Best Small Parrots to keep as Pets [With Pictures]

The parrot is the first bird that comes to mind when it comes to picking a bird to keep as a pet. They are the ideal bird pets, because of their beautiful colors, fun temperament, and intellece. There are roughly over 350 kinds of parrots, some of which are huge, reaching 12-40 inches from head to tail. Some are medium-sized species, measuring 10 to 15 inches in length, while the remainder are smaller species, averaging 4 to 7 inches in length. In this blog, I’ll go through some of the Best Small Parrots to keep as Pets. But before checking the list of best small parrots first we should check out some of the benefits of keeping a small parrot

The Benefits of Having a Small Parrot as a Pet:

People like to keep parrots as pest because of their devotion, intellece, and beauty. Even people who do not consider themselves to be bird enthusiasts may be drawn to well-behaved parrots. They have a lot of qualities that a pet owner should look for in a pet.

The advantage of keeping little birds as pets is that they may be the perfect friend for individuals who spend a lot of time alone. They can be cared for in a small place with limited budgets and mobility. These birds are excellent friends for not just youngsters and the elderly, but also for adults who have never had a pet before.

Having a friend at home

Stay-at-home people can benefit from small parrots or any other bird as a friend. If they spend a lot of time playing with humans, a single bird may become their closest buddy.

Taking Care Is Easier

Furthermore, since birds are naturally sanitary creatures, grooming them is simple. Preening is how birds keep their feathers clean and lustrous. Even without the use of pricey flea treatments, shampoos, or haircuts by their owners, they easily preserve their excellent looks and health. You simply need to clip your nails every now and again.

However, many people are hesitant to have a parrot in their lives, even if they desire one, since they are unfamiliar with the many types of parrots that are suitable for keeping as pets. Parrots are divided into three categories based on their size

• big
• medium
• small

Small parrots are the ideal companions at home since they are easier to handle than other varieties of parrots.

In this blog post, I’ve briefly detailed a few small parrots to assist you in selecting the smallest parrot in the world that could be right for you:

List of top 10 best small parrots in the world:

1. Pygmy Parrot: (smallest bird in the world)

Origin: Native to the forests of New Guinea and nearby islands

Size: 3 inches

Weight: 0.41 oz

Life Span: 12 years

This parrot is regarded as the world’s tiniest member of the parrot family. These parrots used to live in the jungles of New Guinea and the neighboring islands. These little birds are usually brigh green in color and travel quite quickly. Pygmies usually spend the time by climbing through plants using their beak, strong tail feathers, and huge feet.

Because of their small size (almost 8 cm or 3 inches from head to tail), buff-faced pygmy parrots are considered the smallest parrot species.

Can pygmy parrots be pets? Pygmy parrots, are difficult to keep in captivity. These little birds might die soon if they are caged. It might be related to a dietary shortage or the stress of being held in captivity.

Pygmy birds, like a few other birds, may eat lichens and fungus as part of their regular diet. It’s difficult to pinpoint their nutritional requirements accurately.

2. Budgies

Origin: Native to Australia

Size: 6-8 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Life Span: 5 – 8 years

These little parrots, sometimes known as parakeets, have long been one of the most popular pet bird species. They are popular among parrot enthusiasts who are not ready to acquire a huge bird as a pet. They are one of the world’s tiniest parrots. Budgies may readily learn to speak in a human-like manner, and some have a vocabulary of hundreds of words.

Despite being quieter than many other tiny parrot species, budgies may learn tricks to delight their owners. Budgies may be kept in a tiny cage, but they still need ample room to exercise and play. Budgies are popular as pets among those who live in an apartment because they may be accommodated in a smaller area than larger and medium-sized parrots.

Budgie parrots consume a wide range of fruits, seeds, plants, and berries in the wild. If tamed as a puppy, they may make fantastic pets since they are neither loud or destructive by nature.

Budgies don’t live for long and usually die before getting ten years old. However, since they are susceptible to cancers and lipomas, you should avoid giving them a high-fat diet.

A pet budgie’s voice may be piping and high, allowing him to sing while conversing with you.

