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QUICK BUYERS GUIDE

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We are happy to provide you with this guide to help you when selecting your bird. It is a useful chart that includes some of the more popular pet birds. The information here is in general terms and does not necessarily apply to all birds of a particular species. If you don't find the bird you are looking for here, or find this information helpful, please let us know!

Click on the type of bird you are thinking about buying
or scroll down for the complete listing.

Finches: Spice, Bengalese, Zebra, Lady Gouldian, Society
Canaries: American Singer, Red Factor, Border Fancy
Small Parrots/Parakeets: Budgie, Cockatiel, Lovebird, Senegal, Meyer's, Pionus, Gray Cheeked, Conure, Indian Ringneck, Lory/Lorikeet, Caique
Med/Large Parrots: African Grey, Eclectus, Amazon, Sulphur Crested Cockatoo, Moluccan Cockatoo, Umbrella Cockatoo, Blue and Gold Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Green Winged Macaw, Hyacinth Macaw

Finches: Generally low maintenance starter birds, but some types are extremely rare, beautiful, and difficult to care for. House them in large planted aviaries or in cages that are a minimum of 36"W x 14"H x 10"W, they love to fly from perch to perch and need room to stay active. Finches are VERY SOCIAL (buy two).

Common Name

Basic Coloration

Length

Life Span

Sexing
Cost
Notes

Spice Finch
Top Brown/scaly brown/white 11.5 cm.
approx 5 years
Males have thicker bill/head low cost
active and easy to care for

Bengalese Finch
Top
Lt/Dk brown shading variations 11.0 cm. approx 5 years Males/females very similar low cost

great foster parents for other finch eggs

Zebra Finch

Top
Grey/blue head, orange cheeks. Blck/wht tail 10.0 cm. approx 5 years Females lack distinct orange cheeks low cost great starter birds, hardy. Breed readily

Lady Gouldian finch

Top

Deep red face, cobalt chest w/yellow, grn
14.0 cm. approx 5 years Males are more vibrantly colored moderate cost BEAUTIFUL! picky eaters with very strict environment requirements

Society Finch
Top

Brown w/wht or cinnamon
10.0 cm. approx 5 years Males/females very similar low cost relatively easy to care for very friendly

Canaries: Great birds for beginners to experienced hobbyists. They are hardy, good pets, some require special food to obtain desired feather coloration. House them single in cages at least 12"L x 12" H x 10"W (min) or paired in larger cages. Most are known for their beautiful singing ability which may also require a special diet.

Common Name	Basic Coloration	Length	Life Span	Sexing	Cost	Notes
American Singer Top	x x x
Red Factor Top	x x x
Border Fancy Top	x x x

Small parrots and parakeets: Most birds in this category make excellent first birds for people who are willing to spend some extra time with their pets. Many can mimic human voices and other sounds. Some require special diets and attention, ask the breeder. Be sure to house them in cages large enough for them to stay active and playful.

Common Name

Basic Coloration

Length

Life Span

Sexing
Cost
Notes

Budgie

Top Blue, green, or yellow 7 inches
Up to 15 years
Top of beak is blue in males, tan in females low cost
Most popular pet bird, some will talk

Cockatiel

Top
Gray with yellow head/orange cheeks many color mutations 13 inches Up to 25 years Males are more vibrant, females have yellow spotting or bars on underside of tail. low cost Very popular and friendly bird that can talk and do tricks

Lovebird

Top
Mostly green with blue, red, yellow, or black depending on species 7 inches Up to 15 years No external differences between males/females low cost Mischievous and somewhat destructive, they love to shred things.

Senegal

Top
Green gray head, yellow/orange body, yellow eyes 9.5 inches 20 to 30 years No external differences between males/females moderate cost Timid bird that has a powerful beak, loves to chew, needs warmth in winter.

Meyer's

Top Gray, brown with yellow on wings and blue green on body 9 inches 20 to 30 years No external differences between males/females moderate cost Shy bird, relatively new to aviculture. Require a large aviary.

