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The Big, Colorful World of Birds
Birds come in a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors, personalities, and talents. Some are extremely affordable and some can be quite expensive, and some are very easy to take care of while others will need more maintenance. With all the birds available today, how do you know which one is right for you? Which will be the most compatible bird for you? This article will show you the great variety of birds available today, and show you which of these birds are most compatible with you, your lifestyle, and your personality!
Canaries
Canaries are small independent birds that do not need much personal interaction. Tweety bird is a famous canary that many of you may be familiar with. Canaries have been popular pets for over 500 years, valued for their range of colors (they are not all yellow like Tweety) and the male's beautiful singing ability. Only the male canary will sing and it will only sing if kept alone. The male canary will also learn new songs every spring, and this provides an excellent opportunity for creative interaction between bird and owner.
Finches
Finches are good for people who just want a bird to look at, or who do not have a lot of time to spend with their birds. This is because one, they are not a good bird to handle as they tend to want to quickly fly away if given the chance, and two, they do not need lots of attention and cuddling in order to thrive. Finches come in an huge assortment of different colors and are fairly inexpensive. Zebra finches are currently the most popular breed of finches. Finches do best in a pair or a small flock. They will keep each other company and do not need any care from their owner other than daily maintenance. Finches are songbirds, but they cannot be taught to talk or whistle a tune.
Parakeets
Budgies, more commonly known as parakeets, are for people who have more time to spend with their birds. However, these birds are still very good for people just starting out with birds. In fact, parakeets are probably the most kept bird in homes today. Parakeets are small parrots with captivating personalities. They will learn to step up on your finger and other simple tricks, and many can learn to mimic a few words. In fact, the male parakeet has the capacity to learn over 200 words although their speech may be garbled. Parakeets are also inexpensive birds. They make ideal pets for children and really thrive with lots of love and attention.
Quakers, or quaker parakeets, are a bit more expensive than the other small birds, but they are one of the most intelligent types of parakeets. They make great pets for people who want a small intelligent bird capable of talking, tricks, and that can be easily hand tamed. They are also quite hardy and friendly as well.
Cockatiels
Next, there are cockatiels. Cockatiels are great birds for people who are just starting out. In fact, they are currently the most popular breed of bird in the U.S. Cockatiels are mellow, cuddly birds that thrive on attention and affection. Parakeets and cockatiels are both rather quiet most of the time and are therefore good for apartment dwellers.
Conures
Another excellent small bird to keep is the conure. Conures are perfect for people who want the intelligence and personality of a big parrot in the body of a smaller bird. These are for people who have a lot of time to spend with their birds, because they require a lot of attention from their owners. These birds can also do tricks, like calling for your cat or hanging upside down to play. They have a fair to good learning and talking ability, and are also very playful and friendly.
The Larger or More Exotic Birds
Then there are the larger or more exotic birds such as big parrots (including Amazon parrots and African Grey parrots), lovebirds, cockatoos, and Macaws. These can be expensive birds and are not for everyone. They are also more sensitive and may need more maintenance than the smaller and more common birds mentioned in the earlier sections. These birds are also sometimes like little kids. They tend to need a lot of attention and love from their owners, and will suffer mentally and physically if they do not get it.
However, these beautiful and exotic birds are also extremely loveable, affectionate, and devoted pets. In addition, they tend to be extremely intelligent birds that have very captivating personalities, and can usually pick up just about anything you say and repeat it clearly just like it was your own voice. Many are capable of learning more complex tricks than the smaller and more common birds. They are so intelligent and curious that some of them have been known to pick the locks on their cages, so you may need to supervise them more closely.
If you do not spend a lot of time at home, you could get two of the same type of bird and they will bond more toward each other and have a playmate. This may not always the best way because they can get protective, and sometimes nippy when you get them out. If you want your bird to bond more toward you, you would be better off just getting one, with finches being an exception to this rule. Keep in mind that bird behavior can be as varied as human behavior, especially with the bigger and more intelligent birds. Also, a bird's training and socialization are huge factors in any bird's personality.
If you have any questions about birds and which bird is best for you as a pet, just ask us and we will help you any way we can.
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