Low-Maintenance Pet Bird Species

Adopting a pet Dove is a good way to get a bird that you can handle and interact with without having to meet the demands of a larger bird like a Cockatoo or a Macaw. Doves are hardy, medium sized birds who enjoy interacting with their owners, but are also content to spend a good part of the day entertaining themselves. Dove owners report that they aren't quite as messy as many parrot species either, making them easier to clean up after. While it is still important to form a proper bond with your pet Dove, by and large they require less one-on-one attention than many bird species.

Pet Finches are just about the lowest-maintenance birds that a person could possible wish for. As long as they are provided with a proper flight cage and two or three flock-mates to interact with, Finches require zero handling and out-of-cage playtime. Finches tend to keep to themselves and would rather socialize with other Finches than their human caretakers, so those who have little spare time can enjoy the company of birds in their home while only having to feed, water, and clean up after them. While a small flock of finches can be quite messy, there are several different cage cleaning techniques that finch owners use to help make the job much easier to deal with.

Canaries are another excellent choice for bird-lovers who would prefer that their pets be seen and heard instead of taken out and handled. Much like Finches, Canaries don't do well with human handling and prefer to stay within the comforting walls of their cages. There are different types of Canaries to choose from, each having different specific care requirements, but as a whole these little birds are a good fit for those who don't have a lot of spare time on their hands to spend with a pet.

Some bird lovers want a bird that they can hold, train, and that can even learn to talk, but that they don't have to spend every minute of every day with -- and for those types of people, the Budgie is an excellent option. While Budgies do bond strongly with their owners like most parrots do, they are easier to keep occupied than many larger species. A Budgie in a spacious cage well-stocked with plenty of safe and interesting bird toys can thrive as long as there owners can devote an hour or two per day of socialization time to them. This is a big contrast to many other parrot species, some who require a minimum of 4 to 6 hours outside of the cage each day. Consider a Budgie if you'd like all the perks of owning a parrot without the huge time commitment.

Another parrot species, Cockatiels are the highest-maintenance bird species on this list. While like the Budgies, they do require a certain amount of handling and out-of-cage playtime each day, they are nowhere near as demanding as some of the larger parrot species. Cockatiels normally don't talk, but they are highly intelligent and can be trained to performed an array of fun and functional commands. Cockatiels are a great choice for those who have the time to devote 2 or 3 hours per day to playing with their pets, and who have enough space to house a large cage and provide a safe, bird-proof area for their feathered friend to play in.