Looking for a cuddly pet bird that that enjoys being cuddled from time to time? You might be surprised to find out that there are a lot of companion birds that fit that description. In this article, I’ve included nine pet birds that like to cuddle.
9 pet birds that like to cuddle:
- Hahn’s macaw
- Green wing macaw
- Quaker parrot
- Green-cheeked conure
- Cockatiel
- Parrotlet
- Cockatoo
- Dove
- Hyacinth macaw
Ahead, I’ll talk in more detail about each of the above 9 birds, including how much handling they like, whether they’re loud or quiet, and what else you should expect when living with a pet bird.
Table of Contents
These Are 9 of the Friendliest Birds
Hahn’s Macaw
First on the list is the Hahn’s macaw, which is cuddly from a young age and often continues being jovial and people-friendly well into adulthood. Hand-raising yours will ensure they have a good personality.
Hahn’s macaws are as intelligent as they are cuddly. These birds can learn fast, so whatever cool trick you want to teach them, your macaw will quickly pick up on it.
They enjoy being active inside and outside of their cage, but since they’re chewers, watch your furniture when your Hahn’s macaw is loose.
The average size of this pretty green bird is 12 to 24 inches long, but there’s a mini version for apartment dwellers who want to give their bird plenty of room. The Hahn’s macaw speaks in words and whistles. The Hahn’s macaw, can live for more than 30 years!
Green Wing Macaw
I know, I know, at first glance, the green wing macaw doesn’t look cuddly and sweet, but give this bird a chance. If you can get past its imposing beak, you’ll realize what a kind, affectionate pet bird you have.
These birds, being related to the Hahn’s macaw, make for a perfect pet if you have ample space. The size of a green wing macaw in adulthood is up to 35 inches, and these birds can weigh about 3 pounds as well.
Despite the name, the green wing macaw is predominantly red (although it does have green wings).
It maintains a stable mood from day to day, and it takes a lot to get this bird to bite.
When not cuddling with you, green wing macaws are often playful and energetic. They will scream, although not all the time.
Quaker Parrot
Whether you call it the monk parakeet or the quaker parrot, this bird (which is considered a true parrot), loves a good cuddle. However, the quaker parrot must have bonded to you first or the relationship will be less cordial.
As a reminder, quaker parrots are considered pests in some parts of the United States. Before you try adopting one, please check that the bird isn’t banned in your city or town.
Quaker parrots are small birds that are often neon green or blue with white. They have a 30-year lifespan, which is longer than any cat or dog.
Here’s why quaker parrots are called that: they quake. To the uninitiated, this can be upsetting, but don’t panic! It’s perfectly normal bird behavior for this species.
You can have hours of fun training your quaker parrot. Hand-raising them also ensures a more even temperament.
These are loud birds, and while they can learn words, they make a lot of other vocalizations that can lead to noise complaints if you’re an apartment dweller. They will also chew through almost anything, so take heed of that!
Green-Cheeked Conure
If you’re looking for birds that like to be handled, the green-cheeked conure is a great pick. Also known as the green-cheeked parakeet, this small bundle of green feathers is so adorable that you won’t be able to help cupping yours in your hand.
Besides being utterly precious, the green-cheeked conure is also good-natured and sometimes downright hilarious. The green-cheeked conure bird is also known to hang itself upside down in its cage and then bang on the bars until you come over and show it some affection.
Growing to sizes of no more than 10 inches, the average lifespan of a green-cheeked conure is around 20 years.
The green-cheeked conure doesn’t screech much, thankfully, although it’s not totally quiet either. If you’re willing to put the time in, you can teach your bird words, although maybe not as many as a parrot.
Cockatiel
Of all the companion birds you can adopt, cockatiels are regarded quite well, and for good reason! These mohawked Australian birds are known for their affectionate nature and outgoingness.
That said, depending on the bird, it can take some time to coax its personality out. The more a cockatiel trusts you, the more affectionate it will become.
I’ve discussed this on the blog before, but now seems like a good time to mention it again. Cockatiels will tell you how they’re feeling just by the feathers on their crest. When you see its crest feathers all fluffed up, this tells you the bird feels relaxed.
Cockatiels enjoy being out of their cage and spending time with people. If you have other pets in the house, please secure them before opening the cage door!
Considered a small bird, cockatiels live for around 20 years. They don’t talk verbally, but their whistling and chirping is its own communication. They’re also not overly loud.
If you ever hear your cockatiel chirping over and over and you’re clear across the house, your bird is trying to tell you to come back. Please oblige your bird.
Parrotlet
As the name suggests, parrotlets are smaller versions of parrots that grow to about 5 inches and weigh a little more than an ounce. Even better, they’re known for being very affectionate.
Make sure you own only one parrotlet at a time, because if two birds are together, they’re cuddlier with each other than they are you. You’ll very quickly feel like the third wheel.
The Day-Glo colors of parrotlets include hues like neon green, bright blue, or sunny yellow.
Despite their size, they tend to think they’re bigger than they are, so your bird might have some bravado! That explains the feistiness.
By training your parrotlet, the bird can eventually eat out of your hand. The key is to keep spending time with this bird. If it goes a while without socializing, the parrotlet becomes a little less amiable.
Despite that it’s technically a parrot, parrotlets don’t speak as fluently as their bigger bird brethren do. They’re capable of picking up on words here and there, mostly mimicking what you say the most.
Cockatoo
Some people cuddle with cockatoos so much that they bring the bird to bed with them like a cat or a dog. That’s certainly one way to do it. After all, cockatoos are smarter than the average bird, with the mental and emotional capacity of a two-year-old.
That high degree of emotional intelligence can swing both ways, of course. Give the cockatoo what it wants–be that cuddles, treats, or time out of its cage–and all will go swimmingly well.
It’s when you have to tell your cockatoo no that it can throw temper tantrums. No, I’m not kidding!
Cockatoos make a lot of noise, and while they’re not known for speaking words, they can do that as well (to a degree). The more attention they want, the higher the volume of the cockatoo’s voice.
These birds must have chew toys, or they’ll begin wrecking your home as they look for anything they can get their beak on. Cockatoos can live for more than 30 years.
Dove
At first, doves are shy, and if you put them in situations they don’t wish to be in, they can freak out. By taking a gentle approach little by little, a dove can learn to trust you.
It’s then that you’ll realize how cuddly these gentle birds can be. You can even train a dove to eat from your hand, but this too will take time.
Doves live for around 10 years. Although they don’t speak, they coo. You’re going to hear this sound around the clock, so if constant noise gets on your nerves, then maybe rethink getting a dove.
Hyacinth Macaw
Last but certainly not least is the hyacinth macaw. This bright blue bird will bond with you when it trusts you, and that bond is practically unbreakable.
If you wish you could own a cat, a hyacinth macaw can be the next best thing. Once you two trust each other enough, a happy macaw can even purr just like a cat would.
These are moderately big birds that measure 3.3 feet and weigh 3.7 pounds in adulthood. They’re playful and social, requiring some time with you each day to thrive.
Hyacinth macaws can be very loud, screeching rather than talking. They are capable of speech and can even pick up on the context of words.