What Are The Best Small Parrots As Pets?

Small parrots make excellent pets, especially for small children, as a larger parrot is more aggressive and scary for small children to handle. Here I discuss what are the best small parrots as pets.

For as long as I can remember I have always had some or other type of small parrot as a pet. My first small parrot was a cockatiel, and of all the parrots I have owned in my life, the cockatiel remains my favorite.

How To Go About Choosing The Best Small Parrots As Pets

When you are deciding what the best small parrots as pets are, you need to ask yourself just what you are looking for.

• Must the bird talk well?
• Must it be easy to care for?
• What price am I willing to pay?
• Do I want a bird that does tricks?
• Do I want an attractive bird?
• How much space do I have for the bird?
• How much time can I afford to spend with my small parrot each day?
• How much money do I want to spend on food each month?

Let us look at some of the parrot types from smallest to biggest:

Parrotlets:

The parrotlet is the smallest parrot species, and not quite as popular as the budgie.

Parrotlets come in several varieties, each with its own unique traits.

However, one thing that they all have in common is that they can make wonderful pets with proper care. Parrotlets need a lot of socialization and exercise, so those who adopt them must have lots of spare time to spend with them. Some can learn to talk, but even those who don’t tend to have large personalities that shine through in their antics.

Their closest cousins are Amazon parrots, so it is no surprise that they have such comical dispositions.

Budgies:

Budgies are pretty, small, and easy to take care of. They can be finger-trained and can also be taught to speak, but will take longer to learn than their bigger counterparts.

They are great for children because they don’t have massive beaks, but your child needs to be taught how to handle the bird gently. Budgies are very social and like to have a partner. They are a bit aggressive towards other bird types and it is not a good idea to put them in an aviary with other types of birds. They can however be put with cockatiels, although they do tend to bully the cockatiels.

They chatter softly and are not too loud like some of their bigger counterparts.

They are easy to take care of and eat very little.

Lovebirds:

Lovebirds are very popular and they are stunning to look at. They come in a variety of types, but they can all make great pets with proper training and socialization.

Lovebirds don’t normally talk but can be taught to do tricks.  Single lovebirds make better pets than pairs do, as a single bird will attach to its owner rather than its partner.

Beware though, I have found them to be great escape artists, which is why we see so many of them flying around in the wild.

Small Conures:

The majority of small conures are medium-sized or larger parrots, but some smaller Conure species can be great choices for those looking for the best small parrots as pets. The Black-Capped Conures are 10 inches long and the Half-Moon Conures are even smaller.

They look like their larger counterparts, but they are a lot smaller and compact, which is what makes them so popular.

Conures are lovely for people who would like a larger parrot like a cockatoo or a macaw but don’t have the room or the money to buy them.

They tend to be very loud for their size, but they are extremely intelligent, bond strongly with their owners, and love to learn tricks and play games.

Cockatiels:

Cockatiels, although a bit smaller than Conures also make wonderful pets. They are easy to train if you get them young, and are also very easy to take care of. They don’t eat a lot, and can give you a lot of joy.

Cockatiels in my opinion are the best small parrots as pets, as they have unique characters, and soon make themselves part of the family. If you are looking to have a talking bird, only the males talk. They are also more attractive than the females and easier to train.

Indian Ringnecks:

Indian Ringnecks are highly intelligent parrots and also make great pets. They come in many different colors and are very attractive. The males have a ring around their necks, hence the name.

Caution has to be taken though if they are not trained, as they can give a nasty bite. They are intelligent birds and make great pets. Ringnecks love to show off.

They are great talkers and speak with phenomenal clarity.

They make loving pets if trained from young, and as medium-sized parrots are easy to take care of.

Rainbow Lorikeets:

Rainbow Lorikeets are another medium-sized parrot that is also easy to take care of and make great pets.

They are beautiful, sweet, affectionate birds who are known for their comical antics and congenial personalities.

In most parrot species young birds must be hand-fed to be properly trained to step up and acclimated to human touch, however many have noted that even wild Lorikeets seem to be quite friendly toward people and easy to socialize.

Rainbow Lorikeets can live up to 30 years, so they will be around for the long haul.

Whichever you choose as your favorite small parrots as pets, I am sure they will bring you joy for many years to come.