5 Recommended Birds for Beginners | A Carefully Selected Guide to Easy-to-Keep Species | ブリちょく
Birds| ✍️ BreederDirect Editorial
5 Recommended Birds for Beginners | A Carefully Selected Guide to Easy-to-Keep Species
5 species recommended for first-time bird owners. Explains the characteristics and how to care for beginner-friendly birds such as budgerigars, cockatiels, and Java sparrows.
Key Takeaways
5 species recommended for first-time bird owners. Explains the characteristics and how to care for beginner-friendly birds such as budgerigars, cockatiels, and Java sparrows.
Related Species
"I'd like to get a bird, but I'm not sure which species to choose"—for beginners with these concerns, we've carefully selected 5 easy-to-tame and easy-to-care-for bird species. We'll explain price ranges, difficulty levels, and personality differences in an easy-to-understand way, so please find the perfect feathered companion for you.
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Things to Know Before Getting a Bird
Like dogs and cats, birds require daily interaction and a proper environment. Before making a purchase, let's organize a few key points. For more details, please also refer to our Bird Buying Guide.
Lifespan: Even small birds live 7–10 years, while medium-sized species can live over 20 years. Keep in mind that this will be a long-term relationship.
Noise level: In apartments or shared housing, consideration for neighbors is necessary. The loudness of vocalizations varies considerably by species.
Time and affection: Hand-tame birds especially need human interaction. Whether you can dedicate daily time to let them out of their cage and provide physical contact is also an important factor in your choice.
Veterinary access: It's reassuring to confirm in advance that there's an animal hospital nearby that specializes in birds (either avian specialists or small animal practitioners).
The most popular choice for starting out in bird keeping. At approximately 18 cm in body length, they're small and require minimal space. They're curious and affectionate by nature, and if raised from a chick, they become hand-tame surprisingly quickly.
Their greatest charm is their talking ability. When you repeatedly play short phrases like "good morning" or "how cute," many individuals learn to speak. The color variations are extremely diverse, with dozens of types including blue, green, white, and yellow.
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The BreederDirect editorial team specializes in care information for animals, covering veterinary care and breeding to deliver beginner-friendly guides.
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This small bird is charming for its rounded, plump body shape and bright, round eyes. At approximately 14 cm in body length, it's even smaller than a budgerigar. They've been beloved in Japan for centuries, and the phrase "hand-tame Java sparrow" speaks to their proven ease of socialization.
They develop very deep affection for their owners, often sitting quietly on a shoulder or hand while gently nibbling fingers in a sweet display of affection. On the other hand, they can be quite jealous, so if you keep multiple birds, separate cages are necessary.
Color varieties include white, cherry blossom, and cinnamon Java sparrows. With low difficulty and excellent value for money, they're highly recommended for beginners.
The iconic medium-sized parakeet, distinguished by the orange cheek patch and crest on its head. At approximately 30 cm in body length, it has a notable presence.
Their personality is very calm and affectionate. While they can be timid, once acclimated they'll stay nestled against their owner's shoulder for hours. They're particularly skilled at learning whistles and melodies, and their habit of repeating their favorite tunes is endearing.
Their lifespan is a relatively long 15–20 years, making them suitable for those seeking a long-term companion. For guidance on cage selection and setup, please refer to our Bird Cage Setup Guide.
True to their English name "lovebird," they show exceptionally strong affection for their owners. At approximately 15 cm in body length, they're compact yet striking with vibrant plumage. Depending on the variety, they come in green, red, yellow, orange, white, and numerous other colors.
They're active and energetic—once out of their cage, they'll hop around freely and stick closely to their owner. They're strong-willed with possessive tendencies, so care is needed if keeping multiple birds simultaneously.
Their call is somewhat loud, so those in apartments might consider soundproofing. With proper hand-training, even beginners can successfully acclimate them.
At just approximately 12 cm in body length, it's among the smallest species of parakeets. Despite its tiny size, its vibrant blue-green plumage makes a striking visual impression.
Its greatest feature is the quietness of its call. Compared to other parakeets, they have a much softer voice, making them an excellent choice for apartment dwellers and those living alone. They're highly intelligent and can become hand-tame.
They're very active and move around frequently, so it's important to provide a spacious cage or ensure plenty of daily out-of-cage time. For health management guidelines, also see our Bird Health Signs and How to Identify Illness.
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Comparison Summary by Species
Species
Difficulty
Price Range
Lifespan
Noise Level
Recommended For
Budgerigar
★☆☆☆☆
¥2,000–¥8,000
7–10 years
Medium
Beginner favorite, great talker
Java Sparrow
★☆☆☆☆
¥2,000–¥5,000
7–10 years
Low–Medium
Affectionate and devoted
Cockatiel
★★☆☆☆
¥10,000–¥40,000
15–20 years
Medium
Calm, whistles well
Peach-faced Lovebird
★★☆☆☆
¥8,000–¥20,000
10–15 years
High
Colorful, owner-obsessed
Parrotlet
★★☆☆☆
¥15,000–¥30,000
10–15 years
Low
Quiet, apartment-friendly
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Summary | Choose a Bird That Fits Your Lifestyle
Each bird species differs greatly in personality, vocalizations, price, and lifespan. Rather than simply thinking "I'm a beginner, so I should choose the easiest species," the best approach for a long and happy life together is to choose based on your living environment and communication style.
For apartment living as a single person, a parrotlet is ideal; if you want to keep costs down, go with a Java sparrow or budgerigar; if you prioritize a long-term bond, a cockatiel is perfect—each species has its own appeal.
At Br-choku, you can welcome healthy birds directly from breeders. Since you can confirm the bird's health status and rearing environment directly with the breeder, you can resolve questions like "what environment was it raised in?" and "what's the parent bird's personality?" on the spot. For those getting a bird for the first time, finding a trustworthy breeder is invaluable.
