This page on the "BIRDS COME FIRST" Website will give you some information about various types of parrots. Yes!, BUDGERIGARS, commonly called PARAKEETS are really small parrots. COCKATIELS and CONURES are also parrots. Many of us think of Companion Parrots as being only the larger birds. MACAWS and COCKATOOS are some of the larger parrots but the little guys have just as much personality and love to give as the big guys!

Please keep in mind that dozens of books have been written about each type of parrot mentioned here. These are very brief overviews of the characteristics of these birds. I urge you to do as much research as you can and to read as much current information as you can find. We are always learning new things about living with Companion Parrots! It is your DUTY to learn as much as you can BEFORE bringing a parrot home!

"BUDGERIGARS"
(BUDGIES & PARAKEETS)

To put it simply, BUDGIES are great birds! Budgerigars, often called "parakeets" or "budgies" make wonderful pets. They are small and relatively quiet. They pack a lot of personality into a little bird. Many "budgies" learn to talk but this depends on how much time you can spend with your bird. Not all "budgies" are great talkers, but they can develop an excellent vocabulary of up to 250 words! Their voices are not as clearly understood as some of the other parrots but we know what they are saying! Some "budgies" can also be great whistlers! Just a comment though, NEVER purchase a bird with the expectation that he or she will be a talker. Not all individuals talk and this should NOT be the primary reason for living with a parrot.

"Budgies" in the wild are used to being in large flocks and for that reason they don't usually get overbonded to a single person. This makes them easy to handle by several people in a household.

These beautiful birds LOVE to PLAY with toys and they like to chew on toys. It is therefore particularly important to provide safe, non-toxic toys for your little friend to play with.

"Budgies" are often sold as hand raised and tamed but even if they are not, they respond nicely to training. I have several rescued breeders that were never handled that love to play with me and learn their "step ups"!

Generally, it is possible to determine if your bird is a male or a female before it starts shredding paper and lays an egg! While it is not always accurate the cere (tissue above the beak) is blue in males and pinkish brown in the female.

In my opinion, "BUDGIES" make a GREAT first bird especially for young people!

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"COCKATIELS"

COCKATIELS are so eager to please that they make wonderful pets! Like the "Budgie", I feel that a Cockatiel would be an excellent choice as a first bird for young people. A "tiel" is also a Fantastic first bird for "grown-ups" too !

They are extremely playful and are a joy to watch. They are easily trained to be handled although they will sometimes bond to one person. Some females will bond so strongly to a person that they will actually go into a "breeding" mode and lay eggs for that person. I might mention this as a possible drawback to owning a female cockatiel. Some become "Chronic Egg Layers". Laying eggs is physically and emotionally stressful on both the "tiel" and her family.

COCKATIELS are not always easy to sex. Males and females have similar markings. Young tiels are especially difficult to tell apart. When they become about nine months old, males will usually lose the bars on the underside of the tail feathers. Females of the "Normal Grey" Cockatiel will often have a barred pattern on the underside of the tail feathers. One of my tiels had all the "usual" markings of a male but "Figaro" became "Figgy" after SHE started to lay eggs!

Male Cockatiels tend to be good whistlers and can also learn to talk. Females can also talk and whistle, but it is more common for the males to vocalize. "Birdy", One of my rescued tiels has learned to dance while whistling most of the Theme Song to the "Andy Griffith Show"!

Cockatiels are easily amused and love to play! They like all kinds of toys! Toys should be looked at carefully as "tiels" like to chew. Be cautios of small parts that can be swallowed. COCKATIELS also like to sit on a shoulder and cuddle!

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"LOVEBIRDS"

Let me first say that the name "LOVEBIRD" is a poor choice of name. Although a single LOVEBIRD can make a great pet, Lovebirds kept in pairs or in colonies can be vicious. It is not uncommon for Lovebirds in a group to kill a cagemate. I find that females can be a bit more nippy than males and many females will abuse their cagemate if Lovebirds are kept in pairs.

That being said, let's consider a single Lovebird as a pet. A Lovebird can be very entertaining. They like to have fun and they like to hide! A shirt pocket can be a great place for a Lovebird to hang out once it has learned to do so. It is not uncommon for you to look into a Lovebird's cage and think that it is missing. If he/she can get underneath the paper in their cage, there is a fair chance that your bird will be under it.

