We’re all formiliar with the more common pet birds like Budgies, finches and canaries. But what birds can we keep as pets that no one else has or at least not many people.
There are many species of pets birds that are suitable to keep as pets but are lesser-known than the ones just mentioned.
Granted you won’t be able to walk into your local store and buy one but you can track down specialist breeders and collectors and find that perfect pet bird that no one else owns. At least in your area!
Table of Contents
7 Lesser-Known Pet Birds
7. Caique
Aptly nicknamed as the clowns of birds, caiques, pronounced Kai-eke, are mischief makers of the first order and make entertaining, sociable and playful pets.
While the black-headed caique and the white-bellied caique are relatively common pets, the yellow thighed caique is not. These birds need to be housed in a much larger environment. Keeping them in a cage will only depress these energetic birds, making them weak and listless.
Caiques are friendly and sociable, and they require a lot of attention. You’ll need to keep a constant eye on them as they have a tendency to be exceedingly exuberant and beaky.
They also don’t get along with other birds. Plus, they are pretty expensive, which makes it pretty rare to keep them as pets
6. The Crimson Rosella
These medium sized birds are red with a bright splash of blue on the face, wings and tail and black feathers. They are best suited to be housed in aviaries with others of their kind.
They are definitely exotic looking birds, more ornamental than suitable as pets. They are hard to tame, and nowhere near as cuddly as parrots.
But if you do manage to train them as pets, they make for well behaved and sociable companions.
These birds find often bond with one individual, usually their caretaker and will be affectionate and expressive with them.
However, they might be too sensitive to be handled by children, which makes them relatively less sought after as common pets.
5. Rose-breasted Cockatoo
One of the smallest of its species, the rose-breasted cockatoos are not commonly kept as pets, but if you look beyond their diminutive frame and delicate plumage, you’ll find that these birds have a vivacious personality and a friendly, sociable manner that make them ideal for training.
Also known as galahs, these birds love to play and form strong, long-lasting bonds with their caretakers. They are relatively easy to care for and are rewarding, affectionate pets.
4. Kakapo
This lovable, rotund parrot was once kept as pets by indigenous Polynesian people in New Zealand as well as by European settlers. They have a unique, sweet and musty odor.
They are rather solitary birds and are flightless owing to their rather heavy frame. This makes them easy targets to predators.
A rather unusual choice of pets, these birds have a colourful and rather quirky personality. The males in particular go out of their way to attract female mates.
Over the years, however, this species have become critically endangered and are no longer kept as pets. Instead, they are closely monitored and currently reside on small predator-free islands in New Zealand.
3. Victoria Crowned Pigeon
These large blue-grey birds, with elegant lace-lice crests, are native to the New Guinea region and are surprisingly easy to tame, but are not commonly kept as pets, mostly because they require a wide and spacious home to live in.
They are known for their rather intriguing dipping-dance, a mating call used to draw in prospective mates.
While you might find this species at an aviary, they are not a species easily tamed, and only the most skilled caretakers make good owners for these birds.
2. Golden Conure
These striking birds are large, vibrant and a sight to look at. While they were commonly kept as pets a long time ago, over the years, too many of them were captured and taken out of their habitats, making them hard to come by these days, and are rare pets indeed.
While you can find these birds in aviaries or under the care of trained and specialised breeders, their presence is strictly monitored and hardly a handful of people can claim to have these golden birds as pets.
1. Mynah Birds
Mynah birds are probably best known for their ability to talk and mimic and make for interesting and entertaining pets. They are indigenous to Africa, India, Indonesia and certain parts of southern Asia.
At one point, one particular sub species of the Mynah bird, Bali mynahs, were kept as pets by the wealthy and the aristocratic royalty in Indonesia and even some parts of India.
But over the years, they became endangered enough that they had to be protected.
But if you take the common mynah, the younger ones particularly, are not only easier to train, but also take to new environments much quicker and can adapt to being kept as pets.
While they bond the most with their immediate caregivers, they are social enough that they can be taught to get along with not just other humans, but also other birds or pets that you might have at home. Mynah birds are not high maintenance, either.
They love playtime and also love to take baths even more. Consider placing a small birdbath in your home for them to play in. Mynahs are sociable and friendly and can make for great pets if trained and taken good care of.
These birds love to copy your voice and are one of the easiest to train to make copycat noise. See which other birds are good talkers here.
What is the rarest bird?
Rare exotic pets are kept a secret because they are often being imported illegally, but the rarest bird is the Stresemann’s Bristlefront. They have a known population of only 1 and he inhabits a forest in Brazil.
Are there any quiet pet birds?
No pet bird is going to be silent, but budgies, doves, finches, and canaries are among the quietest birds you can own.
What is the most expensive pet bird?
The most expensive pet bird is a Racing Pigeon that can cost $90,000 to $1.5 million! These birds used to carry stock market news between cities at the end of the day, but now they are owned and trained to race.
Is it illegal to own pet birds?
Each state has its own laws on what pets are illegal to own. As a blanket law for birds, the U.S.A. has a Wild Bird Conservation Act that limits or prohibits the importing of exotic birds to protect their populations in the wild.
Final Thoughts
Having a pet bird that’s lesser known or not as common as your friends pet bird comes with some responsibilities. Taking care of any birds should be your number one priority.
Some of the birds on this list need not only physical care like water and food but also emontional support.
The Mynah bird needs you to spend at least 1 hour a day talking and entertaining it or they become stressed and upset fast!
If you’re thinking of buying a pet bird that not many people own you will be in an exclusive bird owners club but as I say, be wary of the responsibilities that come with that title.
