Parakeets
BEST FOR:
First-time pet bird parents with time to teach these fun birds a few tricks. Chatty but not screechy, they’re appropriate for most apartment- and townhouse-dwellers.
Outside of the U.S., “parakeet” refers to several species of small and medium birds in the parrot family. One of the most popular? The budgerigar, or budgie. Silly and sweet birds with big personalities, budgerigars are a fantastic, low-maintenance choice for beginners. They make less noise than their larger relatives, chirruping pleasantly. With patience, you can even teach them to repeat some human words. Another popular type is the Lineolated parakeet (also known as linnies, barred parakeets, or Catherine parakeets). They are similarly easygoing and able to learn tricks.