The hunt for the ancestors of living birds began with a specimen of Archaeopteryx, the first known bird, discovered in the early 1860s. Like birds, it had feathers along its arms and tail but unlike living birds, it also had a close relationship with small dinosaurs. Archaeopteryx is considered by many to be the first bird, being about 150 million years old. It is actually intermediate between the birds we see flying around in our backyards and predatory dinosaurs.
For many years, a fossil discovered in a Bavarian limestone quarry was considered to be the first bird. Archeopteryx lithographica (ancient wing of limestone) lived about 150 million years ago and had many reptilian and bird-like features. Archaeopteryx is considered the base of the bird evolutionary tree due to its long and robust forelimbs. However, recent discoveries have displaced Archaeopteryx from its position.
The scientific question of within which larger group of animals birds evolved has traditionally been called the origin of birds. The present scientific consensus is that birds are a group of maniraptoran theropod dinosaurs that originated during the Mesozoic Era. A close relationship between birds and dinosaurs was first established.
Archaeopteryx is the earliest undisputed bird, sharing characteristics with its dinosaur ancestors. Fossils show that Archaeopteryx had teeth, a long bony tail, grasping claws on its wings, but also had a bird-style hip and feathers.
📹 Starter Birds | WHAT’S A GOOD FIRST BIRD? WHAT BIRD SHOULD YOU GET?
Remember even though these 3 species show up in rescues the least, they are still HARD WORK and have their downsides.
What is the oldest flying animal?
Vertebrates first flew about 215 million years ago. These creatures were not birds or bats. They were pterosaurs, flying reptiles. Pterosaurs were big, from sparrow to small airplane. They were the biggest flying animals. Pterosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago, along with many other species.
How old is the oldest bird in history?
Guinness World Records says the oldest bird is a pink cockatoo named Cookie. It lived to be 83 at the Brookfield Zoo near Chicago. Some birds may have lived to be older than 83, but we don’t yet know if any have lived to be a hundred. It’s hard to age wild birds. It’s hard to know how old birds are, even in captivity. It’s harder for wild birds. It’s hard to keep track of wild birds. We don’t know when a bird was born or died. Also, animals in the wild live differently from those in captivity. Insights from captive animals may not always apply to wild animals.
What was the first bird on earth?
The first birds were more like dinosaurs than birds today. The earliest known bird is the 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx, but birds had evolved before then. Other birds with more advanced features appeared soon after Archaeopteryx. One group gave rise to modern birds in the Late Cretaceous period. Bird-like dinosaurs, primitive birds, and early modern birds all lived at the same time. Archaeopteryx has features not found in modern birds. Archaeopteryx has teeth in its jaws, claws on its hands, and a long, bony tail. Image: Australian Museum.
What is older than Archaeopteryx?
The new find, called Aurornis xui, was found in China. The 20-inch, chicken-sized fossil is about 160 million years old, about 10 million years older than Archaeopteryx. After examining the fossil, researchers from Europe and China created a family tree showing that both Aurornis and Archaeopteryx are in the Avialae family, which includes birds. Chiappe said that around 160 million years ago, many fossils were trying to become birds. “It’s not clear which line made it to birds. This is just one possibility.”
Are chickens related to T. rex?
The chicken was the first bird to have its genome sequenced. Scientists found the order of the chicken’s DNA. This helped scientists confirm that chickens are the closest living relatives to the T-Rex. Some scientists noticed that chickens and T-Rexs were similar before they found the fossil evidence. Both chickens and T-Rex walk on two legs, have scaly feet with sharp claws, and have an arched neck with a big head. Some dinosaurs had feathers and bird-like lungs. But before these observations and discoveries, dinosaurs were thought to be reptiles: cold-blooded and slow. Chickens are descendants of meat-eating dinosaurs. This proof shows that birds evolved from dinosaurs. They are technically living dinosaurs today! As we learn more about dinosaurs, we find more evidence of their relationship with birds.
Is Archaeopteryx no longer the first bird?
Archaeopteryx is often considered the most primitive bird. However, it is not thought to be the ancestor of modern birds. Nonetheless, Archaeopteryx was often used as a model of the true ancestral bird. Some authors have questioned whether Archaeopteryx was the first bird. They said that Archaeopteryx was a dinosaur that was no more related to birds than other dinosaurs. Kurzanov said that Avimimus was more likely to be the ancestor of all birds than Archaeopteryx. Barsbold and Zweers and Van den Berge said that many maniraptoran lineages are very bird-like. They said that different groups of birds may have descended from different dinosaur ancestors. The discovery of Xiaotingia in 2011 led to new phylogenetic analyses that suggested Archaeopteryx is a deinonychosaur, not a bird. A more thorough analysis published soon after found Archaeopteryx at the base of Avialae, while Xiaotingia was recovered as a basal dromaeosaurid or troodontid. The authors of the follow-up study said that there are still some uncertainties. It is not yet clear whether Archaeopteryx is a member of Avialae. This is because there are not yet any better specimens of relevant species. Phylogenetic studies by Senter, Turner, Makovicky, and Norell also found Archaeopteryx to be more closely related to living birds than to dromaeosaurids and troodontids. On the other hand, Godefroit et al. found that Archaeopteryx is more closely related to dromaeosaurids and troodontids than previously thought. The authors used a modified version of the matrix from the study describing Xiaotingia, adding Jinfengopteryx elegans and Eosinopteryx brevipenna to it, as well as four additional characters related to the development of the plumage. The analysis by Godefroit, et al. did not find Archaeopteryx to be closely related to Anchiornis and Xiaotingia, which were recovered as basal troodontids.
Did birds evolve from dinosaurs?
Modern birds came from two-legged dinosaurs called theropods. These included the huge Tyrannosaurus rex and the smaller Velociraptor. Modern birds came from a group of two-legged dinosaurs called theropods. These included the huge Tyrannosaurus rex and the smaller Velociraptor. Theropods were big, with snouts, big teeth, and not much between the ears. They weighed between 100 and 500 pounds. A velociraptor had a skull like a coyote and a brain about the size of a pigeon. For decades, paleontologists had only one fossil link between birds and dinosaurs: Archaeopteryx, a creature with feathers and a long bony tail. These animals changed into birds in just 10 million years. Michael Benton, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol in England, said that Archaeopteryx seemed to be a fully-fledged modern bird.
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What was the first bird to fly?
Birds first flew between 160 and 145 million years ago. These early birds were like Archaeopteryx, between dinosaurs and birds. “The pieces of flight appeared before the animal could fly,” said Carrano. Feathers existed for millions of years before flight. The ancestors of modern birds had also already developed large lungs, strong arms, and small, lightweight bodies. After another 60 million years, birds evolved into the creatures we see today. Humans have used bird flight to take to the skies in our own way.
What is the closest bird to a dinosaur?
