Inter	Large 4x3x3 feet or outdoor aviary	25+ year	Seed Pellet Veg.	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Outgoing, playful, enjoy being handled, active, easy to train Mimic/Talk: Moderate
	Senegal Parrot	9-10 inch	Handled Lots	Low/ Medium	Beg/ Inter	Large 4x3x3 feet or outdoor aviary	25-30+ year	Seed Pellet Veg.	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Friendly, lively, playful, get attached to one person Mimic/Talk: Moderate Likes wooden toys
Parrots African Grey LARGE	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	African Grey Parrot *Congo*	13 inch	Handled Lots	Low/ Medium	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Friendly, extremely intelligent, gets bored easy, gentle, can be nippy Mimic/Talk: High Able to learn an extensive vocabulary and understand, need lots of stimulation, learns tricks, learns games Provide a stand outside the cage Health: Prone to calcium deficiency
	African Grey Parrot *Timneh*		Handled Lots	Low/ Medium	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single or pairs. Personality: Friendly, extremely intelligent, gets bored easy, gentle, can be nippy Mimic/Talk: High Able to learn an extensive vocabulary and understand, need lots of stimulation, learns tricks, learns games Provide a stand outside the cage Health: Prone to calcium deficiency
Parrots Amazons LARGE	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information
	Blue Fronted Amazon	15 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single; males can be aggressive Personality: Intelligent, ranked 3^rd in talking ability, loves to sing, affectionate to owners, can be moody Mimic/Talk: High Clip wings Loves water
	Double Yellow Headed or Yellow Headed Amazon	14-17 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single; males can be aggressive Personality: Extremely intelligent, talking ability just under African Grey Parrot, active, willful, can be nippy Mimic/Talk: High (best talker among Amazons)
	Lilac Crowned or Finsch’s Parrot	13 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Friendly, intelligent, sweet disposition, likes to sing, more likely to get along with all family members Mimic/Talk: Low/Moderate
	Yellow Crowned or Yellow Fronted Amazon	14-15 inch	Handled Lots	Very Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Intelligent, not as nippy as some other males, friendly by nature, affectionate Mimic/Talk: High Loves to fly, does well in outdoor aviary,
	Yellow Naped Amazon	12-15 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	50-65 years	Fruits Veg. Pellet Protein	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Clever, obedient, gentle, easy to train, affectionate, intelligent, excellent talker along with the Blue Fronted Mimic/Talk: High
Parrots Cockatoos LARGE	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information Do not do well with children Allergy Alert: Shed feather dust
	Moluccan or Salmon Crested Cockatoo	20 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	75+ years	Nuts Fruits Pellets	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Emotionally needed, hard to train, bonds to one person, can be nippy, sweet, affectionate Mimic/Talk: Moderate Needs human interaction Shed a powdery feather dust Prone to feather picking and self mutilation Messy eaters
	Sulfur Crested Cockatoo Greater shown and Lesser	19 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	60+ year	Nuts Fruits Pellets	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Sweet tempered, loving, affectionate, easy to train Mimic/Talk: Moderate Shed a powdery feather dust Prone to feather picking and self mutilation Messy eaters
	Umbrella Cockatoo	12 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	Extra Large 30x30x 36 high Add another outside perch	75+ years	Nuts Fruits Pellets	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Can be destructive, nippy, moderate training, sweet, affectionate, demands attention Mimic/Talk: Moderate Shed a powdery feather dust Prone to feather picking and self mutilation Messy eaters
Parrots Macaws LARGE	Common Name	Size	Attention	Sound	Level of Care	Cage	Lifespan	Food	General Information Due to their size, they need lots of time outside the cage
	Blue and Gold Macaws	30-34 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Inter/ Adv	X-Large Macaw Cage or aviary	50+ year	Seeds Pellets Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Affectionate, personable, inquisitive, intelligent, even tempered, adaptable to change Mimic/Talk: Moderate/High Does well in families
	Green Winged Macaws	39 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Inter/ Adv	X-Large Macaw Cage or aviary	50+ year	Seeds Pellets Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Docile, sweet disposition, ‘gentle giant’, tolerant of other pets Mimic/Talk: Moderate/High
	Hyacinth Macaws	40 inch	Handled Lots	Medium	Inter/ Adv	X-Large Macaw Cage or aviary	50+ year	Seeds Pellets Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Sweet, extremely gentle, largest Macaw and second largest parrot, playful, affectionate, good with children/families, plays jokes, easily trained, performs tricks Mimic/Talk: Moderate Very expensive – aprox. $10,000
	Military Macaws	25-27 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	X-Large Macaw Cage or aviary	50+ year	Seeds Pellets Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pairs Personality: With good socialization can be tame and friendly, good show bird, intelligent, learns tricks, can be moody Mimic/Talk: Moderate
	Scarlet Macaws	32-36 inch	Handled Lots	Loud	Adv	X-Large Macaw Cage or aviary	50+ year	Seeds Pellets Fruit Veg.	Social: Single or pairs Personality: Social, affectionate, can be cranky, need frequent interaction, dominant Mimic/Talk: Moderate