How exciting! You’re on the journey of becoming a parrot owner and now looking at parrot species that might be a good fit for you. In this post, we’ll cover my personal recommendation on what the best parrot species is for a beginner owner.
When it comes to choosing the best parrot species. I would not be doing my job if I don’t mention that the best parrot species will be the one that aligns best to your interests and personal lifestyle. If you’re interested in doing your own research and making that decision for yourself be sure to read ‘Which Parrot Species Should I Get? Essential Questions to Ask ‘. In that blog, I provide journal prompts to help you through your decision criteria.
Table of Contents:
What is a Beginner Owner?
When it comes to parrot ownership, there is really no such thing as an easy companion or beginner bird. They all have their unique quirks and challenges which you will learn to handle over time. Be sure to read ‘10 Things you MUST know before getting a Parrot‘ before continuing!
There is such a thing as a Beginner Owner! A Beginner Owner is someone who has had no experience caring for a parrot before. This means that you are new to parrot care and behavior in general. Everything is new and there is a lot to learn, so be sure to come back to the community for support and help on your journey. That said, there are parrot species that are more suitable for those that are new.
Top Species for a Beginner Owner
🥁*Drum Roll Please!* 🥁
Man there is so much debate out there, and parrot species is an incredibly personal preference. That said, having met many types of parrots and done my own research over time. My top recommendations for a beginner owner would be… LOVEBIRDs
Photo courtesy of Regan Dsouza via Pexels
Why did I choose this species?
This recommendation for beginner owners is driven by four key factors – level of enrichment, level of intelligence, level of affection, and risk of injury. Now there are many more to consider which I’ll put as well below. But if I had to choose, these four factors would be my decision criteria.
#1: Level of Enrichment (aka. Attention)
Lovebirds have a nice balance of social needs. As a new parrot owner, you won’t be as experienced in providing in engagement or finding creative ways to keep your companions entertained (this often takes time and lots of research). Therefore, when choosing a beginner parrot it is good to consider one that requires a relatively lower level of human enrichment and has a certain level of self sufficiency.
Now, this will sound like a broken record but each individual bird has their own preferences and needs. That said, in general Lovebirds are known to be more on the self sufficient side. They respond well to toys and often enjoy tearing things to shreds. Many can entertain themselves for a good portion of a day and do well with 2-3 hours of direct human attention.
#2: Level of Intelligence (aka. Emotional Demand)
Tightly related to the level of enrichment is the level of intelligence. Lovebirds aren’t stupid by any means (no parrot is), but they aren’t the highest intelligence on the parrot spectrum. You’ll most often hear African Grays take that title. 🏆
Interesting fact – the African Gray are said to have the intelligence relative to a four- to six-year-old child. In comparison, Lovebirds are more like two to three years old children.
In general, the smarter any animal is, the more complex their emotion needs are to remain healthy and sane. Think of parrots more like human children; for example, what would a two year old child need in terms of emotional support and mental stimulation vs. a seven year old? The seven year old naturally has more complex emotional needs, a higher requirement for attention/play/engagement.
#3: Level of Affection (aka. “Cuddliness”)
Now on the flip side, many parrot owners are also looking for emotional support and companionship in their own lives. Very few choose parrots purely for a training focus or want an at-a-distance type of relationship. A huge draw to parrots for many people is that they are more affectionate than fish, rodents and reptiles, and tend to be closer to cats and dogs. Therefore, how cuddly a parrot can be is a key decision criteria in my recommendation.
Lovebirds, on average, can be affectionate and cuddly. They are called Lovebirds afterall! They are the type of bird who enjoys on shoulders, in hoodies and enjoy being in your company. They are known to snuggle (on their terms) to seek affection and skritches. 🥰
As an aside, since they are more of a small-medium sized parrot, they are also the perfect size to cup in your hand or have cuddled up to your face.
#4: Risk of Injury (if bitten)
OKay. This one is important. In the blog, ‘10 Things you MUST know before getting a Parrot‘, one thing that was emphasized is that “getting a parrot = getting nipped“. Despite all of our best efforts, eventually we all get bit 🥲
As a new parrot owner, this is the toughest part because there will be a period where you are learning how to understand parrot emotions and communication; and as you learn, you will likely make mistakes and parrots will let you know immediately. *chomp*
There are two main reasons why this is a critical criteria for beginner parrot owners:
First – because parrot bites can lead to injury. Larger birds, like macaws, have the power to break bones with their beak! Therefore, if you are a first time parrot owner, it is best to get a parrot that will do non-critical damage. You might see blood or bruising but nothing that is severe.
