Birds are easier to care for than any four-legged pet. And while there is no such thing as a no-maintenance bird, some species are easier to care for than others. From doves to finches, canaries to parakeets, there are many cute, charming pet birds that won’t put great demands on an owner’s time but will still prove to be good companions.

These birds are on the smaller side, which means they typically make less of a mess than large birds do.  They also require smaller enclosures, and while some prefer ample socialization with their favorite humans, others are happy entertaining themselves with toys. Here we’ll look at six adorable bird species that do not demand so much of your time, but still make great pets!

Doves

Doves are hardy, medium-sized birds that enjoy interacting with their owners but are also content to spend a good part of the day entertaining themselves. Unlike a larger bird like a cockatoo or a macaw, a dove isn’t constantly in need of attention. 

Because doves are a little smaller than parrots and other popular pet birds, cleaning up after them is much easier. Although it’s still important to form a bond with your pet dove, these quiet, pretty birds won’t demand much of your time. Keep their cages clean, and you’ll have a content, satisfied bird most of the time. 

Cockatiels

Among the birds listed on this post, cockatiels require the most maintenance. And like budgies, they need a certain amount of handling and out of the cage playtime every single day.

Yet, cocktails are not that demanding compared to their larger relative species. Even if they don’t talk, they are among the intelligent bird species. They can be trained to do tricks and follow commands.

If you can spare at least 2 to 3 hours of your day for your pets, cockatiels make an excellent choice for pets. But to ensure they stay comfortable throughout the day, be sure to get them a large cage to allow them to spread their wings and fly.

Canary

Canaries are another excellent choice for bird lovers who prefers a pet to 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, and each variety has different care requirements. However, overall, these little birds are a good fit for those who don’t have a lot of spare time to spend with a pet.

Peach-Faced Lovebird

The peach-faced lovebird is a little more of a challenging small parrot. They are small at 6½ inches and have a life expectancy of 20 years. They come in many different color mutations. They are energetic and can get themselves in trouble, so the child needs to pay attention. They can learn some tricks and their noise level is lower than the larger parrots.

They need daily feeding, water changing, cage cleaning, plus some good one-on-one time. They should have a play gym, lots of toys and bird perches. They can become a little territorial, so the kid owner needs to read up a little to know how to deal with these little challenges.

Finches

With a comfortable flight cage and a companion to interact with, finches will thrive. They don’t need playtime outside the cage and handling. As long as they are with their same kind, they would socialize. Believe it or not, they would rather interact with their fellow finches than their humans.

In general, finches can be very messy. Then again, when it comes to their social needs, they could handle them. As an owner, all you have to do is to feed them with the right foods, provide them clean water, and clean up their bird cages once in a while.

Parakeets(Budgies)

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 holding. A parakeet, or budgie, is the ideal option for that scenario.

While Budgies do bond strongly with their owners, as 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 their owners can devote an hour or two per day of socialization time to them. Consider a budgie if you’d like all the perks of owning a parrot without the huge time commitment.