There’s no single “best” parrot for everyone, but there are clear winners depending on your living situation, experience level, and how much time you can commit. Budgies, cockatiels, and green-cheek conures consistently top the list for first-time owners, while African greys, Amazons, and macaws reward experienced owners with deeper bonds and impressive intelligence. The right parrot for you comes down to noise tolerance, space, budget, and how many decades you’re ready to commit.
Best Parrots for Beginners
If you’ve never owned a parrot, three species stand out: budgies, cockatiels, and green-cheek conures. Each has a distinct personality, and the differences matter more than most guides let on.
Budgies are the quietest of the three, topping out around 65 to 70 decibels, roughly the volume of a normal conversation. They’re playful, goofy, and rarely bite. The tradeoff is that they’re less cuddly than the other two and do best with a companion bird rather than as a solo pet. They also lack bowel control, so expect small droppings on you and your furniture when they’re out of the cage. Female budgies tend to be quieter than males.
Cockatiels are the most adaptable. Their personalities range from demanding attention-seekers to calm, easygoing companions. Many cockatiels love physical affection and will actively seek out cuddles. They’re louder than budgies, hitting about 75 decibels, especially during morning and afternoon vocal sessions. One thing to know: a bonded cockatiel may scream when it can’t see you, which can be a challenge in apartments.
Green-cheek conures are the most interactive option. Hand-raised green-cheeks are deeply cuddly, acrobatic, and entertaining. They make excellent single-companion birds. But they come with caveats. They have large beaks relative to their size and can draw blood when they bite. Their peak volume can hit 100 decibels, comparable to a lawnmower, though they’re generally quiet throughout most of the day. Unlike budgies, green-cheeks have bowel control and typically won’t poop on you.
Best Parrots for Talking and Intelligence
African grey parrots are the gold standard for vocal mimicry. A study of over 900 pet parrots found that African greys averaged about 60 human words in their repertoire, roughly double what other top-talking species manage. Cockatoos, Amazons, and macaws averaged 20 to 30 words each. But vocabulary size only tells part of the story. Researchers found that 89% of companion parrots spontaneously used human words in appropriate contexts, meaning most parrots don’t just mimic sounds; they learn when to use them.
African greys sit at a comfortable 70 decibels, making them constant but not overwhelming chatterers. They’re not the best choice for beginners, though. Greys are emotionally sensitive, prone to feather-destructive behavior when stressed, and tend to bond strongly with one person. If you want a talking parrot with a more easygoing temperament, Amazon parrots are a solid alternative, though they’re significantly louder.
Best Parrots for Families With Children
Species with more predictable, gentle temperaments work best in homes with kids. Budgies, cockatiels, and Pionus parrots are commonly recommended as hands-on companions for children. Pyrrhura conures (the group that includes green-cheeks) also make the list. Some parrots tend to bond with just one person in the household, and that person may not even be the one who brought the bird home. This “one-person bird” tendency is more common in African greys, cockatoos, and some macaws.
It’s worth noting that small doesn’t always mean gentle. Caiques, lovebirds, and parrotlets are all compact birds, but they can be nippy and temperamental enough to frustrate younger kids. Size alone isn’t a reliable guide to family-friendliness.
Noise Levels by Species
If you live in an apartment or have close neighbors, noise should be one of your first filters. Here’s how popular species compare:
- Budgies: 65 to 70 decibels. The quietest common pet parrot, especially as solo pets or pairs.
- African greys: Up to 70 decibels. Constant low-level chatter rather than loud screaming.
- Cockatiels: About 75 decibels, with louder bursts in the morning and evening.
- Macaws: Around 105 decibels, comparable to a snowmobile engine.
- Conures: Up to 120 decibels for sun conures. Green-cheek conures are significantly quieter than their sun conure cousins.
- Cockatoos: The loudest pet birds, reaching 135 decibels at peak volume.
For apartment living, budgies and African greys are your most realistic options. Cockatoos and sun conures will generate noise complaints.