Can a budgie live alone? yes they can live alone. As they are flock birds so ideally they would prefer to live in groups but they have no problem in living alone as it is one of the most popular birds around the world.

3. Parrotlets

Origin: Native to western Ecuador and northwestern Peru

Size: 5 inches

Weight: 1 ounce

Life Span: 15 to 20 years

If you want to keep a parrot as a pet, a charming Parrotlet may be the best and smallest parrot species for you. There are various different types parrotlets to pick from, but all of them may make fantastic pets if properly cared for.

People who wish to keep them as pets must be able to devote a significant amount of time to them since they like a lot of exercise and interaction. Parrotlets normally have appealing personalities in order to stand out from other parrots, but some of them may also learn to speak like humans. These parrots are extremely popular because of their amusing performances.

These parrots have a lifetime of over 20-30 years. As a result, you’ll have to add them to your family on a long-term basis.

Do Parrotlets talk? Yes, despite their small size, Parrotlets have the ability to mimic human speech.

4. Lovebirds

Origin: Native to the forests and savannas of Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

Size: 5-7 inches

Weight: 2 ounces

Life Span: 15- 25 years.

These lovely parrots, with their brightly colored feathers, are native to Africa. Because of their gorgeous appearance, they are unquestionably one of the greatest pet parrots. There are many different species of lovebird, but any of them may make excellent pets if properly socialized and taught.

Lovebirds may be fascinating little performers in a variety of ways by learning quirks to amuse their partners, but they dislike learning to speak like humans. Many people believe that these parrots must be maintained in pairs, however I believe this is a myth.

Many lovebird owners believe that if they are kept alone, they will be better pets since they will be more devoted to you. In captivity, a lovebird parrot may live for roughly 15 to 25 years. As a result, you should think about this before adding it to your household.

Do lovebirds need to be in pairs? No, it is not necessary to keep lovebirds in pairs. Although they are very affectionate birds but just like other birds they can be kept alone.

Can a lovebirds talk? Love birds are generally not considered a talking specie of parrots.

5. Small Conures

Origin: South America

Size: 9 inches

Weight: 2 ounces.

Life Span: 13 to 20+ years

Small conure parrots are an excellent alternative for anyone looking for a small bird to keep as a pet. Conure parrots, such as the half-moon conure and black-capped conure, come in a variety of sizes ranging from 6 to 10 inches. As a result, you may pick and choose among them according to your preferences.

Are conures a good pet? Most pet owners adore them because of their ability to connect with their owners, their intelligence and their desire to play games and learn tricks. Their typical lifetime is approximately 20 years, so keep this in mind if you want to keep them as pets.

Another reason for the parrots of this species’ appeal is that they may easily be kept in tiny settings by persons with limited room.

Furthermore, there are many different varieties of conures from which to pick. The sun conure is a loud bird, but its orange and yellow feathers make it a stunning sight. The pineapple conure is a little bird that is quiet and unobtrusive.

Conures dislike learning to communicate, but they are excellent at learning tricks. They engage with their owners via their tricks. However, if you begin educating your parrots at an early age, you will find that they are eager to learn throughout their lives.

6. Kakariki

Origin: New Zealand.

Size: 10 inches

Weight: 3 ounces.

Life Span: 13 to 20 years

Another little, energetic green bird native to New Zealand that may be maintained in outdoor cages is the Kakariki. Originally green in hue with a red topknot, they are now now available in blue and yellow pied variations. They are gradually gaining popularity as indoor pets.

Many individuals keep them for their energetic indoor activities, but I don’t think it’s appropriate. To appreciate its lively flights, you should keep it in an outdoor cage. They, like cockatiels and lovebirds, may live peacefully in couples. When allowed to mate freely, they make terrific parents.

7. Peach Fronted Parakeet

Origin: Native to South and Central America

Size: 10–11 inches

Weight: around 3.7 ozs

Life Span: 20–30 years

Peach-fronted parakeet are around 10 inches. Their plumage is a vibrant green with an electrifying orange face patch.

They’re fierce birds with happy-go-lucky attitudes, despite their little size. They have lengthy tails in comparison to their bodies, giving them the appearance of being bigger.