Even a single Lovebird can be nippy! I have a Lovebird named "Rat With Wings" for obvious reasons. Until I trained him to step up and stop biting, he was vicious. He literally bit into my finger on one occasion and would not release for more than a minute!OUCH!!!

Although it is not impossible to train an adult bird, I find that younger birds that are hand reared are easier to work with. I have rehabilitated abused breeders so I know that they do respond to love and nurturing but it is better to start training a lovebird early.

It is difficult to determine if a Lovebird is a male or a female by looking at it. Males and females are very much alike in appearance. Some say that females are slightly heavier than males. I know of two definite ways to know for sure. One is to have lab tests done and the other, in the case of females is to look for eggs. Lovebirds are very prolific and even single females will lay now and then.

Overall, Lovebirds can make wonderful pets!

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"CONURES"

Where do you start?

There are many types of conures and all are a lot of fun! Conures come in a huge variety of colors and sizes. The smallest of the species, the orange-fronted, measures 9 inches in length, making it a little smaller than a cockatiel. The largest of the conures, The Patagonian and the Greater Patagonian are much larger being about 18 Inches and 20 Inches in length respectively. Actually closely related to Macaws, they resemble them to a point.The most popular types of conures kept as pets include the Patagonian, the Jenday, the Sun, the Nanday, the Gold-Capped, the Peach-Fronted, the Green-Cheeked, the Dusky, the Blue-Crowned, the Slender-Billed, the White-Eyed, the Red-Masked, the Brown-Throated, the Maroon-Bellied, the Green, and the Mitred Conure.

Before you think about bringing a conure home, you have to do your research! On a "Noise Scale" with one being the quietest and ten being the noisiest, all conures can rate about a seven or higher. They are not louder than the Cockatoos or Macaws which can rate a twelve on a Scale of ten but they can and often do make a racket. Smaller guys like the green-cheeked and maroon-bellied conures are not as loud as the bigger guys. It also seems that the Suns have the reputation for being more insistent than some of the others and I tend to agree. I describe the sound of a Sun Conure as being similar to an Eastern Blue-Jay. Some Sun Conures will be very noisy, calling without stop for quite a long period of time. I want to impress you with the concept that they can be very noisy. Many Conures are in rescue facilities waiting for new homes for this reason alone! The Dusky Conure is relatively quiet as compared to the rest but can still be considered noisy!

All That being said, Conures are a joy to watch and to be with. They are beautifully colored and are very social. They love to be preened by their human companions and enjoy human contact very much! They are not the best talkers but can learn a few words. Sunny, one of my rescued Sun Conures can say "Bye Bye", "Hi Sunny" and "Nite Nite". His favorite sound is the "toungue between the lips and blow" sound of "the Raspberries", just before he says "Nite Nite"! Despite his sharp beak, he is also great at giving sweet little kisses.

It is important to mention that the bite of a Conure can be pretty intimidating and occasionally even the most well behaved bird will bite.I would still have to say that being owned by a Conure can be a wonderful experience but should be thought about as a pet by those who have some experience with parrots. Overall, a Conure can make a wonderful pet as long as you are aware of the potential "problems" that come from living with them.

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"QUAKERS"

QUAKER PARROTS also known as "MONK PARAKEETS" can be fantastic Companion Parrots! They are about 11 inches in length and as such are considered a medium sized parrot. They are extremely intelligent and very hardy. Hand reared birds that are well socialized seem to have better personalities. Birds that are not handled when they are young can tend to be a little more aggressive.

Let's consider hand reared Quakers as they are the most likely to be encountered as pets. These birds can be very charming, friendly and absolutely hilarious in their antics. They can learn to be fantastic talkers and can use speech very appropriately! They can come up with ways to do things that many other birds wouldn't even think of. Flipper , one of our quakers will take a bath by climbing into his bowl. Laying on one side, he will get himself all wet and then flip over bathing his other side the same way. After he is done bathing, he will grab his tail feathers and use them to scratch his own head!

Quakers do love to play and a play area outside the cage should be provided. They can sometimes be very protective of their cage and efforts should be made to play with them away from the cage. That will help to keep any aggressive behaviors from getting started. Playtime with children should be supervised to avoid any potential problems.