Space and Housing Requirements
Cage size scales dramatically with bird size. Cockatiels need a minimum cage of 20 by 20 by 24 inches. Conures need at least 24 by 24 by 24 inches. Large macaws require a minimum of 48 by 36 by 60 inches, which is essentially a small piece of furniture. Bar spacing matters too: half-inch spacing for cockatiels, five-eighths to three-quarters of an inch for conures, and one to one-and-a-half inches for macaws. Bars spaced too wide allow smaller birds to squeeze through or get stuck.
These are minimums. Most experienced owners recommend the largest cage you can afford and fit in your home, since parrots spend a significant portion of their day inside it. Beyond the cage, you’ll need a play stand or T-stand for out-of-cage time, which every parrot requires daily.
How Much Time Parrots Need Daily
Parrots are flock animals. Isolation leads to behavioral problems like screaming, feather plucking, and aggression. A reasonable daily routine includes about 20 to 30 minutes of focused one-on-one time (training, playing, cuddling), another 20 to 30 minutes of shared time where the bird is on or near you while you do other things, and at least two hours of indirect attention where the bird can observe household activity from a perch or play stand.
Cockatoos and macaws sit at the extreme end of this spectrum. They’re often compared to perpetual toddlers in their emotional needs. If you work long hours away from home and live alone, these species are a poor fit regardless of how much you love them. Budgies and cockatiels are more forgiving of moderate alone time, especially if kept in pairs.
Lifespan and Long-Term Commitment
This is where many prospective owners underestimate what they’re signing up for. A study analyzing zoo records for over 133,000 individual parrots across 244 species found that large-bodied species like macaws and cockatoos have life expectancies exceeding 35 years. In captivity with good care, some individuals live into their 50s, 60s, or beyond. Budgies and cockatiels live 10 to 20 years, which is still a substantial commitment but far more manageable.
Larger parrots with bigger brains relative to their body size tend to live longer. This is part of why African greys, macaws, and cockatoos are so intelligent: their extended lifespans correlate with greater cognitive development. But it also means adopting a large parrot is a decision that may outlast your mortgage. Many large parrots outlive their owners and need to be rehomed, which is traumatic for a bonded bird. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, a macaw could be with you for the rest of your life. If you’re older, think carefully about who would take over care.
Annual Costs of Parrot Ownership
Parrots are more expensive to maintain than most people expect. For small species like budgies, annual food costs run about $100, and a basic vet exam costs around $75 per bird. For large parrots like macaws and Amazons, food (pellets, nuts, supplements) can run over $1,200 a year, and vet expenses including annual checkups and nail trims can exceed $2,700 for a pair.
As a general rule, expect to spend $200 to $400 per year on food per bird and another $200 to $300 per year on toys, which parrots destroy constantly and need replaced for mental stimulation. A reasonable baseline is about $500 per year per bird for a small to medium species. Emergency vet visits can easily add $1,700 or more in a single year. Parrots also chew on household items: wallets, phone cases, wood trim, cabinets. Factor in some property damage.
Diet and Nutrition Basics
A healthy parrot diet is 50 to 70% high-quality pellets, with the remaining 30 to 50% coming from fresh foods: raw or steamed vegetables, cooked whole grains like brown rice and quinoa, sprouted legumes, and limited amounts of raw fruit. Fruits, seeds, and nuts should make up no more than 10 to 20% of the total diet. An all-seed diet, which was standard decades ago, leads to malnutrition and shortened lifespans.
Small species like budgies and cockatiels are an exception. Because of their high metabolism, they can handle a mix of quality seed and pellets. Larger species like Amazons, greys, macaws, and cockatoos should not rely on seed as a dietary staple because it doesn’t provide enough balanced nutrition for their needs.
Choosing the Right Parrot for Your Life
Start with your constraints, not your dream bird. If you live in an apartment, eliminate cockatoos, sun conures, and macaws. If you work full-time and live alone, skip species that demand constant companionship. If you have young children, lean toward budgies, cockatiels, or Pionus parrots rather than nippy small species or unpredictable large ones. If your budget is tight, a budgie or cockatiel at $500 per year in maintenance is a fraction of what a macaw costs. And if you want a 40-year companion with deep emotional intelligence, an African grey or macaw might be exactly right, provided you have the experience, time, and resources to match.