The cassowary is thought to be more similar to ancient dinosaurs than most other birds. These large, flightless birds have fierce claws and a helmet-like structure on their heads, like many dinosaurs. Its loud call sounds like a dinosaur. The loud, deep call is likely amplified and projected through its casque. Some experts think the bird’s helmet protects its head as it runs through the forest. Others think it’s a sign of dominance. The casque is a stunning accessory! The cassowary has black feathers on its neck, body, and tail. These feathers look like those of emus and ostriches. The cassowary’s neck and face are blue and red. The northern cassowary’s skin can change color.
Where is the oldest bird?
On November 26, 2021, Wisdom was seen at the atoll again. Her mate, Akeakamai, did not return, and she did not breed that season. Her chick from 2011 had a chick of its own, making Wisdom a granny. In December 2022, Wisdom was spotted on Midway Atoll in the new season, but Akeakamai was still missing. On 4 December 2023, the USFWS reported that Wisdom had returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. This latest sighting means she is now 72 years old.
Impactedit. The USFWS said that Wisdom’s work is important for the albatross population. Her health and dedication have led to the birth of other healthy albatrosses, which will help recover albatross populations on Laysan and other islands. Bruce Peterjohn, chief of the North American Bird Banding Program, stated that Wisdom was now the oldest wild bird documented in the 90-year history of the USGS-FWS and Canadian bird banding program. It’s amazing that she can still raise young at 60+.
What did birds evolve from?
Birds began as dinosaurs. Birds evolved from meat-eating dinosaurs called theropods. That’s the same group that T. rex belonged to, but birds evolved from small theropods, not huge ones like T. rex. The oldest bird fossils are about 150 million years old. These ancient birds looked like small feathered dinosaurs and had a lot in common. Their mouths still had sharp teeth. Birds lost their teeth and evolved beaks. Can you imagine a toothy pigeon? The end of the dinosaurs: the Cretaceous extinction. After 140 million years, the dinosaurs were suddenly extinct. A huge asteroid hit the earth and volcanoes erupted. Most dinosaurs died out. Birds were the only ones left.
Why can’t Archaeopteryx fly?
Scientists first had to find out if Archaeopteryx could fly. The dinosaur looks like it could fly, but its skeleton lacks features that modern birds need to fly. So, Dennis Voeten and his colleagues used a special x-ray machine to examine the arm bones of three of the 11 known Archaeopteryx fossils. The synchrotron can detect differences in fossilized bone density, even in the outermost layers. This is essential for figuring out whether flight was possible. The researchers also compared their measurements to those of other flying dinosaurs and modern birds. Archaeopteryx’s bone density was thin enough to fly. But how? Modern birds fly in different ways. They can fly like hawks, albatrosses, storks, pheasants, and roadrunners. Their flying styles are also in their bones. Soaring birds’ bones can withstand a lot of twisting. Quick-flight birds can only withstand low torsional forces, while gliding birds fall somewhere in the middle.
📹 Archaeopteryx, the Very First Bird
Directors: Emma Baus and Bertrand Loyer.
You are correct when you said a bird will choose you at a rescue. I visited a local rescue many times helping out for a few months. One of the Umbrella Cockatoos would always follow me throughout the days I worked. It got to the point the she would fly to me as soon as I got there each day and then would not want me to leave. Well now she’s my best friend at home. She’s 11 yrs old and just loves everyone at my home. Best thing I ever did.
I would recommend a ringneck dove as a first FIRST bird. Sweet, bonds easy, doesn’t bite and is soft billed, easy to train, cheap, doesn’t scream, doesn’t only bond to one person so you can actually go on vacation. I had one as a first pet bird and she was a total sweetie. They’re cuddle butts. They’re great for kids as long as the child is gentle.
OMG thank you SO MUCH for making this article!!!! I worked at a pet shop in the 90’s and we had a bird broker- he told us that he had this lady contact him- she wanted not ONE, Not TWO, but THREE Umbrella cockatoos!!!!! He went to her house- and she had purchased three perch stands for these birds. She had white carpet, white couch and furniture and white curtains and wanted the birds to “go with the decor”. He told her she should get plushie cockatoos instead and they would look great on the stands. I can’t believe some people! This article is SO NEEDED.
My daughter and son-in-law were being transferred to Germany for 5 years starting in 2005. My wife and I agreed to bird sit their Umbrella Cockatoo, at the time she could not take Cloud to Germany. Cloud bonded with me but she would let my wife handle her also. I read everything I needed for the best care of Cloud and found a vet that specialized in birds which was good because 3 years later she had to have an operation to remove a blockage in her digestive system. Then giving her a shower one day I forgot and brought the shower head to her and she bit through the fleshy part of my hand, then bit the through the same spot on my right hand. because I didn’t pull away when she bit I only required a couple of stitches on each hand. After 5 1/2 years the kids returned to the states got stationed in Florida drove out to California and took my grandbirdy away. I missed 7 o’clock pm LOUD play time, I missed daily showers and especially missed snuggle time. I get a call from my daughter 2 weeks later and she had seen an ad on the vets facebook page that he had 7 cockatoos for adoption. they were all from the same family, the lady had died. My wife and I went to look at the birds there were 5 birds that were brother and sister from one mother bird and a poppa bird who was father to two of the youngest birds all Umbrella Cockatoos The mother bird looked horrible she had only about 15 to 20 % of her feathers left, the rest she pluck from anxiety. My wife said Rick we have to take her and give her a good home.
Thank you for pointing out all the sucky parts of owning a bird! That’s exactly what I look for when I research getting a new type of animal and it’s surprisingly hard to find. You can love and talk up something while also being honest about the downsides (cause all pets have downsides, some more than others!)
Bird man checking in here, I have a fleet of 20+ birds and I would say smaller conures are the best to start with, with the exception of nandays and sun conures (too noisy and bigger beaks). Best picks are high red, green cheek, pineapple, or turquoise conures. The turquoise conures can show slightly more aggression in breeding season, but other than that they are awesome. Be warned that some conures like black caps and crimson bellies have a more stinky poop, and black caps can be very militant and aggressive but I love them for that reason. Conures can talk but it takes alot of training, but I find them to be the most playful and least noisy of them. My heart goes to the pineapple conures tho, they are the best in terms of personality and show the most affection. I am sure you had your reasons why you did not list them, probably because most people want birds that can talk easily. But I love them to death, so consider this an extremely biased post. I have experience with all types of conures, smaller macaws (cant stand the noise from the big ones) and amazons. Great article, I certainly agree with avoiding amazons, macaws, african greys, and cockatoos. Never understood the hype about african greys (no offense to your buddy on the vid), to me they all seem to be more mischievous than amazons, so if im going big bird, I go for yellow crowns.
My dad was a bird breeder in Australia and South Africa, and my goodness he died when I asked for a bird when I was 10. He was like “I’ll teach you everything, consider me your researcher!” And I was so grateful. He did go against getting an African grey a bit, but I’m the end we got one. It was like my life was complete, but then again I had a lot of responsibility. When I was 16, he said that he’d look after the bird when I went away for college and I felt so happy, although I wasn’t happy to leave my bird. Of course, i came back every weekend, Thursday afternoon and some Fridays, but it was hard. When I was 18, I decided got accepted into Oxford university, but I declined the offer just for my bird. But when I came back home from a hotel to say bye to my friends, my dad sold my bird. I lost two things. Two important things.