They do talk sometimes, although their lungs are rather little. This indicates that they do not have a wide vocal range. They sometimes emit a high-pitched sound, although the noise level is normally bearable.

They aren’t the finest talkers and aren’t very skilled at copying noises, but they make excellent apartment birds.

8. Poicephalus

Meyer’s and Senegal parrots, as well as Jardine and Red Belies parrots, make up this group of little parrots which are collectively called poicephalus. Because of their small size, these parrots are widely kept as pets. The size of the many sub-species in this group ranges from 5′′ to 13′′.

The majority of these parrots are gray and green in color, but most of them have a tint of yellow, blue, or orange to make them more appealing. In comparison to other little parrots, these parrots are usually quite. Though all parrots in this group can imitate and converse. Red belly parrots are more like to talk better than other spices.

If properly taken care of, these parrots are very sociable and affectionate. They might be timid, scared, and shy if they are not nurtured properly. It has the potential to bite and are anti-social by nature. To acquire their confidence, you’ll have to be patient when training these parrots.

Poicephalus should be treated with care, and it may be trained to climb stairs and repeat sentences. Diseases including aspergillosis, bornavirus, feather plucking, and heart disease may affect them.

Is a Senegal parrot a good pet? Yes, Senegal parrot is an outstanding bird. it is know for its quietness and calm temperament.

9. Cockatiels

Origin: Native only to Australia

Size: 12 to 13 inches

Weight: around 4 ozs

Life Span: 16 to 25 years

Despite being somewhat bigger than the other tiny parrots on this list, these parrots are quite popular among small parrots kept as pets by both elderly and young pet owners due to their lively and friendly natures and beautiful dispositions. They adore owners who devote a significant amount of time to exercising, socializing, and playing with them on a daily basis.

Some of them can acquire a few words, but they prefer to imitate household noises such as doorbells and telephone bells rather than human voices. Cockatiels are known for their ability to whistle and sing, but some of the species’ male parrots can acquire some of the words spoken by humans.

Are cockatiels a good pet? Cockatiels are the finest parrots for beginners since they are easy to get at pet stores. You can simply train them with a harness and take them out with you. Though you may let them fly freely in the open but there is a danger of predators like as hawks and crows attacking them.

Cockatiels are usually grey in appearance, however males may have golden spots on their faces. When tamed properly, they may live between 15 and 25 years.

If your cockatiel is giving you a hard time, read this guide to get your cockatiel to like you.

Things to keep in mind When Purchasing A Small Parrot

When purchasing a little parrot as a pet, you must consider a number of factors, including your willingness to care for it, since parrots have a long lifetime. You must set out time for your pet. Ensure its protection from other animals, as well as its health, and be willing to foot the bill for its food and medical treatment.

What Is the Average Life Expectancy of Small Parrots?

Smaller parrots have shorter lifespans, averaging 10 years or slightly longer.

The largest parrots, on the other hand, may live for 50 years or more. Smaller parrots are regarded an easier pet since their owners do not have to commit to them for the rest of their lives.

While this is true, you should still think about how long you’re willing to keep a little parrot. Some live substantially longer than cats and dogs, which may deter some potential owners.

The lifetime of the most common tiny parrot species is as follows:

Average Lifespan of Parrots (Years)

parrotlet15–20 years old

Lovebird12–15 years old

Budgie, 5–8 years old

Bourke’s Parakeet (Bourke’s Parakeet) 5–8 years

Meyer’s Parrot has a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.

Painted Conure 15–20 years

Crimson-Bellied Parakeet 20-year-old

Conure of the Half-Moon 20–30 years

Senegal Parrot 20–30 years

Brown-throated Conure (Brown-throated Conure) 10–25 years

Peach-Fronted Conure 20–30 years

Blue-Headed Pionus Parrot 30–40 years

Hahn’s Macaw (Hahn’s Macaw) 20–30 years

Cockatiel, 15–25 years old

The majority of small parrot species make excellent pets and have temperaments and dispositions that are well-suited to limited spaces. The one you select, however, is determined by your lifestyle and the amount of time you have to devote to it each day.