Second – and arguably more important, because you cannot be afraid of your bird. In order to be a good parrot owner and strike balance in the relationship, each side must be able to push back and express boundaries without instilling fear. A scared parrot is not good, but neither is a scared parrot owner.
Other Factors to Consider
This is not part of the four critical criteria, but I’ll list it anyway.
Here are additional bonus factors that I think make Lovebirds a good parrot for beginner owners:
- Variation of Color – Lovebirds have lots of sub-species have all sorts of beautiful coloration! Not to mention they are adorable.
- Size – Lovebirds would be classified in the small to medium sized parrots. They make cute sized cuddle buddies and are good for small homes.
- Noise Type – Lovebirds tend to be the species that is very chatty, chirps rather than squawk and have a higher pitch.
- Noise Level – Lovebirds call at lower decibels. It is not as loud and sharp to the ears. Better for those new to these type of sounds.
- Cost of Ownership – Lovebirds are small and don’t require enormous cages. Their food and toy costs are standard.
Here are potential negative factors that are worth keeping in mind:
- Energy Levels – Lovebirds are known to be high energy, so if you are looking to chill out with your parrot most days. This might not be a fit for you.
- Egg Laying, Nippy and Nesting Behavior – All birds face these issues, however Lovebirds are known to be slightly more prone to these so it will be something to watch out for.
Why did I eliminate the others for a Beginner Owner?
Many hours was spent analyzing and re-analyzing… ultimately the other species we’re eliminated based on the four key criterias. Here is the reference table if you’re interested! Lovebirds won just by a hair.
👑 Honorable mentions to: Parakeets, Parrotlets, Cockatiels and Conures
Would I have changed my decision if I could go back in time?
IT IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL that my blog name happen to be LuvBirb and that I am recommending a LoveBird! 😂
If I could go back in time, I would absolutely have evaluated Lovebirds more seriously. To be honest, it is a species that I had not thought about when I started my journey. Thinking retrospectively, there are certain things like noise type and volume that is more suitable for my home, but I never regret having Tango in my life.
However, I do know Tango is very particular and as I think about children in the future I wonder how this will work. Perhaps Lovebird would be an appropriate way to introduce my children to birds. That is a question that I couldn’t figure out online, if you own a lovebird let me know. Are they good with children? Are they more ‘forgiving’ than perhaps other species of parrots? I myself don’t mind getting bitten but children might have a harder time.
Final Thoughts
Please continue your research! This is a recommendation at the species level and is a generalization of parrot species behavior. The best next step is to go down the research rabbit hole and research sub-species (they come in 9 types!), watch a lot of youtube videos (good and bad behavior) and reach out to members of the community. The more people you talk to the more you’ll be prepared!
- BluePlanetPets: Lovebirds: Understanding Their Gentle Nature | TikTok
- Marlene McCohen: Is a Lovebird The Right Bird For You? 🦜 | #lovebird #parrots
- BirdTricks: Lovebirds
You’re probably wondering Why didn’t I mention hormones? The reality with parrots is that there isn’t a single species out there that has low/no hormones; they all have ups- & downs. There isn’t going to be a parrot that has no hormones so it shouldn’t be a determining factor in your decision, rather something we all accept as core part of parrot personality. Heads-up, Lovebirds are also known to be more territorial/nest-y but many bird species are as well.
Choose your breeders wisely. Just like any animal, how they are raised early in life is a key contributing factor to their comfort zones and overall behavior. When doing your research be sure to evaluate different breeders and if possible identify one that spend lots of time with the babies when they are hatchlings.
Any species can be a fit for you. Just because you are a first time owner, does not mean you can’t go for an African Grey or Macaw. We all started with no experience once upon a time. What is most important is your own dedication, patience and passion for the species.
Keep the Conversation Going!
This is one person’s research and recommendation, let me know your thoughts below. It was hard to narrow it down to just one, but what would you recommend and why? Did I miss any that should be a candidate here?
