Key Takeaways Macaws are known for their comical personalities and strong bonds with owners, living up to 100 years with proper care.African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent, with remarkable memories and emotional capacity, requiring daily socialization.Amazon Parrots are recognized for their large vocabularies and sociability, demanding considerable attention from owners.

Key Takeaways

Macaws are known for their comical personalities and strong bonds with owners, living up to 100 years with proper care.African Grey Parrots are highly intelligent, with remarkable memories and emotional capacity, requiring daily socialization.Amazon Parrots are recognized for their large vocabularies and sociability, demanding considerable attention from owners.

If you're looking for an intelligent, engaging, and trainable pet bird, there are many species to consider. Birds are highly intelligent and capable of solving puzzles, playing games, performing tricks, and vocalizing. However, some species particularly enjoy trick training and performing skills. Here's a look at eight captivating pet bird species for teachability and what makes them suitable or not for new trainers.

Tip While some species are generally smarter, always evaluate the individual bird before committing. You might be surprised at their abilities. Environmental stress during rearing and genetic factors can significantly impact a bird's interest in vocalizing.

Tip

While some species are generally smarter, always evaluate the individual bird before committing. You might be surprised at their abilities. Environmental stress during rearing and genetic factors can significantly impact a bird's interest in vocalizing.

Things to Consider Before Getting a Pet Bird

Cockatiel Perching On Cage

Macaws

![Scarlet Macaw]

Macaws from the South American rainforests are among the largest, most colorful, and popular parrots. You must be a committed partner with large, safe flight spaces to own one of these magnificent birds. Macaws have comical personalities and can be affectionate; they often form strong attachments to owners and can live up to nearly 100 years with proper care.

Species Overview Length: 32 inches; half the total body length is in the tail feathersWeight: 35 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Feathers of scarlet, light blue, yellow; flight feathers are dark blue, dark red, gold, sometimes green; white skin around the eyes

Species Overview

Length: 32 inches; half the total body length is in the tail feathersWeight: 35 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Feathers of scarlet, light blue, yellow; flight feathers are dark blue, dark red, gold, sometimes green; white skin around the eyes

African Grey Parrots

![Close-up of African Grey]

African Grey Parrots, or Congo Grey Parrots, are a single species from Central Africa's equatorial region. Often cited as the most intelligent birds on Earth, they have amazed everyone from casual bird owners to researchers with their remarkable memories and deep emotional capacities. Because of this, potential owners must ensure they can spend ample time socializing with their pet daily. Their lifespan ranges from 50 to 80 years.

Species Overview Length: 13 inchesWeight: 15 to 18 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Body feathers are varying shades of gray; tail feathers are red

Species Overview

Length: 13 inchesWeight: 15 to 18 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Body feathers are varying shades of gray; tail feathers are red

Amazon Parrots

![Two Amazon parrots]

Amazon Parrots, known for their beauty and entertainment value, are regarded by bird experts as excellent talkers. They can develop large vocabularies and tend to have clearer speech than many other species. Lovable and sociable, they require a lot of attention from their owners. Amazons come in various species.

Species Overview Length: 13 to 15 inchesWeight: 7 to 25 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body feathers; over 15 subspecies of Amazon Parrots with different head colorings

Species Overview

Length: 13 to 15 inchesWeight: 7 to 25 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green body feathers; over 15 subspecies of Amazon Parrots with different head colorings

Cockatoos

![Tame cockatoo on a man with leather jacket]

Cockatoos are sweet, loving, and highly intelligent parrots from Australia. They form strong bonds with their owners and can experience emotional distress if neglected. If you're a good match for a Cockatoo, you'll have an impressive companion bird that learns easily.

Species Overview Length: 18 inchesWeight: 14 to 28 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Mostly white body; some yellow feathers underneath the wings; reddish eyes in females, brown to black eyes in males

Species Overview

Length: 18 inchesWeight: 14 to 28 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Mostly white body; some yellow feathers underneath the wings; reddish eyes in females, brown to black eyes in males

Budgies Parakeets

![Blue Domestic Budgerigar]

Budgerigars, or Budgies, pack intelligence, trainability, and personality into a tiny package. They can learn to talk as well as larger parrots and be trained to perform fun tricks that impress. However, they require a long-term commitment from their owners.

Species Overview Length: 7 inchesWeight: 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Light green body with black wing markings and yellow head; captive-bred colors include blue, gray, green, white, violet, yellow/blue

Species Overview

Length: 7 inchesWeight: 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Light green body with black wing markings and yellow head; captive-bred colors include blue, gray, green, white, violet, yellow/blue

Mynah Birds

![Common Myna]

Some Mynah bird species, part of the starling family, can also be conditioned to speak, much like parrots and songbirds. They learn to speak by mimicking their owners' voices.

Species Overview Length: 9 inchesWeight: 4 to 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Brown body, black hooded head with a bare yellow patch behind the eye; bills and legs are bright yellow

Species Overview

Length: 9 inchesWeight: 4 to 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Brown body, black hooded head with a bare yellow patch behind the eye; bills and legs are bright yellow

Lovebirds

![Fischer's Lovebird grooming]

Lovebirds are intelligent and inquisitive species. They excel at solving puzzles and learning quickly, making them remarkable cage escape artists. While not known for being chatty, they can learn some vocalizations if taught early.

Species Overview Length: 5 to 6 inchesWeight: 2 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Mostly green, orange upper body and head, blue lower back and rump, red beak, white eyerings

Species Overview

Length: 5 to 6 inchesWeight: 2 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Mostly green, orange upper body and head, blue lower back and rump, red beak, white eyerings

Canaries

![Canary bird]

Canaries are finches from the Canary Islands, renowned for their lovely singing voice. Initially fearful, these birds can be taught to interact with you vocally and physically up close. They can learn to perch on your finger, fly around the room, and return to you.

Species Overview Length: 8 to 9 inchesWeight: 1/2 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Bright yellow, or whitish or reddish body

Species Overview

Length: 8 to 9 inchesWeight: 1/2 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Bright yellow, or whitish or reddish body

Birds to Avoid

All birds are smart problem solvers. If you're seeking a highly intelligent bird, choose ones reared by trainers. Avoid birds that have been bored and not challenged, as they may lag in cognitive development if they haven't had opportunities to 'learn how to learn.