We got an Indian ringneck after about a year or two of research and preparing, and he’s just the sweetest little thing, he’s going through his bluffing phase at the moment, but he doesn’t bite hard enough to really hurt, I’ve been pushing through and continuing what my research is telling me, and it’s been lovely!
Budgies are so underrated. They are adorable, huge personalities, empathetic, and many are great talkers. I’ve got two, and although I’m having training issues at the moment (one is a rescue), I love them to bits. People love the big colourful exciting parrots, and maybe think that budgies are boring little things that just sit in their cage. Why? Because that’s how so many people treat them!! I’ve wanted to liberate several friends’ budgies over the years when I’ve seen how they’re treated. If you treat a budgie the way you would a big parrot, you’ll have a best friend. If you have multiple budgies, you’ll become part of a flock. I love perusal articles from BirdTricks and Adventures of Roku, and seeing their gorgeous birds and following their adventures, but I’ll leave them to the enormous mess, feeding schedules, constant toy creation/destruction cycle, and of course the noise. I live in an apartment, so anything louder than a budgie is not really ok. I adore rainbow lorikeets and would dearly love to have one, but when I did my research and learnt about the “poo issue”, it was all over!! 😂 I do love the idea of indoor flight somewhere really big though. Once my two are tame enough, I’ll look into options. Thank you!! 💓
When I was younger, my parents let me get a cockatiel because I wanted a bird so badly. She lived to be 14 and was honestly the best pet. I see a lot of things we did incorrectly with her in those years when I watch BirdTricks articles because there just wasn’t the internet access for learning proper diet and care for birds at the time, so all we had to go on was what the bird shop owners told us. I appreciate articles like this so much because you have so many resources for someone who might be in that place wanting a bird and needing to know how to start with them.
I know it wasn’t your intention, but you out me off getting a bird. But for the right reason. I dont think it’s all its cracked up to be. I mean I think they are so cute. But it would literally be like having a child. I think you made a lot of people aware of the reality of what it takes to have a parrot
THANK YOU for this honest article! I had birds for many years (old guy here), and most folks don’t have a clue. Noise is a biggie. I came home from work one day, and the police were outside my home. They said that a neighbor called and said someone was being murdered. Had to let the cops in to see for themselves that it was my macaw and amazons (of which I had three different types). Thanks again on behalf of the birds.
Such good advice!! Being around family owned parrots helped. I use to visit a store where alot of the birds / parrots were on an open hanging “play area”. We (the public)were allowed to touch and interact with different species. I love birds even chickens. I decided that the macaws are the hyperactive loud kid of the bird world. Birds are very emotional or maybe sensitive is a better description. I enjoy and appreciate everything you share. I have resisted owning a bird because I know I cannot be the proper care giver.
Non-birder here. But the best experience I’ve ever had with a bird was a Caique. Absolutely adorable. I was a home health aid in a home with one & fell in love with their caique; so smart, so friendly & so much fun. It followed me around while I cleaned & enjoyed just being on my shoulder while working. He was quiet as well. He would only do what I call bird “small talk” in my ear…no screaming at all. If I ever got a bird, hands down it would be a caique.
My grandmother recently passed and she had an entire bird room in South Georgia back by their pool. She loved them. She had about 20-30 of them and they took up 100% of her time. And the pool took up my grandfathers. I miss that so much. And seeing these birds reminded me of that. I also remember the different personalities of all of them. Some where rescues, and one didn’t like men, another men with hats, etc. lol
I’ve just found you and am so grateful. THANK YOU for discouraging people from getting birds, especially the three parrots. I’ve been rescuing Amazon’s, African Grey Timnehs and cockatiels for 30 years. Had I known what I was getting into, I would not have done it. They should be left in the wild. I love them, but they are a lifelong commitment and a lot of work. Thanks again for all you do.
I want to rescue a parrot some day. “Some day” because I am waiting until the time is right. I have been volunteering at Wings Of Love Bird Haven rescue in Texas if you’ve heard of it. I never had a bird, but since I want one someday it was really important to me to learn how to handle them confidently. Living vicariously through you and Marlene 💕
This is fantastic advice for potential bird-keepers. I would never get one myself because I frankly don’t like birds, but I very much enjoy perusal articles of owners and their birds. One common denominator among many of these articles is that bird-keeping is just very difficult. That’s why your article is so important – to deter people who are simply looking for a colourful and cute-looking pet (and not actually ready to be committed) from going out and impulsively getting a bird.
Hey I’m 14 and found a local bird sanctuary that I’m now volunteering at, before volunteering there I never heard a cockatoo scream. Holy cows is what first ran through my head. But when I started to get to know the cockatoos they seamed soo sweet. DONT FALL FOR THEIR CHARADES. and I’ll leave it at that.
Wow what a great an honest article. Wish I had that advise when I got my first parrot 30 years ago. What she is saying is sooooo true. People please take her advise. They are complex little humans with personality and attitude. And OMG the mess. Lol. Luckily we had a dog that liked to clean up after our birds. Great advise on working at a bird rescue. I will look locally for one to volunteer at just to get my fix without buying another one. Currently we have a hand raised cockatiel, safe simple and. It so noisy. Tks again for such an open and honest evaluation of birds. No one ever thinks of the down side. All they see are the colors and hope they talk.
I’m so happy I came across your website!! I grew up with budgies and I’ve recently been wanting to add a bird back to my life. I thought I wanted something else but I really don’t think I do haha what’s not to love? And I personally would rather have a small bird. Especially one with so many vibrant colors. Thanks for sharing! I’m definitely going to keep perusal 😊
Your grey is such a cute little buggo. Love my cockatiel so much, she’s my bff, 11 years going on 12. We used to have a grey, and he was awesome. He just new how to be gentle with me, especially when I was a baby. He would just gently pick up my hand and move it if he didn’t want me touching me. Thank you for making this article so many people need it.
In my opinion, everyone should have to take and pass BirdTricks courses before owning a parrot. It took me over a year of research and learning from this website before getting a budgie. I now have 2 budgies and 2 cockatiels and my entire life revolves around them. I often have considered adding a bigger bird to the flock, but I feel I don’t have enough experience to train through all problems that may arise. If I can’t offer an animal the best/happiest life possible then there is no sense of getting the animal. I refuse to be part of the problem. Thank you Jamie for properly educating us and providing better lives for parrots. ❤
Not knowing anything, I fell in love with an amazon about 50 years ago. I even went home and called a dear friend to convince me not to purchase this animal. I originally went to the per shop to get meall worms for our turtle. I fell in love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend said “You are going to do what you want so I will not comment” and the next day I went back and purchashed Max! I had never had a parrot but for some reason could not forget her. I definitely had fallen in love in a matter of 15 minutes while I waited on line to but worms! I have been searching for someone like you for all tese years…………….thank you for being you….
