Parrotlet Size:

Parrotlets are “big birds” in tiny bodies. Intelligent and fearless.

Slightly smaller than parakeets, the Parrotlet grows to about 5 inches at full maturity.

When kept well Parrotlets can live up to 20 years in captivity.

Parrotlet Care:

Unlike most pet birds, the Parrotlet is one that typically does better alone, in fact when kept in pairs one Parrotlet is likely to become dominant over the other, exhibiting possessive and even bullying behaviors.

Parrotlet Diet:

The diet of the parrotlet is very close to the diet of the parakeet, lovebird, and cockatiel. A balanced blend of low-fat seed mixture (about 75%) along with some fresh fruits and vegetables (about 25%) daily will meet their nutritional needs.

Parrotlet Habitat:

Despite their smaller size, Parrotlets are highly active and intelligent so need a lot of room to move around, spread their wings, and play in, so to keep your bird happy and healthy ensure to provide an adequate-sized cage.

Parrotlet Behavior:

Parrotlets tend to be little bundles of energy. They’ll spend hours swinging, climbing, exploring, and playing with the toys you provide them–as well as anything else they can find.

It should be kept in mind that Parrotlets have very strong beaks for their tiny size, so when purchasing toys or other items for them be sure to get things made for bigger birds like cockatiels and conures, not budgies or parakeets or finches, and constantly check their toys and perches for signs of wear, they will need to be replaced a little more frequently than with other birds.

Parrotlet Care Conclusion:

Not just active and intelligent, but Parrotlets are also very affectionate birds that tend to form strong bonds with their human keepers. When raised and tamed from an early age they make excellent and entertaining companions for owners of all experience levels.

Dive deeper into this fun bird with information straight from veterinarians.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

Parakeet Size:

Because of the wide variety of Parakeet species, there is a lot of variation in their size and lifespans, but an average Parakeet will grow to about seven inches at full maturity, with average lifespans ranging between ten and twenty years with well-kept birds.

Parakeet Care:

Parakeets have a relatively low maintenance care requirement. Keep them fed, make sure they get plenty of exercises both in and out of their cage, give them attention and plenty of toys to keep their minds stimulated, and in general they should thrive.

These playful and social birds generally do much better when kept in pairs than alone, so we highly encourage planning to raise and keep multiple Parakeets instead of just one. Your birds will be happier and healthier as a result.

Parakeet Diet:

Parakeets need a well-balanced diet of seed mix, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables should account for about a quarter of their diet, with seeds and nuts making up the rest.

It’s important to provide them with fresh feed daily. A Parakeet can die after just a single day without food due to their high metabolism rates.

Parakeet Habitat:

Despite their smaller size, Parakeets need a lot of room to move around, spread their wings, and play in, so to keep your bird happy and healthy ensure to provide an adequate-sized cage. This is especially important to consider when you keep two or more Parakeets.

Parakeet Behavior:

Happy Parakeets tend to be very vocal, typically chirping and singing, talking and mimicking various sounds they hear in the environment regularly. For most owners, this is a lovely and relaxing experience that can entertain you for hours, but for those living in apartments sometimes it can be a bit much.

Parakeets, especially males, will do a lot of head bobbing and prancing about, often it can appear as though they’re dancing. It’s highly entertaining and a good sign that your bird is happy.

Parakeet Care Synopsis:

Being sturdy, affectionate, social, easy to tame, and low-end on the maintenance needs scale, Parakeets make excellent pet birds for owners of all levels and typically do well in homes with children as well.

Learn more about Parakeets and other birds straight from veterinarians here.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

Owl Size:

The size of Owls can range from as little as 5 inches tall to about 2.5 feet at full maturity, and their wingspans can range from a foot to well over 6 feet in length. Most species of Owls are at the lower end of these ranges.

The lifespan of Owls ranges by species as well, from 10 years up to 30 years on average.

