Bird species that are popular as pets are mostly part of the parrot family. Though there are a few others, parrots ranging from macaws to tiny parrotlets are the most popular pet birds. But they present some unique challenges that people need to be aware of before they choose to adopt one.

Something that people who are considering becoming parrot-parents need to think about is that their bird will likely live a very long time. Macaws and larger species can live over a hundred years. Even tiny species may have a lifespan of 20 years or more. This is a very long commitment, and in many cases, means making plans for your bird should he or she outlive you.

People with immaculate homes are probably not good matches with these birds. Much of the food a parrot is given will end up on the ground, and some of it is bound to fly outside the cage. Messiness is a parrot trait, and there is no way to change that. Think about this before you decide to bring one into your nice, clean home.

If you need a quiet pet, perhaps a lovebird or a budgie would be appropriate. But most of the parrot species are screamers and screechers, and can make you very unpopular very quickly. There is no cure for the screaming, because it is a natural reaction in birds to both situations that make them happy, and those that make them upset. Be aware of this noisiness before adopting a bird.

Flocks are the natural social groups of parrots in the wild. Some people attempt to make their birds happy by getting them another bird as a friend. This works– but the birds rarely remain tame after bonding together. In order to keep a tame bird happy, the human in his or her life needs to take over the role of the flock. This means spending lots of time with your bird, interacting and just hanging out.

If you do decide that you can meet the needs of a pet parrot for time and attention, consider the cost. Bird cages are expensive, and need to be relatively large, especially for the bigger birds. And though budgies and lovebirds are fairly cheap, most other species are quite expensive, even the small ones. Plus, medical care for a parrot can be much more expensive than that for a dog or cat, as they need to see an exotics specialist.

Many people have wonderful relationships with their parrots. But these relationships are built on a solid understanding of what the bird needs, and are more likely to occur if you have done your research before buying one.

For those of you who like parrots, we believe you should know about parrot training. We have some simple techniques for you to start using right soon.