Two monthes ago we bought a rosella. It’s our first pet. We weren’t familiar with this type of parrots, but it turned out 100% our type of birds. We love it so much. But purchase wasn’t impulsive. We have been seen that rosella several times different days, and I’ve noticed how active it is. It’s perfect for us. We love when it screams, sings or jumps🥰🥰🥰
I grew up with an African grey and a Cockatoo, The sounds they made were crazy at times. They couldn’t be in the same room if we were not home because they would get louder and louder to outdo each other. And that could be saying words like Hello or Ringing like the telephone over and over again louder and louder and our neighbour’s complained bitterly about it any chance they got. They were my dads birds and no one else could do anything with them. They are or can be lovely but they are something a person should not take on without learning about their needs first.
How I wish I had seen something like this before I got “bird fever” and bought Sydney, my Moluccan 30 yrs ago. After having him for at about 12 years, I eventually surrendered him to Mollywood in Washington state. I still feel much guilt over that decision, and never imagined I would/could ever do such a thing. Things were good for awhile, but when behavioral issues started, I had Chris Davis come to help (well known bird behaviorist at the time). While some of her advice was helpful, it ultimately did not work (wheeling him around on a rolling perch so he didn’t scream when left the room was super impractical). After a number of somewhat decent years (being able to take him to work with me occasionally helped), in my 20’s, I went back to school at night. As a result of my bird fever, I had other birds beside Sydney (including a grey), but Sydney was the standout not able to adapt to the new situation, and when he started picking his feathers and getting aggressive (which was not typical for him) I couldn’t see him that unhappy anymore and I made that difficult decision. The thing is…in hindsight, he shouldn’t have had to adapt. But as someone in my 20’s, my life was in transition, and it was such an impractical and selfish decision to get a cockatoo when I did. I can’t tell you how many people said they wanted a bird like him – and how many people I advised against getting one. I feel like I took this sweet bird that lived for being petted CONSTANTLY, and just trashed his life.
After growing up with budgerigars for years as a kid, when I was ready to own my own parrot after graduating high school, I got a cockatiel after doing so, so much research. And it was still a learning curve, because there’s so much conflicting information, and each bird has their own individual needs. I’m still learning more about their care today. If it weren’t for his first and current vets, I don’t know where I’d be. I still have him today, he’s 10 this year. He’s bonded to me but still is very strong-willed and affection and attention is always on his terms. During the spring time when his hormones are raging, he is at his most difficult! I have a hard time recommending cockatiels as a first bird to people who ask me because I’ve known people who have bonded ‘tiels who are sweet and more easygoing, and others, like mine, who rule their owners’ lives with a strong beak and attitude while still having affection for their owners. Other people just keep them in a cage, feed them, maybe walk by and whistle or talk to them, but the bird doesn’t get a lot of real attention. And yet, I read a lot in internet guides that cockatiels are “sweet, docile, affectionate, a great first bird”. You just can’t blanket a whole species that way every time, even the little ones. They’re still parrots, still individuals, and still come with a lot of difficulties. Always remember that you have to make sure you research first, not only to understand bird needs and health, but to find a bird whose maintenance and lifestyle fits yours.
I think a cockatiel would be the best “””starter””” bird (I don’t really believe any bird is really a “”starter””). Pros (in my experience) – On the quieter side, I like their chirping honestly. – not as destructive as other species even if they are actively playing with their toys. – Forgiving. IMO they’re among the most forgiving birds. – A nice big flight cage for them isn’t that expensive (got mine for 90$ brand new) cons (in my experience) – Hard to convert to a new diet – A tad on the skittish side – avid egg layers / hard to get to stop when started I think they end up in rescues a lot for the same reasons as budgies. They’re cheap and relatively small. Easy to shove into a tiny cage and never interact with so it gets skittish and mean. A lot of impulse buys especially since they’re commonly in chain petstores. Senegals and such… I’ve never seen them in pet stores other than avian focused ones. They’re also a lot more expensive in my experience. So I feel like the “they don’t show up in rescues as much for a reason (they’re good birds)” argument is a little flawed. They are good birds, no doubt. But IMO, caiques specifically aren’t good starter birds. They’re high energy and are a constant go go go. They can easily get nippy or even in extreme cases aggressive if not given the proper stimuli. Same for any bird but I believe it’s more so in caiques due to their high energy.
Just rescued an amazon male from someone determined to kill him. Very lovely bird. Been bitten a number of times (mostly when I go in with a mug of tea) but comes with the territory. He loves me and I love him. He’s been loved in the past – v important for behaviour. Great website. Thanks. Just got a UV lamp and he’s excited so hope it helps him expand on his visual abilities.
👏👏👏👏👏 Jami you hit it outta the park on this topic!! EVERY single parent child husband (in my case) should be required to watch this BEFORE signing on the dotted line. The internet didn’t exist so there was that when my husband got me a Conure for our anniversary. (yeah. I thought the same thing 😵) Today there is SO much good information out there (bird tricks bird tricks bird tricks) there is NO reason to be educated on what having a bird is about. Job. Well. Done. on the article! Birds EVERYWHERE are thanking you!!
Out of 9-10 YT websites devoted to parrot husbandry (whose articles I’ve watched), you are the only one who discourages having one…which I love. I love parrots soooo much, but know the complexities of including one in my house. I only have a lovebird, but that one adopted us after it flew onto my wife’s arm one day while she was hanging out laundry on the clothesline. Thank you for your honest words.
I will live vicariously through all these wonderful bird parents. I will remain a doggie parent- I just re-homed 4 mixed tea cup chihuahuas. I have lived with pups most of my life- I have always loved birds- but, I know I can’t give them their best life. This was a great article! Thank you for your incredible knowledge an information! A note to all, think of the quality of life that the bird will have instead of the desire of having one. And, remember, one can always love and admire from afar! ❤❤❤❤
“I don’t want parakeet!” as someone who had parakeet (by accident, someone give them to me) they are the sweetest thing and I really hate how people call them a “starting bird” learn nothing about them and make them die in small cages at age 3 years (they can live till 15!) parakeets are GREAT, they can talk, they can love, they love to play and pet and they have more curiosity than any other pet I had, that being said, stop treating them as “I don’t need to know anything, they are just a starting bird!” you know why? beacuse they never end up in animal rescuse CUSE THEY DIE, cuse incapable owners treats them as “not much work” “onlt a strter pet” PET IS A LOT OF WORK starter or not, you need to give them the time to bond with you, you need to give them a proper diet (NO ONLY SEEDS, veggies and fruits and more, much more! they won’t live long if you only give them seed!) and people treat them like that beacuse “they are cheap” so they arn’t “worth the effort” to take them to animal rescue when they understand how much work it is, and they just leave them like that or worse, “let them free” even though they would DIE in nature beacuse they never lived in nature(!) and I had enough of people complaning about them when it’s not the bird fault, it’s mostly the owner that just wanted a cute doll instead of a living breathing pet. All pets needs time and work and help, they would take HOURS from your day, not just “petting and having fun” but also buying them toys, cleaning their mess, helping them jump around whithout hurting themselfs, I used to chase my birds (cuse one of them was so BAD at flying.
