Reptile & Amphibian Forums

well, not now, anyway. i know i will get a bird eventually, but i'm not sure when. i don't want one *really* loud, and i also want one that sings. the size is not very important. i have read up on them for a while, and i am willing to pay vet bills. i will take it to the vet to clip its wings, and things like that. now that i think about it, i would like one that is relatively big, because those have more of a presence wherever they go. i realize that most large birds are relatively loud, but...hmm....well, that's why i started this thread in the first place! any suggestions would be appreciated.

I`m afraid I don`t know of any large birds which are quiet.
Quite honestly, if singing is the most important factor, why not a canary or two? They don`t even need their wings clipped, if you keep them in a large enough cage and provide toys.

I personally don`t think `presence` should be the most important factor in choosing a bird. I think it`s most important to first define the other requirements you have first. Like noise. Another important limiting factor is cage size (what`s the biggest cage you can afford, in both money and space? What size birds are recommended for that size cage or smaller?) What sort of personality are you looking for in a bird? Playful and mischeivous? Calm and regal?
Visit local bird clubs and pet stores to meet as many birds as you can. Find out which ones you are attracted to, and try to discover why. For the most part, choosing a bird is a matter of self-discovery. I don`t really think anyone can say which bird will be right for someone. It`s usually much easier to tell which bird would be WRONG for someone.

well, i guess a canary would be nice. i like songs, even if it sings at the crack of dawn. i wouldn't mind that. actually, that would probably be better for me since i stink at waking up early! i went to another site and they showed the minimal cage sizes for different species of birds. i think some state wild-life and fish service said set those rules. the canary was 14"x14" minimum. i was thinking of around 20" if i got that. i would like a male canary if i got one, because i like the singing. i was thinking of parrots at first, maybe a budgie or lovebird or parrotlet, but...i guess a canary would be better for my lifestyle. i probably wouldn't have enough time to play with it all the time, so that means parrots aren't a good choice. well, i'll have to think about it more. thank you!

All birds are going to sing (or possibly scream) in the morning. Parrot or canary alike.
As far as song-quality, canaries are gonna be a much better bet then a parrot. Many people do, however, find budgie chatter to be rather pleasant, and with a big enough cage and enough toys, a pair or quartet of budgies can live relatively happily without the need to socialize with people. They`re even quite entertaining to watch. (I say pair or quartet because a single bird would need lots of attention from you, and three birds can sometimes cause squabbling. Once you get into numbers like 5 or above it usually doesn`t matter as much, but that would take a rather large cage).

So I would recommend researching the care, diet and personalities of those two species, spending some time at pet stores watching them, and perhaps most importantly listening to them.
You might also consider looking into parrot rescues in your area. Singing canaries don`t often show up in rescue, but if you decide you prefer budgies, they often have sets of untame budgies available. Untame pairs are extremely difficult for them to place.