Which Bird?

Genus/Common Name Nymphicus Includes Cockatiels Size Small. Talking Ability Limited. Good whistler. Lifespan 20-25 Noise Quiet, but their contact call may be annoying. Dimorphic Yes. See my Guide to Sexing Tiels Visually. Comments See species profile for more information. The cockatiel is a good beginner bird that enjoys being pet more than a budgie.
Genus/Common Name Lories Includes Lories and lorikeets. Size Tiny to medium. Talking Ability ? Lifespan ? Noise Varies. Dimorphic No. Comments Very colorful and playful. Specialized diet (expensive and causes squirts).	See Lexicon of Parrots.
Genus/Common Name Cockatoos Includes Cockatoos Size Medium to large. Talking Ability Varies. Lifespan 50-80 Noise Quiet to loud. Large species are typically very loud. My goffin is very quiet. Dimorphic No. Comments Very demanding pets, but playful and highly intelligent. They are the cuddliest birds you can find. Difficult to breed. Males known for killing, maiming and trapping hens during breeding.
Genus/Common Name Eclectus Includes Eclectus Size Medium. Talking Ability Varies. Lifespan ? Noise ? Dimorphic Very. Comments Matriarcal. Stunning colors and odd feather texture.	See Lexicon of Parrots.
Genus/Common Name Aussie Keets Includes Polytelis (suberb, regent, princess), king, Platycerus (rosellas), Psephotus (red-rump, mulga), Neophema (bourke, scarlet-chest, turquoise). Size Small to medium. Talking Ability Varies. Lifespan 10-30 Noise Pleasant. Dimorphic Some species are. Comments Good aviary birds but not commonly kept as pets. Rosellas are curious as pets and love to whistle.
Genus/Common Name Melopsittacus Includes Budgie. Size Small. Talking Ability Very good. Lifespan 5-15 Noise Constant chattering. Usually not offensive. Dimorphic Yes. Comments See species profile for more information. Great beginner pets, but they usually do not come tame.
Genus/Common Name Cyanoramphus Includes Kakarikis Size Small. Talking Ability Good. Lifespan 10-? Noise Pleasant. Dimorphic Yes. Comments See species profile for more information. Kakarikis are high energy pets that require a lot of space and supervision. They rarely sit still for long and make very entertaining pets.
Genus/Common Name Agapornis Includes Lovebirds. Size Small. Talking Ability Limited. Lifespan 10-20 Noise Like budgie only higher pitched. Dimorphic Some. Comments Make feisty and curious handfed pets.
Genus/Common Name Psittacula Includes Indian ringneck, African ringneck, Alexandrine, plum-head, blossom-head, Derbyan, Moustached. Size Medium. Talking Ability Excellent. Lifespan 20-30 Noise Loud. Dimorphic Yes. Comments See species profile for more information. This genus is unfairly labeled "standoffish." Ringnecks make excellent pets if well-socialized. They are highly intelligent, curious and playful. They do tend to be strong willed and require a more experience or assertive owner.
Genus/Common Name Poicephalus Includes Senegal, meyers, cape, jardine's, brown-head. Size Medium. Talking Ability Moderate. Lifespan 30-40 Noise Quiet. Dimorphic No. Comments Good apartment birds. Senegals are the most popular.	See Lexicon of Parrots.
Genus/Common Name Ara Includes Macaws (extinct/endangered ones in other genus). Size Medium to large. Talking Ability Moderate. Lifespan 80-100 Noise Loud. Dimorphic No. Comments Not as popular as once were, perhaps due to size, expense and noise level. They are the larger relatives of conures. Intelligent and playful.
Genus/Common Name Aratinga. Includes Most conures. Nanday in another genus but the profile still applies. Size Medium. Talking Ability Limited. Lifespan 30 Noise Loud. Dimorphic No. Comments Very loud for size. Playful, curious pets. Very outgoing and fun-loving. Tend to become one-person birds if you let them.
Genus/Common Name Pyrrhura Includes Green-cheek, maroon-belly, pearl, paint and most other small conures. Size Small. Talking Ability Limited. Lifespan 30 Noise Usually quiet. Dimorphic No. Comments Good for someone who likes conures but hates noise. These guys are smaller and generally much quieter.
Genus/Common Name Brotogeris Includes White-wing, canary-wing, grey-cheek, and other "pocket parakeets." Size Small. Talking Ability Moderate. Lifespan 30 Noise Loud. Dimorphic No. Comments Used to be available in large numbers. Very limited supply since importation stopped and these birds are difficult to breed. Known to be outstanding pets. Most of these birds should probably be in breeding programs though.
Genus/Common Name Poinites Includes Caique Size Medium. Talking Ability ? Lifespan ? Noise ? Dimorphic No. Comments South American species. Curious and feisty.	See Lexicon of Parrots.
Genus/Common Name Parrotlet Includes Parrotlet Size Tiny to small. Talking Ability ? Lifespan ? Noise ? Dimorphic I think some species are. Comments These guys are known as "mini amazons." They have a large attitude for such small birds. They cannot be bred in colonies.	See Lexicon of Parrots.
Genus/Common Name Amazona Includes Amazons Size Medium. Talking Ability Excellent. Lifespan 50-80 Noise Loud. Dimorphic No. Comments Outgoing and boisterous. Some species more mellow (mealy, lilac-crown, orange-wing). Can be very aggressive during breeding displays. Get hyper easily. Some, like double yellow heads and yellow napes, love opera and will make up their own songs.
Genus/Common Name Pionus Includes Pionus Size Medium. Talking Ability Moderate. Lifespan 50-80 Noise Quiet. Dimorphic No. Comments Good apartment birds. Appealing to people who like South Americans but dislike noise.
Genus/Common Name Psittacus Includes African grey Size Medium. Talking Ability Excellent. Lifespan 50-80 Noise Quiet but like to pick up household noises to repeat constantly (much to the annoyance of some owners). Dimorphic No. Comments Highly intelligent and excellent mimics, but shy and sensitive. Can be badly affected by change if normally kept on a strict schedule. Plucking very common if stressed.	See Lexicon of Parrots.

Special thanks to Bridget Gall for the pionus image and Laura for the amazon image.

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