I would consider an African Grey Parrot,or a budgie,or maybe a Cockatoo because these are very intelligent birds with different personalities and, they are very playful.But if your into birds that talk I would consider mostly the African Grey P{arrot.
Those birds you mentioned e-z are VERY high needs care birds. Do the research on them thoroughly or you will end up with some major problems of behaviour.
I always say if you want an African Grey, a Macaw, a Cockatoo, etc. be prepared to introduce another person into the family that you will have to care for like a child for the next 50-80 years. There is nothing wrong with having one of these fellows as a pet, but they are a lifetime commitment. I love cockatiels...a cockatiel was my first bird. They have great personalities, and are very cuddley. Mine has picked up certain calls and phrases, so they Can learn to talk (despite what the ill informed masses say). They dont require HUGE cages (like the larger parrots require). My 'tiel is in a cage meant for a cockatoo...just because he is a spoiled brat, but as long as the bird can spread its'wings and not touch the sides of the cage, and can have toys in there without bumping into them, you are fine. They live about 15-20 years, and I haven't seen too many behavioral problems with them. However, before you purchase a bird...spend some time with a bird of that species. I really wanted an African Grey for a LONG time, and I had never spent much time with them. After 2 weeks with my friend's "Baby" I decided that an African Grey is not for me. African Greys don't take change too well, so vacations and stuff like that can really stress them out. Also, they aren't quite as cuddley as I like my birds to be. I changed my mind to a Goffins Cockatoo and a "mini Macaw"...and maybe more, so I can be a crazy bird lady. But, I think with a cockatiel, you will be happy, and if you are a good parent and start catching the bird fever, maybe you can purchase an African Grey or two.
If you are looking for a beginner bird, I wuold reccomend a 'teil, a budgie, or a lovebird. My first bird, (which is the only one I have right now) is a lovebird. Hope you make a choice that fits your personality, and good luck! Hope this helps...
Personally I would recommend a senegal parrot. He is my first bird and I just adore him. Though all birds require a great deal of care, these ones are lower cost, quieter, and lower maintenance than the larger birds, but they've got plenty of personality to boot. Though they're not known for being great talkers, they have the ability to talk, and many of them do, but mine hasn't spoken yet. From experience I think the senegal's a great starter bird. Though I would recommend getting online and just researching all different types of birds. I did a LOT of research before I decided that the senegal seemed to be exactly what I wanted.
I'd suggest either a budgie or a tiel. I used to have budgies and they're easy to take care of and friendly if you tame them right away. I have a tiel right now who I'm trying to tame since I hadn't whe we first got him and now he hates people, but I'm getting his wings clipped to make it easier to tame him and a few more weeks of taming and he should be a very good bird.
What ever bird you decide to get I suggest you TAME IT RIGHT AWAY.
Lately, I've seen a lot of hand-tamed budgies in the classifieds from breeders. Budgies are great if you get them when they are already imprinted. They can also develop a large vocabulary.
I've just read my post from a few months ago. I think it's funny how in the end I was saying, "I've decided an African Grey is not for me..." and then I found Hollywood (my African Grey) and fell in love with him.
Go with a cockatiel, lovebird, or small conure(Green cheeks are great for new bird owners)
Do not get a cockatoos, african grey, amazon, or macaw. Amazons(Smaller oens0may beok for a dedicated beginner but in my opinion birds areso complex and needy and have thepotential to be so loud that for a beginner I'd stick the smaller birds. Allt eh largers parrots are very intelligent and require lots and ltos of time with their flock(family) Amazons require about 4 hours, and gresy need about 6 and cockatoos bascially need the entire day.
Cockatiels are great, I cannot stress how wodnerful those little birds are. They are very sweet, and although some are not cuddly per say they love to ride on your shoudler and preen your hair, or just get lots of scritches. They are very common and not too expensive but nto too small either.
Lovebirds are wonderful, but can be very saucey and territorial as well as nippy. But even apst that they can be sweet hearts. Just rmember wheneve ryoug et a pet bird get one at a time, and cage them seperately.
Budgies aren't a favorite of mine jsut because it is so hard to find a hand fed/hand raised budgie. (ANy bird you get should be hand raised or hand fed, and at least hand tame) But a hand tame or hand raised budgie makes a wonderful companion. But they also can tend to be a little nippy and possibly territorial.
Green cheeks are fabulous! Those little snuggle bugs are very sweet, and cuddly, and even mroe cuddly! Tehy do go through anippy phase(The terrible 2 stage haha) Around their second year and possible once again whent hey hit sexual maturity. But even still they are also very common and although they are bigger than a cockatiel they aren't that much mroe expensive, and do not require such a big cage that many fo the other conures do. (But always get the biggest cage you acn afford!!) Green cheeks are great beginner birds as long as you spend an horu with them, or more! They love cuddles and love to play games. Their personalities and clownish antics will ahve your heart melting in seconds.
I know you probably already got a bird but I lvoe tlakign about them so...yea. Did you ever get a fid? What kind?