Before thinking about living with a Quaker Parrot, you must check your local laws. There is concern as to what will happen if Quaker Parrots escape into the wild. Due to what I believe is an erroneous fear that feral Quakers will harm native wildlife or become an agricultural pest having a Quaker Parrot is illegal in some states. Some of the states where Quaker Parrots are illegal to own are California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Various other states have restrictions so stringent so as to basically outlaw them, or require a permit that is impossible to get.

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"AFRICAN GREY PARROTS"

"Congo African Grey"

There are two species of African Grey Parrots that are commonly kept in captivity. The "Congo African Grey", sometimes called a "CAG" (PICTURED ABOVE)
and the "Timneh African Grey" also known as a "TAG"
(PICTURED BELOW).
The Congo Grey, as seen above, is usually a little larger than the Timneh Grey. The Congo Grey has feathering that is a lighter grey than that of the Timneh Grey which is darker. The red feathering of the Congo grey is very red while the comparable feathering on the Timneh Grey, as seen below, is more toward a burgundy or maroon. You can also see a difference in color around and on the beak. The Congo Grey's beak is black while there are some pink tones on the beak of the Timneh Grey.

"Timneh African Grey"

BOTH THE CONGO AND THE TIMNEH AFRICAN GREY PARROTS ARE INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT!
It is for that reason that "GREYS" are one of the most widely kept companion parrots! Being owned by a well socialized African Grey can be like living with a young child. In fact, it is said by some researchers that African Greys that imprint on a human at a very early age can have the
INTELLIGENCE LEVEL of a 4 TO 5 YEAR OLD CHILD!

All African Greys are capable of reasoning and using appropriate speech! That means that they can actually hold a conversation with you and understand what is being said! They have a reputation for being EXCELLENT talkers but don't bring home an African Grey for that reason alone!!

Young, Hand-Reared African Greys like Sami, make wonderful companions! They are relatively easy to handle and will adapt to varying conditions. Adult birds are less inclined to accept changes in their daily routines so it is wise to work with a Grey as early as possible.

Because of their intelligence, both species of African Grey Parrots are sometimes said to be a little "high strung" as compared to some other parrots. For that reason Greys that are bored, stressed out or abused may take out their anxiety by plucking or chewing their own feathers. Greys need a wide variety of safe toys as well as a lot of attention from you! Dory as seen below, one of my rescued CAGs took more than five years to break a twenty year old habit of feather plucking. Although Dory may never be fully feathered, even older birds can learn new tricks, so to speak but it takes a lot of patience and love! Be aware though that it takes a special person to work with an African Grey and although wonderful parrots, they are not for everyone.

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"AMAZON PARROTS"

Amazon Parrots are well known for being able to imitate all kinds of fun sounds! They talk very well! They like to have a good time mimicking laughter, coughing, crying or strange animal sounds! It seems that males more than females might be a little more prone to making fun sounds but they are all able to. Double Yellow-headed, Blue-fronted and Yellow-naped Amazons are right up there amongst the best of the talkers and can make great pets. Just remember that not all birds will talk so don't bring home a bird if that is all you want one of these intelligent creatures for. In fact, some of the other species can scream up a storm or drive you nuts with constant whistling. In general Amazons are FANTASTIC Birds!!

Unless you have lab tests done, it is difficult to reliably tell males apart from females. Amazons tend to bond to one individual so care must be taken to socialize them as much as possible. During the breeding season, Amazons can be aggressive to others in a household who are not the person that the bird has chosen to be its "mate". Hand reared birds adapt readily to being handled but even the sweetest bird can bite on occasion. After an Amazon parrot reaches sexual maturity, some aggression can present itself and become a problem.

Amazon Parrots love to play and a good assortment of toys should be provided. These guys can also be pretty loud so keep that in mind as well when considering being owned by an Amazon parrot!

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"COCKATOOS"

Cockatoos can be very affectionate parrots. We sometimes call them "Love Sponges"! They truly love to cuddle and be held.

Acting very much like a young child, a Cockatoo can be your best friend or, at times, your worst nightmare! They can be real "hams" and as such they love to receive attention. You have to be extremely careful not to spoil these birds rotten!

Cockatoos can be incredibly noisy and destructive if they are not socialized properly. To say that being owned by a Cockatoo can be complicated is the understatement of the century! Imagine living with a manipulative , five year old child for the rest of your life. Imagine the screaming and carrying on you would have to deal with during a temper tantrum. That's a Cockatoo!! It is for this reason that "Toos" are often found in rescue facilities!