Owl Care:

Owls are raptors. Hunters. Birds of prey. Much like their cousin, the hawk. This is crucial to know and keep in mind before deciding to make an Owl the family pet. They’re not suitable for homes with children or other small animals which they may decide look like a tasty treat at any time.

They’re also not the cuddly or hands-on type of birds, preferring to spend most of their time in solitude, perched and conserving their energy for the next “hunt”.

Owls don’t have that “flock” mentality in the wild, and they won’t adopt it in captivity either. If human-imprinted from an early age they will bond with their keeper, but even this comes with certain concerns as Owls are known to become aggressive towards other humans who come around once they’ve bonded with a specific human.

This can be especially problematic if the owner becomes ill or wishes to travel on vacation, as the Owl may not respond well to anyone else caring for it during the time.

They also need lots and lots of space. To remain healthy and vibrant Owls must have room and opportunity to spread their wings and fly, even tethered flying, and they can’t just be kept in a large cage intended for bigger parrots.

Owls also need access to a clean bath pan constantly. They are frequent bathers to keep their feathers and wings clean which allows them to fly silently, an instinctual and handy skill for a bird of prey. If they become dirty their wings will actually make ruffled sounds when flying.

Owl Diet:

Unlike other pet birds, a diet of seeds, fruits, and vegetables won’t provide an Owl with its nutritional needs. These are carnivorous birds of prey that feed on other animals. A diet of rodents and small birds is necessary for them.

This alone makes them less than desirable as pets to many, though from our perspective it isn’t very different from keeping snakes or lizards who also feed on small animals, but this is something to consider as well before deciding to keep an Owl.

Owl Habitat:

As mentioned above, Owls have high space demands. There aren’t normal bird cages made that are large enough to keep them comfortable.

The best situation is an aviary or free-loft with both indoor and outdoor access or areas.

Provided that the owner is available to take the Owl outside daily for some flying and exercise time, this solution can work.

Owl Behavior:

Not cuddly at all, Owls can display a limited amount of affection towards their owners if they’ve bonded. Owls don’t have that natural flock mentality of most birds, but they do form deep monogamous relationships in the wild, and once bonded with a human keeper will view them as their “mate”.

Very independent, Owls are content to sit perched for hours on end just watching their surroundings. This is their natural behavior in the wild, to conserve energy for when they spot prey to swoop in on, and they’ll do the same in captivity as well.

Another consideration is that Owls are nocturnal, being most active at dusk and dawn. For an owner with a busy day schedule, this can prove to be a blessing, but the unusual hours of the bird can be draining for some.

Owl Care Conclusion:

Not good pets for most people, the Owl can make a wonderful companion for the right, experienced owner. We strongly advise anyone considering an Owl for their home to consult with a veterinarian and Owl specialist first to ensure your home is going to be adequate for the bird.

You should also check the legalities of keeping a pet Owl in your area as the laws tend to differ from one location to another.

Learn more about the variety and nuances of Owls here.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

Meyer’s Parrot Size:

The Meyer’s Parrot typically grows to about 8 or 9 inches at full maturity, with a wingspan of about 6 inches.

Their lifespan in captivity can vary, but if well kept and cared for they can live 25 years or longer.

Meyer’s Parrot Care:

These birds differ from many other parrots in that the Meyer’s Parrot doesn’t demand a lot of affection, still, they do require plenty of hands-on time with their human owners to keep them acclimated to handling.

But the Meyer’s Parrot is perfectly happy and content to entertain itself with toys or anything chewable, like rawhide or ropes, and won’t become depressed or destructive just because you’re not paying any attention to them.

These are truly “easy-going” birds in every sense. They can be affectionate, but are also quiet, gentle, and have a calm and stable temperament.

Meyer’s Parrot Diet:

Being fairly stout birds, a balanced diet of seeds and nuts mix, fruits, and vegetables will keep their nutritional needs met.

While they will likely prefer the seeds and nuts mix, remember that these tend to be high in fat but low in nutritional value, so fresh fruits, and vegetables should make up about a quarter of their daily feed.