I was so happy to come upon this article . My partner and I run a sanctuary in Florida and it is just so devistating to witness the psychological damage that these birds have endured. People absolutely have no idea the time,effort and patience they will have to administer when undergoing the decision to bring home a bird. I could spend my whole life trying to undo the damage,as most of these birds lifespan will be as long as my own. Thanku so much for the work that you do Jamie,you have a special gift.💜 #birdsbelonginthewild
Yes!!! Thank you for saying that. Honestly, you and your husband (and your free flying friends) are the only people I have seen that SHOULD have birds. You let your birds be their natural self and your job means they are your focus. Honestly, the fact that I have subscribed to your website really says something about you and your husband because I belong to the camp that believes birds are meant to be free. But you and you husband encourage and respect their natural ways. I was absolutely moved when I discovered your website and the free flying club. Love you guys. You both are amazing.
Sometimes those problem birds in rescue that need a “ton of work” are fantastic birds once you do the work to earn trust. My Louie, a wild caught red loryl, was like that. took aout 6 months for us to understand each other, and we did have some bad time then, he pierced my nose, but it was my fault so all I can do is laugh. He taught me so very much.
It’s like having a two year old for the rest of your life. That said I love my hanhs macaw. He’s not as loud as some, gets along with the entire family, is not stressed by changes in the schedule nor does he have a specific wake up time but I’ve spent a lot of time working with him. Great advise on birds and preparing people. It’s a lifelong commitment and not an easy one but I truly enjoy my little guy.
Really glad I found this article. In sixth grade we had class birds that went home with different kids every weekend and when it was my turn I fell in love. I haven’t ever felt like my home was bird worthy since then. Now that I’m a home owner in a stable job I have been considering rescuing a bird but this has me hesitating. I need to do more research, and spend some time volunteering with some bird rescues.
XD thank you for not playing the sunny screech at 5:00 I might have had a ptsd attack. I love my baby but I absolutely wouldn’t recommend a sun conure to anyone without experience. They are SOOOOOOO insanely loud. Just one notch below a bigger bird but they soooooo vocal all the time. Cute, sweet and endearing but soooo vocal. He just truly doesn’t realize he’s a fog horn 😂
Bro… I am taking my time to thank you for being so real and so “in your face” with this information because I can tell that you have a real passion for birds in the way you defend them and “talk bad” about them too. It is actually how I describe being a teacher to non-teachers lol. I love how honest you are giving advice because you care about these animals and don’t want to see them end up in animal shelters, but you also want to prepare potential bird owners for everything, including the best and the worst about birds. I appreciate this and will continue perusal your articles. I’m looking into getting a budgie because I just like the way they sing. But! You bring up a great point about going to animal shelters first and being around them to check it out. Thanks again for the insight! I hope this wasn’t too long lol. Take care.
Wow nice detail you summed up… I decided to buy an african grey parrot by next year after finishing obligation.. I had already raised eight rooster who made loud noise,bite me pecked me.. Morning time they used to crow 50 times.. Makemy ear vibrate..Made a mess in house.. Still i love them.. So i now tolerant to raise a parrot. Its my desire to raise a parrot since i was 10.. Thanks for giving so much detail from your experience.. You are learned birdwomen.. And cheers to cressi .. I love her.. And finally how she said bye.. Its cute…😀
ive done so much research lately and im gonna go look to see if i really want a birdtomorrow, yet im stillwatching your article for the 10th time this week lol im so ready and excited but naturally very nervous as im 15 and my parents dont trust me but im willing to put all the time and dedication into having a bird 🙂 wish me luck
(Backstory: I’ve lived around birds my whole life.) 7:53 – the grey on her shoulder turns to face the side of her head 7:54 – I get that “oh, here we go” tingle you develop when you live with birds 7:55 – jump cut, the grey is no longer there 7:56 – she continues on as if nothing happened; I laugh Four seconds of nostalgic humor for me… <3
Back when my son was young, we volunteered at a local raptor rehabilitation center and sanctuary. It was a wonderful experience to spend time with the owls, hawks and eagles there…though we did not handle them. We came to ‘know’ each of them as individuals. This kind of volunteer work might be another option for those who love large birds but are unable to keep them as pets in the home. It is sometimes possible to visit with raptors residing in sanctuaries as well.
Aaaah I’m so thankful that this article exists!!! This article inspired me to go to an animal sanctuary to see some birds and learn more about them as I was interested in having one as a pet. I started volunteering two days a week and seven months later, I now work there full time! I’ve never been happier. I’m going to be specializing in bird care, and I get to take care of 20 rehomed and rescued exotic birds. I stand by what she says 100%! I never would have thought to go there if it weren’t for this article <3
Love this article and the message it holds! I won’t ever get a parrot, since I am allergic to all birds with a curved beak and I don’t have anyone who feels the same about not caging animals. I have a canary, who was found on the ground on an animals market and was handed to me. She’s aprox 2yrs old. I have her since february, day before Valentines day. And she’s finally getting close to me. I still can’t touch her, unless cheeck and nose cuddles count. She’s terrified of hands, but slowly starts to investigate my hands. It takes a lot of patience and understanding and reviewing what the animal needs. I looked up where they live, how they live, what the habitat is like and could be on the menu, their natural behavior etc. I might get her a friend some day. Going through personal issues and don’t know if I can keep living where I am right now, so it has to wait. And the bonding and trust process takes as long as it takes. I wish way more articles like these were out there! Much respect 🥰
I run a small parrot rescue in Boise Idaho! There is not much here for parrots, our humane society calls me because they don’t know how to handle these birds. I saw a need and am doing what I can. We have 3 Littles myself and my husband and we run it from our home. It’s so important for people to understand that just because a bird looks cool on a article does not mean that’s what it will look like in their home! We work really hard to make sure all that fill our adoption applications have the knowledge and understanding of these birds. Thank you for your articles, they are very helpful 🙏.
I was hilariously relieved hearing you say a caique is a good idea. I already own one and have done for years (absolutely love them) but for some reason hearing you say it’s normal for the experience to be more positive with them made me feel like I’m not skipping steps and pretending I’m doing a good job.
This is a great article to potential bird owners. I lived with a guy who had two cockatiels, a pionus parrot, and two budgies. He was a traveling musician and I ended up taking care of these guys while he was on the road. They were sweet birdies, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. You stressed the noise, and this is huge! People do complain. And if your neighbors are close, that means a lot of complaints. And you can’t just put tiny electric collars on them! And they were really really messy. I spent a great deal of time cleaning up after them. And this is not just seed hulls, poo, and such. This includes “dusty bird dander” that sometimes friends are allergic to without knowing it. (I had a lot of complaints from visitors too.) When you take on bird care, it’s a commitment of years and years. They live a long time, but they can also get sick and very few vets treat bird illnesses. In the end, when my boyfriend and I broke up, I agreed to care for the birds temporarily. This temporary arrangement ended up being over a year. He was unable to care for them alone but I just couldn’t do it. I ended up insisting that he take them and I have no idea what became of them. This left me with a great deal of guilt.