That being said, I absolutely adore both Max and Casper. They are both Umbrella Cockatoos and they are incredible!! They are sweet, playful and very affectionate. Even so, they both have their moments. Being owned by a Cockatoo is a lot of work!

Most "Toos" like to play and are easily amused. I can play with Max for hours just throwing a paper towel back and forth with him. Casper will sit on me and watch T.V. for hours and then just go to sleep while sitting on my knee. Cockatoos can mimic sounds and they can talk although their speech is not as clear as that of other parrots. They do understand appropriate speech and will often surprise you with their intelligence!

There are many types of Cockatoos!
Sometimes categorized as the "White" species, Umbrellas, Sulphur-crested and Citron Cockatoos are excellent companion parrots! There are some other species like the Black Palm Cockatoo that are too large for the average person, but they too can make great companions. Smaller "toos" like the Rose-breasted Cockatoo can be wonderful companions in situations where a smaller bird would be more suitable.

Again, I can't emphasize enough the difficulties that can be connected with being owned by a Cockatoo! They produce a "powderdown" that can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Air filtration is a must in a home with "toos". Birds that are not kept busy can be destructive to things around them and can also be self destructive. Feather picking or plucking is a common problem found in Cockatoos. They can also be found to self-mutilate themselves by ripping into their own skin.

These birds are NOT for the novice!!!

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"MACAWS"

The Macaws are some of the largest and most beautiful of the companion parrots! These birds are not the most suitable for the average family. They are NOISY, MESSY, and need a LOT OF SPACE!!!

MACAWS NEED A GREAT DEAL of ATTENTION!!

The various macaws have different personality types. Although these are generalizations, the Blue and Gold Macaw is said to be a little more fun loving and MISCHIEVOUS although nervous and possibly nippy around unfamiliar people. Still, the Blue and Gold is one of the best Macaws with respect to fitting into a family arrangement.

Green-winged Macaws can be VERY BOISTEROUS but have a reputation for being a little calmer and less high strung. The Green-winged Macaw is also said to be less intimidating than some of the other Macaws.

Scarlet Macaws seem to have a completely different way of looking at things. They can tend to become ATTACHED to one particular person and as a result become very NIPPY toward others in a household.

All Macaws vocalize LOUDLY!!! It is definitely a SHRIEK!!! For those who live with Macaws, this is probably one of the least favorite aspects of these large birds. As other parrots do, they tend to vocalize in the morning and then again in the late afternoon. It is totally normal and should not be discouraged but as a result, Macaws are NOT "apartment" birds!

You must provide a very large enclosure for your Macaw and you must allow it time out of its cage each day. You must provide safe toys that are not made of small ingestible parts as a Macaw will take everything apart down to its smallest component. Macaws can be very DESTRUCTIVE if you accidentally allow them to get too close to window sills, moldings, door frames, doors, walls or anything else it can chew on. Providing safe, large chew toys designed for parrots is a must for your Macaw. These toys are very EXPENSIVE and you should be aware of that before you even think of living with a Macaw.

Macaws can become SCREAMERS and screech for attention or when not getting his or her own way. They are also known to PLUCK THEIR OWN FEATHERS if their living situation is not exactly to their liking.

Let's get really basic here, Macaws are for the experts with a great deal of experience with parrots.

A MACAW CAN BITE AND CAN EASILY TAKE A HUMAN'S FINGER OFF!! DO NOT BRING A MACAW HOME BECAUSE IT IS A PRETTY BIRD OR A STATUS SYMBOL!! THEY CAN BE COMPLICATED BIRDS TO LIVE WITH AND TO TRAIN!! THESE ARE NOT BIRDS TO HAVE AROUND SMALL CHILDREN UNLESS THEY ARE FULLY SUPERVISED!!

All that being said, a Macaw under the right circumstances can be a wonderful companion!!

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Please feel free to browse through our website. We will always attempt to bring you as much helpful information as we can. If you are owned by a Companion Parrot, then you should understand that all attempts should be made to work with your parrot to provide it with a loving home. Even "BIRDS COME FIRST" should be a last resort when working with your parrot. The best thing for your avian friend is to be able to get the Love and Care it needs from YOU!

Please click on the above buttons to find more information about The "BIRDS COME FIRST" Parrot Website! We look forward to hearing from you!

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Birds Come First
P.O. Box 1008
Olalla, WA 98359
2005 by WILLIAM O'ROURKE

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