Bird suggestions

So I think it's time to get a new bird again and I want a bird around the same size as a lorikeet or cockatiel, can be a bit bigger or smaller. So I guess I want something either smallish or medium size. I would also prefer it to be somewhat colourful or is bright in colour and can be able to talk and mimic my whistles. Would also prefer it to be playful. Had a lorikeet in the past and have good experience with birds. Was thinking of getting a lorikeet but I'd prefer something less messy.

All parrots are messy. That is just the way they are. If you are getting a bird that is just part of the deal.

In terms of birds, Cockatiels tend to whistle, so if you are looking for a whistler get a male cockatiel. Females are usually quieter.

You could also look at conures. Conures can be quite noisy though. Green cheeks are lovely, and “less noisy” than other conures, but are still pretty loud! Sun conures are popular because of their bright colours, but are EXTREMELY loud. I recommend doing some research on all the different conure species (I have only mentioned these 2, but there are so many with lots of different personality types.

You can also stick to what you know with a Lorikeet. They have such sweet personalities.


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A Quaker would be the best chance of mimic as they are known to be fantastic talkers but only come in 4 plain colours.

Conures are a little more colourful and playful but likely wont mimic much.

Parrotlettes are small but come in beautiful colours and can mimic and talk. Would be less mess due to size.

You will get mess with any bird though and they arnet guaranteed to talk, even as good as Quakers are and it might take upto a year before you hear a word.

Best i can help sorry but others will know more x

Ok thx for the suggestion. What I meant by messy is how lorikeets have a watery poop which gets on the floor outside the cage and needs constant cleaning. Other birds however don't make as much as a mess with their poop. Anyway still going to do some research to make the best choice but might just end up getting a lorikeet even with the mess they make. Also thinking of conure or a cockatiel.

well having had a Lorikeet you clearly have some knowledge of bird care. cockatiels, Small Conures like Green Cheeks, Quakers even potentially a ringneck if you want to go a little bigger are all pretty good companions. What I would do is take a look at any rescues near you and see if you can find any of these in them (you'd be surprised, even the tiny guys end up in rescues) and see if one claims you as their own

Also, Quakers come in a lot more than 4 color varieties

Can I ask why you no longer have your lorikeet? What kind of personality are you looking for?


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SilverSage said:

Also, Quakers come in a lot more than 4 color varieties

Can I ask why you no longer have your lorikeet? What kind of personality are you looking for?


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Lorikeet flew away a while ago was very surprised seeing it has never tried flying away before. It seemed as if it tried flying back to me but didn't know how to stop or something as it was a really windy day and its wings are partially clipped so it can't fly that high. It flew back towards me but instead of stopping it kept flying a few houses down before it landed and never saw it since. Anyway I am looking for something with a playful personality, I also want it to be quite talkative or at least likes to whistle a lot.

How important is it to you that the bird is cuddly? Is it just you at home or does the bird need to bond to others as well? How loud can your bird be without disturbing you or your neighbors?


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SilverSage said:

How important is it to you that the bird is cuddly? Is it just you at home or does the bird need to bond to others as well? How loud can your bird be without disturbing you or your neighbors?


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Bird doesn't necessarily have to be cuddly but at the same time wouldn't mind if it is. I've got my family here with me so I need it to bond with everyone. Also noise does not matter. My neighbour has a bunch of budgies which are quite noisy and before had all types of birds plus where I live there are lorikeets, cockatoos etc flying around all the time making so much noise and personally for me a kind of like a noisy bird.

Conures are wonderful little birds, as are ring necks.

You might also consider mini macaws! There are a few of those wonderful creatures that are around the size your looking at. Hahn’s macaws, nobile macaws, yellow collared macaws, and illigers macaws are all around the size you’re looking for.

Dont overlook the Brotogeris family of parrots, aka Pocket Parrots. There are 4 or 5 species being offered in the US pet trade these days. Smallish, bigger then a parrotlet, smaller then a cockateil, these parrots may be small but have big parrot attitude - absolutely fearless and very inquisitive. Our Canary or Yellow Wing Parrot, Max, was a real hoot and would bully big cockatoos around when we brought him to the local pet/bird store for wing trims. They can talk a little, but whistle much better, our Maxie did several movie themes , in example. Another big plus is that Brotogeris are one of the few species that actually seek out human interactions. Called pocket parrots for liking of peeping out of ones shirt or coat pockets. Our Max used to shove his head under the hand of anyone handy, to get a good scratching. Small enough so that even if you get a real intense bite, it rarely is serious physically. Downside - hard to find ones that have been hand reared or at least had a lot of human contact. Your best bet is to find a shop that has them, and see if one discovers that you are their "person". Max did that for me - out of a dozen or so, he stepped right up onto my hand, took a look at me and gave me the cutest wolf whistle. That sealed it. Brotogeris can be loud, for a bird their size, if not trained to use their indoor voices. You should develop a quiet 'contact call' with a brotogeris, because they will want to be with their flock! A smallish cage suffices for them, with toys for Budgies up to cockateils - lots of these, as they love to play and hang by one toe.

You have quite the decision to make. I bring up this species because of our first hand experience with them and no one looking for a smaller parrot companion should overlook this group of species. Good Luck!

From what you describe I would take a serious look at Ringnecks. I would also say caiques but I’m not sure how they are as mimics.


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Another brilliant overlooked parrot is the Derbyan or mustache parakeet. Love them.


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Yes! Love mustaches! They don’t tend to be as good at mimicking but a few whistles are normal


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SilverSage said:

Yes! Love mustaches! They don’t tend to be as good at mimicking but a few whistles are normal


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If i could have one I would in a heartbeat and I’m normally a solid one bird household! (Don’t tell Nigel pls! [emoji23])


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Moustaches are funny parakeets

Canary wings too are quite funny though I have seen little of them. Really, with the size range there's a whole host of wonderful birds out there. I think a couple trips out to meet some different birdies may be on the docket!

Triggs at one point Canary Wing Parrots were the #1 most imported parrots in the USA. But with the demise of the import trade ( YEAH!!) domestic breeders have mostly gone to more commercially valuable species, but there are still a few breeders here that actively breed them. Like I said our Max was a real hoot, all the 'tude of a 'too, bravado of a caique and the love of peoples like a puppy dog!