I’m literally 15 and just found macaws a day ago. Up until now I’ve kind of disregarded them but when I saw stuff like free flying I immediately re-evaluated my ideas on how fun it’d be to have one. And yes, I know it is months of work, and yes, I’ve learned to love them for more than that by now. Seeing as I already hate sweeping and cleaning thing even once a day you’d think parrots aren’t good for me but I feel like having a parrot would be worth it. I do have more to research but I think I know what I’d be getting into – regardless this article was really helpful for me. Thanks for making this exist
I worked in a veterinary clinic that had a resident Blue Fronted Amazon. It took me about 3 weeks to make friends with him and we grew closer everyday. I assumed his care and he would hang on my shoulders and” help” me with some of the appointments. He was awesome. I have thought about him every single day since I left that job in 2010.
This article is so true. I have 7 parakeets and 4 cockatiels. (We are working with a project called ACRES so we have lots of animals.) We rescued 7 of our birds because they were taken in by inexperienced people who wanted a talking bird. We hand raised 2 of our cockatiels to be friendly so we could teach people about anatomy and diet and overall the work it takes. We (accidentally) birthed 2 parakeets who we ended up hand raising too. I will NOT sugar coat anything. My 4 birds that I raised and bonded with are the most amazing animals, but the 7 I rescued are awful. It took 2 years for them to begin trusting me and willing to touch them. I had to work so hard and it was exhausting. These birds need so much attention, time, patience, and supplies from there owners. On the upside, my 2 cockatiels Mickey and Angel and sweet as can be. Mickey sings talks and plays while Angel snuggles and they both accept scratches and affection. So just a warning. Birds can be amazing pets if you know what your doing and how to handle them. If you don’t I would recommend another pet or educating yourself on them from other people. That’s JamieLeigh.
I appreciate your honesty! We got rabbits and I wish there were more people out there being honest about how difficult certain pets can be. I don’t think we would have gotten rabbits had I known how high maintenance they are. We do our best to care well for them though. I’ve been wanting a bird after seeing so many cute bird articles, but seems it is the same thing as with rabbits, people just don’t share all the downsides. And even when you think you’re doing your research it doesn’t really help if there aren’t people such as you out there!
So on point with sun conures…..I used to have one, named Fawkes after Dumbldore’s Phoenix from Harry Potter. And holy moley it was loud indeed! the worst was while sitting on my shoulder it would full on screech right into one of my ears….gotta love that ringing afterward. I miss him though, but he’s with a new family that spoils him way more than I did.
I have had my African Grey for 6 year. I wanted one as long as I could remember and researched them a lot. I still had no idea what I was getting into. I now could not imagine my life without her but had I known everything involved, I probably would not have gotten one. I agree, babysit or spend time at a rescue, preparing food and cleaning up after one everyday for awhile. If you are afraid of being bit, don’t get one lol. It doesn’t happen often with my Grey but there are still times it happens. Wow she can hold a grudge and fake me out. If you like the idea of a toddler for the rest of your life that is smarter than you, you might be a bird person.
My brother has had parrots his entire adult life. I just started perusal your articles and really enjoy them. I think raising a parrot would be like raising a child…but more difficult. I love how you advocate for the birds! I have a rescue Great Pyrenees dog and they are definitely not a “first” dog for people. 😊
Excellent advice for ANY type of pet. I have dogs and while they are on a different level than birds, many first-timers get them, especially small breeds, putting little to no thought into it. Follow the advice here: dog-sit for a friend, do volunteer work at a shelter, foster the breed you are interested in. It helps you know yourself AND the animal. There are breeds that I LOVE fostering, but know I’m not the right person for a forever home. Just like I know I’m addicted to perusal bird articles but would NEVER get a bird, lol!
Totally agree!! I work beside a cockatoo and all day have to hear him scream. He lives outdoors during the day so it’s not contained in any way. I can only imagine indoor screaming 😜😜😜 HOWEVER, I love the relationship we have and I really would like one (one day) with my own personal bird. Whatever I get is entirely unknown and when I get it, is also unknown. I am looking into sanctuaries and rescues to volunteer my time and learn lots! What I honestly want is an intelligent relationship who I can train and work with. I strive to be in the education department at the zoo I currently work at (in retail). Working with animals will always be my life. But I’ve already told myself I want to be settled before investing in such a long commitment. Awesome article 🙂
Your article on “What’s a Good First Bird” was awesome. We are not currently in the market for a bird but are always interested in improving our knowledge. \r We purchased our first Parrot, a Female Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo when she was 10 months old over 25 years ago. She is extremely intelligent and has had few behavior problems. She loves both my wife and I equally.\r We brought our male Galah home when he was three months old. We started hand feeding him in the Bird Store, Kookaburra’s in Dallas, when he was 18 months old. He is another awesome bird with really no behavior issues and also loves us both equally.\r Our 18 year old male Scarlet Macaw is a handful. He is a screamer and can bite if you don’t watch his body language. He will obey my wife but he is most closely bonded with me.\r In a weak moment we purchased another parrot from a bird store as my wife thought it was a little sickly. She was a six month old Lutino Quaker and did have a bacterial infection. She is now four years old. When you commented on how loud Sun Conures can be, I believe you should add this Quaker to the list.\r I don’t know if you are familiar with Phoebe Linden, who used to breed birds at her Santa Barbara home but is now against breeding them due to overpopulation. She was featured on a PBS special, Parrot Confidential. Our Galah came from her breeding pair and their favorite indoor pet is male cousin of him (he’s in the article).\r We have known Phoebe and her husband Harry for a long time, having stayed at their home.
im taking over my roomies african grey after birdsitting her for him for a bit over a year now, she has taken a liking to me and has become nervous towards my roomie, but i am taking her well knowing they are very hard pets to keep, also your articles help me find out things about her and why she does sertain things 🙂
My son wants my birds when I die, though my macaw might be the only one to live that long. (Let’s hope I have a long life. ) that being said, for me, I always tell people “you’re either a bird person or you’re not”. Some people I can tell a million times how to interact with them, and they still scare the birds, piss them off, or just flat out cannot read their body language nor properly communicate with them.. HOWEVER, some people will get a bird anyways, and I’m glad that there’s people like the ones here on bird tricks that can better communicate handling birds than I can. Also, my green cheek conure was the best family bird that we ever had. Not all birds of the species are the same but I typically find that they’re little clowns that love attention when worked with properly. They’re not as loud as sun conures either lol.. Sadly my green cheek passed away 😓 and that’s another thing that’s hard to prepare for.. losing them after you’ve created such an amazing bond.
