Finding the best bird for the first time bird owner can be a difficult task, especially when the owner has little or no experience with this type of pet.

There are several popular bird types that are relatively easy to care for and maintain, even for the novice bird owner. Take a look at the following species of birds to determine which may be right for your home.

Cockatiels

Cockatiels are usually quiet, easily tamed, and affectionate birds. They are easy to handle and do well in a family environment. Cockatiels can grow to be about 12 inches from the beak to the tail feathers and have a lifespan of between 10 and 20 years of age. These birds are quite intelligent and social creatures that enjoy interacting with their human owner and can even be hand fed. Cockatiels come in a wide variety of colors, such as cinnamon, grey, lutino (yellowish), albino (white), fallow, pearl, and whiteface.

Budgies/Parakeets

Budgies or parakeets are delicate little birds who love to play, spend time with their human, and explore their surroundings. This species of bird is more of a loner so pet owners should avoid bringing in other budgies to the home. Budgies grow to approximately 8 inches from beak to tail and have a lifespan of 5 to 9 years. In the wild, budgies can have green, dark green, or yellow stripped feathers. Captive budgies have been bred to be almost every color of the rainbow. Budgies are also dimorphic, meaning that the coloration can determine their sex.

Finches/Canaries

Finches are charming little birds that are somewhat timid in the company of their human owner. Although they make a great pet for the first time bird owner, they do not generally like to be handled. Finches can be very territorial. Therefore, only one per cage should be present. These birds grow to be between 10 and 12 cementers can live up to 10 years of age. Canaries can be a variety of colors, with the most common being yellow. However, selective breeding can result in new color mutations, such as white, bronze, and red.

Doves

Although not a common pet, many consider a dove to be the best bird for a new bird owner due to its calm nature, quiet temperament, and general hardiness. From bill to tail, doves generally grow to 12 inches in length and have a life span of nearly 20 years if kept in good health. Doves are quite peaceful when kept in pairs. However, two male doves will often fight. Although many think that doves are primarily white, they do come in a variety of colors, such as brown, gray, black, and a combination of these colors.