Iceberg Lettuce and Celery contain little nutrients and are high in water composition, so don’t rely on these, and as with all birds avoid Avocados completely as they’ve been reported to be toxic to birds.

Otherwise, any fresh fruits or vegetables, well cleaned and cut into small chunks, should be good to provide the daily nutritional requirements of your bird.

Foods to avoid:

• Avacado
• Chocolate
• Caffeine
• Salt
• Fruit pits
• Apple seeds
• Onion
• Garlic

You should always consult a veterinarian regarding specific foods to feed your particular bird, as well as what not to feed them.

Meyer’s Parrot Habitat:

Meyer’s Parrots don’t need to be kept in pairs to thrive like many other species, however, it’s never a bad idea to do so, especially if you have a busy life and won’t be giving them a ton of attention yourself.

The thing with these birds though is that they aren’t always super friendly to other birds, even of their own kind, unless they’ve been kept together since a very early age.

If you plan to get a pair of Meyer’s Parrots, we suggest purchasing them together and ensuring they’ve already been housed together in the same cage with the breeder or shop you’re buying from.

They will need a cage with plenty of space.

Meyer’s Parrot Behavior:

Calm, gentle, easy-going, laid back, intelligent, observant, social, fairly quiet, and can be highly affectionate if handled regularly.

They’ll also play alone and entertain themselves if provided with plenty of toys to choose from.

Meyer’s Parrot Care Wrap-up:

Given their stable temperament and low maintenance needs, Meyer’s Parrots make wonderful pets for just about any home or family situation.

Aerika Pedersen – Full-time writer, bird owner, and mother.

Aerika spent three years caring for birds at the Antwerp ZOO in Belgium before deciding to start her own family and write from home to share her experience and knowledge with other bird lovers.

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

Lovebird Size:

At full maturity, a Lovebird will grow to between 5 and 7 inches tall and have a wingspan of up to 10 inches.

Lovebirds typically live about 15 years, however, some species will live between 20 and 30 years in captivity if well cared for.

Lovebird Care:

As their name implies, Lovebirds are highly social birds and will do better in pairs than alone. In the wild, they live in flocks, and in captivity, they best thrive when with other birds.

In general, these birds are well suited to captivity, making them hearty, excellent pet birds.

They have a gentle disposition and can be quite charming.

They’re also fairly easy to breed if that is your goal, and overall are relatively easy to care for compared to many other species.

As long as the lovebird is human handled from a young age they tend to be easy to tame and train and will thrive on interaction and attention from their human keepers.

Lovebird Diet:

In the wild Lovebirds eat a variety of seeds, fruits, berries, and vegetation. They will also feast on certain farm crops like corn, marking them as “pests” among farmers.

A balanced diet of seeds, greens, and the occasional sweet fruit treat (about 3 to 4 times per week), will work best. Lovebirds especially favor:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Papaya
• Melons
• Carrots
• cabbage
• Spinach

Lovebird Habitat:

Like always, we prefer cages that come with stands on castors to make them easy to move around while not being placed upon home furniture where they can cause damage to the finishes.

For lovebirds, you want to have plenty of space for them to move around and spread their wings inside and out.

Lovebird Behavior:

Lovebirds are highly social, of course, which some owners don’t always appreciate fully. Like at the break of dawn when Lovebirds wake and begin to chirp and sing. They’re doing this because they’re happy and content, but for the owner who wishes to sleep in a little longer, it can be annoying.

Lovebirds are also active and need free time outside of their cages to move and fly about.

You’ll also want to have plenty of wood perches for them to rest on and even gnaw upon.

And give them lots of toys to stimulate their curious minds and exercise their beaks and wings with.

Lovebird Care Conclusion:

Lovebirds are sturdy, low-maintenance pets that do best in pairs and can thrive with any owner, regardless of experience level, as long as they can put a little time into socializing the birds daily.