Pionus

Top Mostly green with yellow, blue, pink, or white with red tail feathers 12 inches Up to 50 years No external differences between males/females moderate cost Very quiet, but curious, can learn to talk. They are great for apartment life.

Gray Cheeked Parakeet
Top Green with grayish head coloration 8 inches 15 to 20 years No external differences between males/females low cost Very popular, hardy bird that mimics sounds of other birds.

Conures

Top Mostly green with blue, red, orange, yellow, or black depending on species 13 to 14 inches Up to 40 years No external differences between males/females moderate cost Generally noisy and destructive, they are smart and can talk and do tricks.

Indian Ringneck Parakeets

Top Mostly green with various head and neck color in various species. 14 to 20 inches Up to 30 years Males have more vibrant coloration on the head and neck moderate cost Intelligent birds that make great pets and are very hardy for outdoor cages.

Lory and Lorikeet

Top Varies, but some can be extremely beautiful with deep blues, reds, yellows and greens 12 inches Up to 20 years No external differences between males and females moderate cost Very playful clowns that require a special nectar diet and could be somewhat messy.

Black Headed Caique
Top

Black, yellow head with white body and green wings
9 inches 20 to 30 years No external differences between males/females moderate cost Very playful characters, like clowns. They can learn to talk

Medium and Large Parrots: The birds in this category are for advanced avian enthusiasts and aviculturists who aren't intimidated by the size or complexity of these animals. All of these birds require a lot of time and knowledge about behavior and diet. Most of these birds live longer than 50 years and require large expensive cages that have enough room for them to spread their wings and move about without damaging their long tail feathers. All birds in this group should be handled very often, they need attention!!

Common Name	Basic Coloration	Length	Life Span	Sexing	Cost	Notes
African Grey Top	Gray with white around eyes and bright red tail feathers	14 inches	Up to 50 years	No external differences between males/females	expensive	These are the best talking parrots and mimic all types of sounds.
Eclectus Parrot Top	Males are deep green, females are bright red	14 inches	Up to 40 years	The male and female are different colors	expensive	These birds are beautiful, but require a special high maint. diet
Amazon Parrot Top	Almost all green with a variety of colors-red, orange, blue, yellow depends on species	16 inches	Over 50 years	No external differences between males/females	expensive	Most popular large pet bird, sometimes noisy, but playful and friendly
Greater Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Top	White body with bright yellow crest on head, yellow on wings and tail	20 inches	Over 50 years	Eye color has been used, but not definite (other methods required)	expensive	Very devoted to their owners, friendly. Love to chew and can be noisy.
Moluccan Cockatoo Top	Bright pink to salmon colored	20 inches	Over 50 years	Eye color. Males black females brown but not definite	expensive	A very beautiful but noisy bird. Can do tricks and talk, very devoted.
Umbrella Cockatoo Top	All white with broad white feathers on its crest	17 inches	Over 50 years	Eye color. Males black females brown but not definite	expensive	Usually quiet and sedate, but can have noisy outbursts. Very gentle.
Blue and Gold Macaw Top	Deep blue on back and head with some green, gold on underside, naked white cheeks w/black stripes	36 inches	Over 50 years	No external differences between males/females	expensive	Intelligent, mischievous, but very affectionate. Strong beaks that love to chew. Talk and do tricks well
Scarlet Macaw Top	Deep red with white cheeks, shoulders and wings yellow and some blue	34 inches	Over 50 years	Slight appearance differences, but other methods recommended	expensive	Earth shattering screeches when bored, sociable Love to bathe. Sometimes unpredictable
Green Winged Macaw Top	Dark red, with yellow blue, and green on wings. Naked cheeks with red lines of small feathers	34 inches	Over 50 years	No external differences between males/females	very expensive	Rare in captivity, gentle and calm toward kids but easily frightened by noise and movement
Hyacinth Macaw Top	Deep cobalt blue with yellow around the cheeks and eyes. Oversized black beak that looks like it is smiling.	40 inches	Over 50 years	Hen usually smaller, but other methods recommended	very expensive	Difficult to obtain, gentle and affectionate Powerful beak (300 lbs. per square inch) Fierce toward strangers.