Prospective bird owners have many choices when it comes to adopting a new pet. If you’re not interested in any small bird species and can’t accommodate a large bird, a medium-sized pet bird might be the perfect fit. These birds generally make less of a mess than a large pet bird. And they’re still highly playful, affectionate, and intelligent. Here are eight of the top medium-sized bird species to keep as pets.

Tip

Regardless of a bird’s size, it’s recommended to provide the largest cage you can fit and afford. But make sure the bar width is appropriately sized, so your bird can’t escape or get stuck between the bars.

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  • Cockatiel
  • Tomekbudujedomek/Getty Images
  • As members of the parrot family, cockatiels delight their caretakers with their cheerful whistling and ability to mimic sounds. While they aren’t as large as many other parrot species, cockatiels do appreciate having lots of space to play. They’re also quite affectionate and need at least a few hours each day to interact with their caretakers.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 12 to 13 inchesWeight: 3 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Gray body; yellow face and crest; orange cheeks; long tail; mutations include albino, lutino, pied, and cinnamon
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  • Quaker Parrot
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  • Quaker parrots, also called monk parakeets, are known for their intelligence and are one of the top talking bird species. But their intelligence comes with a drawback. Because quaker parrots are so smart, they need lots of activity, so they don’t become bored or depressed. And providing adequate mental stimulation for these birds can be a challenge for some caretakers.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 11 to 12 inchesWeight: 3 to 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green head, wings, and body; gray breast, cheeks, and throat; blue flight feathers; mutations include blue, albino, cinnamon, lutino, and pied
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  • Rainbow Lorikeet
  • Adam Mcarthur/EyeEm/Getty Images
  • Rainbow lorikeets tend to bond strongly with their caretakers and thrive when their humans can spend plenty of time playing and socializing with them. Unlike many other bird species, lorikeets need a specialized liquid nectar-based diet, which can be challenging for some people to provide. This diet also can be quite messy, so caretakers must be prepared to clean their bird’s area regularly.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 10 to 12 inchesWeight: 3 to 6 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Blue plumage on face and belly; green on wings, back, and head; red breast; yellow and orange highlights on sides; red beak; gray feet
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  • Dove
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  • Some people who want a medium-sized pet bird might not be interested in a parrot species, and that’s where pet doves are an excellent option. Doves are typically quiet, gentle, and affectionate birds. They’re also very smart and can be taught a number of bird tricks, such as flying to a person on command. Plus, they’re quite hardy birds and can be a good choice for calm, older children.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 11 to 13 inchesWeight: 5 to 8 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Plumage of dull grays and browns; black collar around nape of neck; black eyes and beak; mutations include white, orange, and pied (ring-necked dove)
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  • Sun Conure
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  • One of the most recognizable medium-sized bird species is the colorful sun conure. These eye-catching birds often are not a good choice for beginners, as their personalities are just as robust as their plumage. With proper training and socialization, sun conures can make sweet and loving pets, but they need caretakers who can commit several hours a day to keeping them entertained.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 12 inchesWeight: 4 to 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Bright orange and yellow with highlights of green and blue; black beak and feet; white circles around eyes
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  • Indian Ringneck Parakeet
  • Neha Gupta/Getty Images
  • Indian ringneck parakeets are highly intelligent birds that can learn to talk extremely well. Although the species has a reputation for being slightly nippy, consistent, patient handling can turn these birds into tame, friendly companions. They need a large cage that can accommodate their long tail, as well as ample out-of-cage time for mental and physical exercise.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 14 to 17 inchesWeight: 4 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Green plumage; blue tail; yellow under wings; males have black and rose rings around their necks; mutations include blue, cinnamon, albino, and lutino
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  • Senegal Parrot
  • Jurgen & Christine Sohns/Getty Images
  • Senegal parrots are smaller and quieter compared to many other parrot species. They tend to be comical and entertaining, though some might only bond with one person in the family. These birds love to climb and swing and appreciate a play stand or other bird-safe area away from their cage where they can exercise for at least a few hours every day.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 10 inchesWeight: 4 to 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Gray head; green wings and chest; V-shaped patch of a red to yellow color on belly
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  • Black-Hooded Parakeet
  • Jess Fernandez/Getty Images
  • Black-hooded parakeets, also known as nanday conures, certainly make more noise than you might expect from an animal their size. They tend to be chatty throughout the day and have the capability to make quite loud calls when they want to. These medium-sized birds prefer a cage in which they can do some flying, as they’re a fairly active species.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 10 to 11 inchesWeight: 5 ouncesPhysical Characteristics: Black head; green body; grayish-blue chest patch; blue tail; red accent on legs; white eye rings; black beak

Cockatiel

As members of the parrot family, cockatiels delight their caretakers with their cheerful whistling and ability to mimic sounds. While they aren’t as large as many other parrot species, cockatiels do appreciate having lots of space to play. They’re also quite affectionate and need at least a few hours each day to interact with their caretakers.

Tomekbudujedomek/Getty Images

Species Overview

Length: 12 to 13 inches

Quaker Parrot

Quaker parrots, also called monk parakeets, are known for their intelligence and are one of the top talking bird species. But their intelligence comes with a drawback. Because quaker parrots are so smart, they need lots of activity, so they don’t become bored or depressed. And providing adequate mental stimulation for these birds can be a challenge for some caretakers.

Allan Baxter/Getty Images

Length: 11 to 12 inches

Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow lorikeets tend to bond strongly with their caretakers and thrive when their humans can spend plenty of time playing and socializing with them. Unlike many other bird species, lorikeets need a specialized liquid nectar-based diet, which can be challenging for some people to provide. This diet also can be quite messy, so caretakers must be prepared to clean their bird’s area regularly.

Adam Mcarthur/EyeEm/Getty Images

Length: 10 to 12 inches

Dove

Some people who want a medium-sized pet bird might not be interested in a parrot species, and that’s where pet doves are an excellent option. Doves are typically quiet, gentle, and affectionate birds. They’re also very smart and can be taught a number of bird tricks, such as flying to a person on command. Plus, they’re quite hardy birds and can be a good choice for calm, older children.

Length: 11 to 13 inches

Sun Conure

One of the most recognizable medium-sized bird species is the colorful sun conure. These eye-catching birds often are not a good choice for beginners, as their personalities are just as robust as their plumage. With proper training and socialization, sun conures can make sweet and loving pets, but they need caretakers who can commit several hours a day to keeping them entertained.

SHAWSHANK61/Pixabay

Length: 12 inches

Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Indian ringneck parakeets are highly intelligent birds that can learn to talk extremely well. Although the species has a reputation for being slightly nippy, consistent, patient handling can turn these birds into tame, friendly companions. They need a large cage that can accommodate their long tail, as well as ample out-of-cage time for mental and physical exercise.

Length: 14 to 17 inches

Senegal Parrot

Senegal parrots are smaller and quieter compared to many other parrot species. They tend to be comical and entertaining, though some might only bond with one person in the family. These birds love to climb and swing and appreciate a play stand or other bird-safe area away from their cage where they can exercise for at least a few hours every day.

Jurgen & Christine Sohns/Getty Images

Length: 10 inches

Black-Hooded Parakeet

Black-hooded parakeets, also known as nanday conures, certainly make more noise than you might expect from an animal their size. They tend to be chatty throughout the day and have the capability to make quite loud calls when they want to. These medium-sized birds prefer a cage in which they can do some flying, as they’re a fairly active species.

Jess Fernandez/Getty Images

Length: 10 to 11 inches

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