If you live alone or are a small family looking for an affordable and easy to manage first pet, owning one in a smaller property like an apartment can be more than a little bit challenging. You not only need to provide adequate space for your companion but also the noise they create can easily tip over into becoming a disturbance to neighbors.
Table of Contents
Birds can be an ideal pet for smaller spaces like an apartment or a condo.
Birds can be a great solution for small spaces as they are easy to properly house and are unlikely to stray or roam everywhere. Many make good company, as they are entertaining and inquisitive and the expenses for food, toys, and other treats are low.
Volume is just as important as size.
Small birds don’t take up much space, but if you are in a tiny home with thin walls, highly vocal or active little birds can rack up a lot of noise, so when choosing your pet bird look for the temperament too.
To take some of the guesswork out of picking the right feathered friend, we have compiled this quick list of the 9 best birds to keep in a small apartment. We’re sure that your new housemate will be somewhere on this list. Enjoy!
Your 9 best birds for apartment living.
1. Budgie
- Origin: Australia.
- Length: 18 centimeters (7 inches).
- Wingspan: 30 centimeters (12 inches).
- Longevity: Up to 10 years.
A budgie is a traditional choice for a small pet bird and ticks all the boxes for an apartment dwelling pet bird. It is small, and typically quiet, apart from low-volume cheery chirping, which is unlikely to disturb anyone. Give them a decent cage, treats, and toys and they will thrive. You can also train them to sit on your finger and take them out of their cage to fly around an enclosed space.
2. Bourke’s Parakeet
- Origin: Australia.
- Length: 18 – 23 centimeters (7 – 9 inches).
- Longevity: Up to 8 years.
Bourke’s parakeet is a great alternative to a budgie and has a similar size and shape. One thing you will notice about this bird is how incredibly laid back it is in the day.
It is quiet and does not get up to much, though it has twilight bursts of chatter flitting about the cage and tuneful song. They are easy to care for and do not require excessive amounts of attention to thrive.
3. Lovebirds
- Origin: Madagascar.
- Length: 13 – 17 centimeters (5 – 7 inches).
- Wingspan: 18 centimeters (7 inches).
- Longevity: 10 – 15 years.
These small parrots are best paired but are known for the loving bond they are inclined to form. When suitably occupied with space and toys lovebirds are relatively quiet, gentle, and great company.
Their chatter and whistling tend to be in the daytime and with training and toys they shouldn’t become raucous enough to rile your neighbors.
4. Cockatiels
- Origin: Australia.
- Length: 30 – 33 centimeters (12 – 13 inches).
- Wingspan: 45.7 centimeters (18 inches).
- Longevity: 14 years.
A cockatiel is a small but cheery bird that makes a great companion and will form a strong bond with you. They generally have a good disposition and will whistle more than squawk.
They love the presence and company of others and so will want to know where you are in your apartment, perhaps even following you around if you let them out of their cage. You can learn more about bonding with cockatiels in the helpful article “Do cockatiels miss their owners?”
5. Canary
- Origin: The Canary Islands.
- Length: 10 – 12 centimeters (3.9 – 4.7 inches).
- Wingspan: 19 centimeters (7.4 inches).
- Longevity: 4 – 6 years.
Canaries are the perfect choice if you want a small, quiet bird who can live comfortably in a small space. Hundreds of years of breeding have produced a range of colors beyond the original yellow and specialist breeds that are known for their features or birdsong. Another advantage is that they thrive when kept alone as they can be fiercely territorial if paired.
6. Finches
- Origin: Australia.
- Length: 12.5 – 14 centimeters (4.9 – 5.5 inches).
- Wingspan: 48 centimeters (18.8 inches).
- Longevity: 4 – 6 years.
Finches are classic pet birds that are popular because of their charming and petite proportions. There are so many to choose from and exotic colored varieties like the elegant Gouldian Finch will brighten up any room.
They are much less demanding than parrots and some types of parakeet. Make sure that you can provide a spacious cage like the GeoDome Cage and let them out at times as these sweet birds are at their best when they can spread their wings.
7. Quaker Parakeet
- Origin: South America.
- Length: 30 – 48 centimeters (12 – 18.8 inches).
- Wingspan: 48 centimeters (18.8 inches).
- Longevity: 30 years.
Named because of its shivering and shaking movements that can be shocking, the Quaker Parakeet is a relatively small bird that makes few demands if provided with a good routine of care.
They will still need a suitable size cage despite them being one of the smallest types of Parakeets. We love the Prevue cage available on Amazon here!
This bird is a great pick if you want an eager learner who can mimic and talk, without having to consider one of the larger parrot varieties. They love chewing on things so be prepared to provide twigs and sticks and watch out for your furniture if you let this bird out to roam.
8. Conures
- Origin: South America.
- Length: 25.4 – 50 centimeters (10 – 20 inches).
- Longevity: 25 years.
If you are living alone with time to spare, conures will keep you entertained for hours with their cheeky antics. Lavish toys and train them to perch on your shoulder and they will be happy to follow you around the house, mimicking your behaviors. They do crave lots of attention and can shriek and feather-pick to get their way so make sure that you are not a pushover.
9. Parrotlets
- Origin: South America.
- Length: 11 – 12.7 centimeters (4.5 – 5 inches).
- Wingspan: 15.24 centimeters (6 inches).
- Longevity: 20 years.
These stockily built short failed parrots hail from Central and South America and are increasing in popularity because of their compact size and parrot-like appearance.
The great thing is that though these cute little birds look like parrots, they are much quieter making them a top pick for a small home or apartment. Keep them occupied and tamed, as they have a very strong bite if agitated.
Frequently asked questions
Q.What size of cage do I need for my pet bird?
ANSWER: Your bird will need adequate space to be able to exercise and remain stress-free. A cramped cage also causes tail feathers and wings to scrape on the bars. For small birds, the cage length of the cage is most important.
The length should permit the bird at least two wing beats to get from one perch to another.
At a minimum width should be three times the bird’s full wingspan. The cage’s height should be three times the bird’s length from the head to the tip of the tail. We recommend the Prevue Cage on Amazon ↗️
Q. Will my pet bird need darkness to sleep?
ANSWER: If you’re in a studio apartment or keep late hours your bird may struggle to have the dim environment needed to get to sleep properly. Using a cage cover can help settle your bird at night so it can take adequate rest. Learn more in our article: “Do budgies need darkness to sleep?“
In conclusion
These cute birds would each make a great pet in a small space and most are very easygoing making caring for them a pleasure. It’s important to remember that if you are keeping birds, they do require attention and some time out of the cage to stay at their best.
Training and taming your bird will yield the rewards of a peaceable relationship, making them treasured members of your household.