They’re bold, playful, curious, and active birds that will keep you entertained for hours. The various species offer a variety of beautiful colorings, like Fischer’s Lovebird for example, and despite the early morning activity most people find their chirping and singing to be pleasing and even relaxing.

You can go even deeper into the care and wellness of Lovebirds from a veterinarian’s perspective here.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

Lineolated Parakeet Size

The Lineolated Parakeet is a small green bird that weighs about 100-120 grams. The average length of this animal is around 8 inches and its average life span is 10-15 years.

It has a long tail with feathers the color of blue, green, pink, yellow, or white. This animal can be a bit noisy but it is a fairly social pet.

Lineolated Parakeet Care

A Lineolated Parakeet is a talkative bird that loves to be kept company, so Lineolated Parakeets are best for owners who can play with them on a daily basis.

Keep them active, because they can become easily stressed and depressed if not given enough attention. These birds also thrive in pairs and in a cage with lots of toys and natural items like tree branches to perch on.

Lineolated Parakeet Diet

One of the most common questions from people who are considering adding a Lineolated Parakeet to their family is “What do Lineolated Parakeets like to eat? ” It’s a good question.

Best is a mixture of small seeds such as canary, millet and smaller amounts of oats and buckwheat.

Linnies also enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables such as apples, oranges, papaya, figs, mango, blueberries, chopped red cabbage, kale, collard, and mustard greens, carrots, broccoli, green beans, and peppers.

Learn even more about the nutrition of Linnies here.

Lineolated Parakeet Habitat

These smaller birds don’t need a ton of cage space as long as you will be bringing them out to play every day, still, they do require a bit of room to hop around and spread their wings. At a minimum, we suggest a cage that is 18 inches wide and deep, and at least 36 inches tall.

Lineolated Parakeet Behavior

If properly cared for and socialized, and especially if they’ve been hand-fed as babies, these birds tend to be charming and calm with cuddly personalities.

Lineolated Parakeets are highly social birds and love to spend time with their human companions.

Some consider them the “perfect” pet bird, being playful, affectionate, and generally quiet too.

Lineolated Parakeet Care Conclusion

While Linnies can be a bit fragile for young children, overall they have low maintenance needs compared to other breeds, beyond the high need for attention of course, and they can thrive in almost any home with owners of any bird-keeping experience level.

For further information, we encourage you to check out the Linnies page here.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

The giant of the parrot world, Hyacinth Macaw will grow to be over 3 feet head to tail at full maturity. Learn all about Hyacinth Macaw care here.

These gentle giants can live over 60 years in captivity when well cared for and their majestic appearance make them a favorite for many, but these birds aren’t really for everybody and come with a lot of demands.

Hyacinth Macaw Care

Despite an imposing appearance with its enormous size and hooked beak, the Hyacinth Macaw is a gentle bird by nature and thrives on interacting with its human companions. They’re intelligent and easy to tame and train.

The Hyacinth Macaw can be quite vocal with a variety of growls and screeching and purring. Though they tend to be most vocal when paired with other birds.

They demand a lot of time and attention, these aren’t easy birds to keep and especially aren’t for owners with very busy lives.

Hyacinth Macaw Diet

Hyacinth Macaws have very specific dietary needs that are high in carbs and fat. Specifically fatty nuts. They also need a good variety of fruits and leafy greens. Their beaks are so strong they can crack open coconuts.

You can learn more about the Hyacinth Macaw’s dietary needs straight from a veterinarian here.

Hyacinth Macaw Habitat

The Hyacinth Macaw needs a lot of space to move about. Given their size (over 3 feet) and strong beaks, a large and strong cage is required

Hyacinth Macaw Behavior

Gentle giants, these intelligent birds are easy to tame and train with time and positive reinforcements, and they tend to form strong bonds with their human companions.

They can be nippy and quite loud, all things to consider before deciding to bring one home. Are you prepared for the demands it will place on you to keep the bird happy and healthy and is your home a good fit for such a large and noisy pet?

