A pet bird is a big responsibility. Fortunately, there are different types and sizes for everyone.

It’s a good idea to study up on the needs of any species you’re considering purchasing before taking things too far. There is much information on the internet and in book stores about all the most popular birds. Since information is so readily available, there’s no excuse for not knowing ahead of time what you’re about to get yourself into!

For instance, any of the macaws are exceptionally beautiful, but they need hours of companionship a day, plus a very large cage and careful care and feeding. A smaller parrot like a cockatiel is often a better choice for a first bird. You can teach cockatiels how to talk, but budgies are even smaller and can have a pretty fair vocabulary as well.

The main thing is like so many other aspects of life, it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up.