Such an absolutely informative and realistic article! I’m referring to any kind of a ‘pet’ when I agree with you by saying that so many people do not understand the commitment, or do any research what-so-ever before hey even lean towards acquiring one. I’m a former African Grey owner. And I do want another bird. I may never have one. Whether I adopt one from a rescue or acquire one form any other means, at my age, I don’t have anyone who can continue the commitment to leave it to in my will. That’s my first concern. Anyway! I absolutely LUV your articles! Thank you for sharing your life with birds with us, your followers and viewers. ❤
ok the goodbye wave had me! I have found myself loving birds lately, but, I’m cautious for their own sake. I recently bought a parakeet (I’m 32, so I intend to outlive it), but I’m super interested in an african grey. based on your vids, I may opt for a rescue that is a bit older, simply so it does not outlive me and need to be rehomed. But, I think I’ll watch more vids and spend a good year or so doing some thorough research. Thanks for what you do!
I have a Senegal and he/she is very sweet when he feels like it and to whine he feels like it. They can bite very very hard and draw blood. And they can be extremely LOUD parrots! There are days and I think it is in the spring and fall when my ears just ring and my head is spinning sometimes because of him. But he can be very sweet and loving. Mostly a one person bird. He used to love my brother when he was his bird. Then my brother “outgrew” wanting a bird so I took over and now he is attached to me. He gets very mad if he sees my brother and flew to him and bit him in the neck very hard. Idk if he was mad at him for leaving him or what? He has picked up a lot of words, songs, whistles and sounds through the years. He is around 12 now.
I see that you talk most about the more known birds such as macaws, cockatoos, amazons and african greys. But can you make a article talking about behaviors and what you think of birds such as an Eclectus parrot (i have a 3 year old male eclectus). Also have you ever been with or trained a male eclectus parrot, and if so what was the experience like? Much appreciated!😁
My starter was an african grey, and he was SO EASY. He totally did not prepare me for what’s to come for my 2nd boy, a lesser sulphur cockatoo, who was neglected. But now we have such a good relationship. Although he is quite the home bird (meaning he mostly prefers to be in or around the cage). I SO WISH I had gotten a galah cockatoo but can’t, no 3rd parrot for me fingers crossed EDIT: 1st were 3 budgies (in succession) and then a parakeet and then to these medium parrots. Starting with a grey as the very first bird might not be for beginners lol. PS: Lots of bites before they loved me.
My school has an avian cage with 2 cockatoos. Both cannot fly and I’ve been bitten. Twice. I, along with a couple others, take care of them during school time. Their crest is great to tell their mood, as well as their position. Because they cannot fly, they must walk off the branches to approach us and reach us (unless we put their bowls back). I learned that lesson the hard way. (Here’s the story) I was going to change their food and I put the bowl in the spot. I started sweeping since they’re so messy when one of them climbed onto the floor and approached me. It started eating my shoelaces and I was shocked. I asked my partner (two people go in at once) to leave immediately while the cockatoo bit my shin. Just a big bite wound bleeding. I shook it off, more confused then in pain. Washed the wound, boom. I’m fine.
This is a brilliant article. 100% agree, I love birds, once thought I’d love to have a cockatoo after meeting three beautiful cockatoos at a regular venue I used to visit. Before I did anything rash I decided to read, read, read and research. After much reading I came to the conclusion that cockatoos and parrots really shouldn’t be pets. The commitment level required is mind-blowing as they need so much stimulation and attention 24/7 in order to make them happy – and that’s what it should be about, making them happy not yourself. I have occasionally looked after injured wild birds and just that gives you an idea of the time and patience you need for even the smallest little bird. It was such hard work and though it was very rewarding it was such a relief to release them back to the wild once they were fit! Great advice.
I got a bird after I had done what I thought was a “proper amount of research” (1-2 years?). 2 years in to owning my bird and I learn new things every day and constantly work to improve how I care for him. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have gotten my bird when I did but dammit he is going to get the best life anyway.
I’m so glad that you discourage people from getting a bird that is way too much for almost everyone to handle. I’m glad that a lot of your viewers are at least considering the fact that there are “starter birds” vs. birds non-experienced people should NOT get. Hopefully they heed your advice. Cheers!
Right when you mentioned that it’s a good thing if your bird is destroying lots of toys, I looked up to see my female budgie chew a /third/ wooden rung completely off of her current swing ladder, the plunk of it hitting the cage floor was like a perfect punctuation to your sentence XD wooden rung was about a centimeter thick and it only took her a few days to chew through both sides. The She’s definitely a healthy, happy girl and I did just order another 10 new toys for her to destroy in under 2 months again!
Great article! Currently 24 and grew up all my life with an Umbrella who is currently 39. They are so complex, emotionally and physically. I would love to hear your Umbrella story sometime! My Cockatoo is a saint (well, as much as a Cockatoo can be) but I know they can be extremely biased against a gender and absolutely hate people’s partners.
I would love it if you did more articles on the specific species you have an have worked with. I really appreciate this article. If you look on youtube right now there’s actually very little for people researching bird species. So if I think I’m a great candidate for a parrot it’s actually really hard to find balanced advice on say, the various differences between macaw species. –and by balanced I just mean, a person who’s had more than one bird and can compare various experiences. Having really basic articles answering, “what is distinct about this species?” “what are deal breakers for this parrot?” “Why did you get this species?” “What were your expectations v. reality?” I really liked this article and I think it will be so important for future hopeful bird owners trying to do their homework!
I followed your advice, (I work at an animal shelter/petting zoo/ rehab center) I met my best birdy friend (his name is marley, he’s a great green macaw that was rehomed a lot. He has bonded with me and attacks everyone else) but he still lives at the shelter rather with me because he would probably attack my family members. I ended up adopting another rescue bird from my work- Her name is Peekaboo. She is a masked lovebird that was from a really abusive home. I’ve had her for almost four months now, and she’s still pretty scared of me, but that’s ok. I’m just happy that she has a quiet place where she can feel safe.
Thanks so much for your balanced opinion! It is a bitter truth- UK bird rescues are full of Cockatoos, Macaws, African Greys and Amazons- in this particular order… Which is so sad 😟 Please can you make a article about Pionus Parrots? There is not a lot information about these birds… Love your website ❤️
I got a cockatiel and loved her. Her name was Squeaky Bird. It was so easy to teach her songs. She really was loud and messy, she’s right. I found out that I was allergic. It broke my heart. But luckily, I found her a wonderful home. So make sure you are not allergic first and that you have time to clean them and their messes.
I can vouch for how difficult it is to have a grey, they need a lot of attention, and the articles of people with greys that talk and talk and talk make people go out and buy them expecting them to be this bright chatterbox, then they get a bird they don’t pay attention to and the bird starts screaming, over preening, attacking, etc. Go volunteer at a bird rescue, you will learn quick the amount of work that goes into cage cleaning, feeding, water, they bathe and they soup their food in there, not just drink, and if they are mad, they will poop in there too. They are rewarding, I love my grey, she is very affectionate to me, but no one else, so it can be difficult with my wife. People need to understand that you are investing in a perpetual 2 year old…That can live a really long time. It can be very rewarding, but it comes at a cost.