Hyacinth Macaw Care Synopsis

Wonderfully vibrant, playful, and loyal companions, but they come with high demands for attention and space. The Hyacinth Macaw makes an excellent pet bird for the right owner with enough room.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

African Grey Parrot Care Guide

African Grey Parrot care requires hours of daily attention and plenty of space for the bird to keep them happy and healthy.

Budgie Care Guide (Budgerigar Care Guide)

Loveable and affectionate, the Budgerigar is one of the most popular pet birds. Our Budgie care guide will help you keep them healthy and happy companions.

Canary Care Guide

Canaries are hearty birds making them good beginner's birds since Canary care is fairly easy. Canaries make great pets for beginners, homes with kids, and seniors.

Cockatiel Care Guide

Cockatiels are needy birds to keep, they need lots of attention and time outside of their cage daily, as well as lots of space in their cage. Learn all about Cockatiel care here.

Cockatoo Care Guide

Cockatoos are popular though high-maintenance pet birds, they need hours of daily attention and plenty of time outside of their cage. Learn all about Cockatoo care here.

The Hahn’s Macaw can live over 30 years when well cared for.

Hahn’s Macaw Size:

They grow to be about 12 inches long at full maturity with a wingspan of up to 16 inches.

Hahn’s Macaw Care:

Lots of human interaction and plenty of toys, including puzzle toys that simulate foraging behaviors are a must for the Hahn’s Macaw. They need lots of physical activity and mental stimulation to thrive.

The Hahn’s Macaw are known for being hard on toys, so be prepared to replace them often.

If they don’t get enough physical activity the Hahn’s Macaw are prone to becoming overweight and other health issues, so these birds are not good for owners who don’t have plenty of time to give them every day.

These birds are highly social and form close pair bonds. Couple that with their needs for mental stimulation and it’s obvious why that these birds do better when kept in pairs.

Hahn’s Macaw Diet:

The Hahn’s Macaw needs a balanced diet of pellet and seed with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables added.

Hahn’s Macaw Habitat:

You will want a cage that gives your bird plenty of space to move around, especially if kept in pairs (which we highly recommend).

Hahn’s Macaw Behavior:

These playful birds are very intelligent and rather easy to train to do tricks, they’re also excellent talkers that can learn large vocabularies.

Be aware, the Hahn’s Macaw are known for learning to open their own cage doors when they’ve had enough alone time inside.

Hahn’s Macaw Care Synopsis:

Give them plenty of affection, attention, and space to play in and the Hahn’s Macaw makes for a wonderful pet companion. Not for owners with busy lifestyles because of their attention demands, but otherwise an all-around good bird for most owners.

You can dive deeper into the specifics of Hahn’s Macaw care here.

Aerika Pedersen – Full-time writer, bird owner, and mother.

Aerika spent three years caring for birds at the Antwerp ZOO in Belgium before deciding to start her own family and write from home to share her experience and knowledge with other bird lovers.

Related Guides:

With proper care a Green-Cheeked Conure will usually live around 20 years.

Green-Cheeked Conure Size:

They typically grow to about 10 inches at full maturity.

Green-Cheeked Conure Care:

Highly personable and comical, often referred to as “little clowns”, these birds are relatively low-maintenance and suitable to most bird owners of all experience levels, even the beginner.

They tend to be quieter than similar birds, though can be taught to seek a limited vocabulary.

They will need lots of time with their human(s) to be happy, these are very affectionate birds and they do bond to their owners and human families very well.

They do best in pairs but aren’t good with birds of other kinds, so this is something to keep in mind.

Green-Cheeked Conure Diet:

Specialized pellets make up the bulk of their diet, with fortified seeds along with fresh fruits and veggies being about a quarter to a third of it.

Just be sure to keep their food and water bowls full of freshness, and any fruits or vegetables that aren’t eaten with about an hour should be removed and discarded.

Some veterinarian recommendations on diet can be found here.

Green-Cheeked Conure Habitat:

A solid cage of about 2 feet wide and deep and 3 feet tall is just right for these birds. You’ll also want multiple, strong perches for them inside, these playful birds love to hop around and do tricks like hanging upside down from a perch.