My grandson is 8, he wants a bird. I have veto’d the idea (even in 5 years) for exactly your reasons. He can have a pair of nice healthy rats. If I end up caring for them it is 3 years, not the rest of my life and a spot in my will. if he does ok with them we will get a pair of budgies. I am reasonably familiar with the breed and they make such pleasant noises. Rats are a great starter pet for their short lifespan and their amiable personalities, if you get bit, you had it coming. They still need an exotic pet level of care which gives kids some idea of responsibility without need to take a dog for a walk which can be challenging for a lot of families in the city. I turn 50 next year. my cat and dog are middle age, when they pass there will be no more kittens or puppies. I will adopt senior animals.
Thanks for the article, I’m in North Idaho too. The most amazing pet I ever had was my Budgie named Max. he was great, he would fly to me from anywhere in the house. Max was full of mischief and loved to torment our dog by sneaking up on her and biting her tail then the dog would chase him running across the floor Max running not taking off until the dog got close. This was a daily game for these two.
the whole world should see this article for real i have 2 budgies, they free-flight in my room every day, i love them but i also knew that these are the only birds i could get and not only one of them, but 2 (and i would like to add a 3rd one) since i work and definitely do not have THAT much time for a bigger parrot to spend, even though i would love to have a bigger parrot, its just not possible, my budgies are enough 🙂
I grew up with cockatiels and had a great time with them. I decided to get a parakeet and wasn’t prepared for the noise or how terrified it seemed every time I opened the cage door to let it hang out on top of the cage or around the house like the cockatiels always did. He didn’t live very long either. After perusal your articles I now realize that the diet the pet store recommended was totally wrong. I loved the cockatiels growing up but I can’t see having one in an apartment. I bet I would be hearing that ear piecing alarm call every time a door slammed or heaven forbid a car alarm. I will continue to watch all of your articles and enjoy perusal them this way.
My nan got a cockatoo and when I first met it I was terrified, their beaks are huge, but I feel as long as you have a family member that can help you look after a bird like that and make you confident with them. Then cockatoos are great 👍 I love my cockatoo and wouldn’t give him up for anything… even though he is a little jerk sometimes -_-
My dad inherited a parrot when he was kid. His name was Oscar and he outlived his grandmother and probably whoever had him before her. He was an green amazon and according to my dad he used sir by the back door and whistle and call the family dog’s name, causing the dog to run head on into the glass, at which point Oscar would evil laugh.
Cockatiel owner here, we have a 7 year old female. I think we hit the jackpot with her, she’s the sweetest thing ever, she likes everyone including strangers, and will happily fly to their heads or shoulders even if it’s the first time seeing them (as long as they’re not loud or very animated). She’s never bitten anyone, no matter how frustrated she gets. She likes to be pet, but only when hanging upside down from your finger. She’ll hang out with both of us in the household fairly equally. She’ll be hormonal once in a while but she snaps out of it quite quickly by just giving her a couple extra hours of darkness for a few days. She’ll hear “do you want to go to bed?” and she’ll fly inside her cage and sit on top of her sleeping perch. She’s out nearly every hour she’s awake and flies wherever she pleases in our apartment, she alternates between just flying to her cage and chilling, and following us around depending on her mood. 10/10 bird. Here’s to reinforce that you can’t buy a specific bird: When we had to start leaving the house more frequently we decided to get her a friend, so we got another female cockatiel. I mean the first one was great like 3 years in or so at the time, figured another one would be good for her and wouldn’t be much extra work for us. Oh boy. Our old cockatiel had almost zero interest in the first bird after checking her out for 5 minutes once we introduced them after a few weeks in separation. The new bird was like velcro on my partner and would not even step up on my fingers, I could basically not put her in the cage, my partner had to do it every night.
I wanted a parrot for a nanosecond. So I started researching bird life and went to several bird stores several times. I realized these were not the pet for me. The noise, destruction and mess would be more than I could handle. Your life revolves around your bird. Have you watch Mikey the macaw on YouTube. Their get together are awesome but did you see his new house tour. The house set up was arranged around their 2 birds. Shelby the macaws has given some nasty bites and it’s a sweet bird. I would volunteer before ever getting a bird. I have a restricted breed dog, it was hard enough finding housing. Good luck people. Good article Jamie. How about showing the reality of bird ownership such as cleaning f old prep biting etc.
I’ve had quite a few birds in my 68 years. My top choice for a new bird owner would be a cockatiel. They are friendly and from my experience don’t bite without a very good reason. I lost my favorite cockatiel of all time after having him for almost 33 years. Can’t say enough good things about them. I’ve had five cockatiels and they were all great pets. Currently we have a green cheeked conure and two Crimson bellied conures. Both species have really been a challenge compared to the cockatiels. The conures were so difficult for the first couple of years. They are finally settling down and becoming less agressive and hyperactive. I haven’t been bitten in months! They were so difficult and unpredictable that many people would have given up on them. One of the alltime sweetest and loving birds ever was our hand raised masked lovebird. Lovebird was a meaningful name because he loved us and we absolutely adored him! He was perfect in every way!
I had a green cheek conure as my first bird and he was my best friend, solely bonded to only me and would bite the rest of my family. When I got pregnant with my daughter he started building a nest for me out of magazines by shredding the pages and would get soooo upset when anyone went near the nest! He was the best, I miss him so much.
I didn’t want bird because i have 2 dogs. But one day a little budgie felt in love with me in a shop. Few days later i went back and he was still interested in me. So i bought him. And then i bougth a linolated for him. (two male) they love me. they love my dogs, my boyfriend… etc. And they are not in the cage all day, just for the night. 🙂 Love them. 🙂
Great article. I have lived with an Amazon for almost 20 years and he is my step dads. He only bonded with my step dad and is pretty hostile towards the rest of us so I did some research and was looking at Senegal and burrowing parrots because I want to start a family and thought they seemed the best fit to have the potential to bond with more than 1 person. Your article reinforced that info so if I do decide to get one I will most likely stick to one of those.
My number 1 dream animal since childhood is budgies but I have asthma so I sigh longingly while snooping parrot articles of all sizes. ❤ I freaking love animal training/clicker training, creating close bonds especially with animals that start out fearful (I think rescuing dogs created a masochistic streak, why do I love the difficult ones?) And I especially love creating a personal communication style with each animal. I taught my gecko to tell me when he is thirsty by sitting in a spot and lick his mouth so I can mist on command if he wants to go off routine, I loved teaching a donkey to agreeably let humans handle her feet, and it was fun teaching my bottle calf to back up so I could get personal space but I will always dream of teaching a bird endless things! Such a shame I can’t take chances with the dander dust in the house and I certainly can’t break a birds heart like that.