Green-Cheeked Conure Behavior:

Social and intelligent birds, the Green-Cheeked Conure enjoys and requires plenty of human interaction on a daily basis.

They also like to chew so keep lots of toys on hand to spare your furniture. Foraging toys are good for both their playing and mental stimulation needs.

Green-Cheeked Conure Care Synopsis:

A big bird in a small package, the Green-Cheeked Conure is going to give you the personality and companionship of larger parrots while still being a smaller-sized, cuddly bird.

Their care needs are minimal compared to many other species, making them one of the easier birds to keep for owners of all experience levels.

They do live around 20 years, and often longer when cared for well so this is a long commitment when you bring one home, but given their playful and affectionate dispositions, it’s a commitment worth making.

Nicholas Burns – Veterinary Technician, amateur Ornithologist

Nick has volunteered at bird rescues since he was a teenager and worked as a veterinary technician for almost two decades. He has extensive experience with animal care and a special love for birds, especially his African Grey, Scrooge (who knows all the bad words!).

Related Guides:

Finch Size:

The Finch can vary in size from about 4 to 8 inches at full maturity and they normally live between 6 and 10 years in captivity with proper care and depending on the specific species.

Finch Care:

Though smaller in size, Finches still need plenty of room to move and fly about in their cages, especially since they’ll spend most of their time there. These aren’t birds to be handled much.

They also do better in pairs than alone but be prepared if you keep a pair of opposite gender together, offspring are highly likely.

Finch Diet:

Fortified seeds and fresh fruits and vegetables should make up about 30% of their diet, with specialized pellets making up the rest for a well-balanced nutrition and a healthy bird.

Be sure to keep their water clean and fresh.

Finch Habitat:

As mentioned already, despite their small size Finches need a lot of room in their cage to move and fly about. In the case of these birds, horizontal width is more important than vertical height when it comes to cage size.

The cage should also have ample perches for them (not above their food or water bowls please, and a few toys will help to keep them amused and happy.

Finch Behavior:

Finches need the company of their own kind to thrive. They’re not solitary birds by any means, but they also don’t generally like a lot of hands-on interaction with their human owners, so keeping them in pairs or even a small flock is best for the birds.

When happy and healthy Finches will play and sing their chirping songs to let you know.

Keep them stimulated with plenty of toys, especially puzzle-type foraging toys so they have to work for their treats.

Finch Care Synopsis:

Finch care is relatively low-maintenance. As long as they’re kept in pairs then the primary care needs will be keeping their food and water bows full of fresh goodies, and their cage clean of droppings and mess.

Some more useful information on Finches and their care can be found here and here.

Aerika Pedersen – Full-time writer, bird owner, and mother.

Aerika spent three years caring for birds at the Antwerp ZOO in Belgium before deciding to start her own family and write from home to share her experience and knowledge with other bird lovers.

How to Choose Your First Pet Bird: Matching Species to Your Lifestyle

There’s something truly magical about sharing your home with a feathered friend. The cheerful morning songs, the curious head tilts, the way they light up when you walk into the room—it’s no wonder so many people fall in love with the idea of having a pet bird. But here’s the thing I’ve learned from years…

Can Canaries Be Tamed?

Can canaries be tamed? Some people think that taming a canary is impossible, but with the right approach they can turn out as friendly companions.

The Shocking Truth About African Grey Feather Plucking

If you have an African Grey feather plucking you're probably wondering why and what you can do to stop it. Read on to learn the shocking truth about this behavior and how to help your bird.

Birds That Talk and How to Train Them

There are a lot of types of birds that talk, let's look at which breeds are best and how to train them.

Bird Rescue: How You Can Help

As the saying goes, a little help can go a long way. Bird rescue is a great way to get involved in your community and make a difference in the lives of these creatures. There are many ways to get involved in bird rescue, from becoming a foster parent to volunteering at a local shelter.…