Companion Bird Reference Directory
Bird Species and Care Resources
Selected resources for bird owners, arranged by major bird group and species. Links emphasize feeding, housing and husbandry, behavior, enrichment, breeding, common health concerns, natural history, and responsible ownership.
Dr. Bob's Original Bird Articles
- African Grey Parrot Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored guide to Congo and Timneh African Grey housing, nutrition, cognition, enrichment, calcium and vitamin-D management, disease prevention, and lifelong care. - Amazon Parrot Care Guide
Species-oriented Amazon care covering housing, nutrition, exercise, obesity prevention, reproductive behavior, enrichment, cardiovascular health, and preventive care. - Budgerigar / Budgie Care Guide
Comprehensive budgerigar housing, nutrition, behavior, enrichment, color variation, reproduction, and preventive health guidance. - Canary Care Guide
Comprehensive canary care covering flight-oriented housing, nutrition and diet conversion, color feeding, behavior, breeding, preventive health, and common diseases. - Cockatiel Care Guide
Comprehensive cockatiel care covering housing, nutrition, diet conversion, enrichment, behavior and training, reproductive health, preventive care, and common diseases. - Cockatoo Care Guide
Comprehensive cockatoo care covering species differences, large-parrot housing, powder-down management, nutrition, social and reproductive behavior, enrichment, and preventive health. - Conure Care Guide
Comprehensive care for companion conures, including housing, nutrition, exercise, enrichment, behavior, training, reproductive management, and preventive care. - Lovebird Care Guide
Comprehensive guide to all nine lovebird species, including housing, nutrition, single-versus-pair management, female territoriality, reproduction, enrichment, and preventive medicine. - Macaw Care Guide
Comprehensive macaw care covering major species, very large-parrot housing, flight and exercise, nutrition, Hyacinth-specific dietary needs, behavior, respiratory protection, and preventive medicine. - Handbook of Pet Bird Care
Detailed general pet-bird care information. - Dietary Needs of Psittacines
Original nutrition reference for psittacine birds. - Care and Feeding of Precocial Birds
- Wild Bird Care
Psittacines (Parrots)
Companion-parrot resources arranged by commonly recognized species groups. Current veterinary and conservation references are emphasized, while useful functioning specialty resources from the original page are retained where appropriate.
African Greys
- Dr. Bob's African Grey Parrot Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to Congo and Timneh African Grey housing, nutrition, calcium/vitamin-D management, cognition, enrichment, disease prevention, and lifelong care. - Birds'n'Ways — Breeding African Greys, Part I
Breeder-focused article covering pair selection, housing, breeding setup, incubation, and chick management. Supplementary aviculture resource; compare health recommendations with current avian-veterinary guidance. - Lafeber Pet Birds — African Grey Parrot
Current owner profile covering natural history, feeding, enrichment, behavior, housing considerations, and common health concerns; includes Congo and Timneh greys. - World Parrot Trust — Grey Parrot
Species account with identification, natural history, captive housing, diet, enrichment, longevity, breeding, conservation status, and wild ecology. - World Parrot Trust — Timneh Parrot
Current Timneh-specific profile with natural history, housing, diet, enrichment, breeding, longevity, and conservation information.
Amazons
- Dr. Bob's Amazon Parrot Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to major Amazon species, housing, nutrition, obesity prevention, exercise, behavior, reproduction, enrichment, and preventive health. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Amazon Parrot
Owner-oriented overview of Amazon care, feeding, behavior, enrichment, housing, vocalization, and common health concerns. - World Parrot Trust — Amazon Parrots
Species directory for Amazon parrots with links to individual profiles, natural history, captive-care information, and conservation status. - World Parrot Trust — Blue-fronted Amazon
Species-specific profile with captive housing, diet, enrichment, longevity, breeding, behavior, and wild ecology. - World Parrot Trust — Yellow-faced Parrot
Species profile for the Yellow-faced Parrot with natural history, captive-care information, diet, housing, and conservation.
Budgerigars / Budgies
- Dr. Bob's Budgerigar / Budgie Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to budgerigar housing, nutrition, enrichment, behavior, color variation, reproduction, and common health concerns. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Budgie (Parakeet)
Current care guide covering housing, nutrition, social behavior, enrichment, training, and common health concerns.
Caiques
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Caique
Detailed companion-bird profile covering black-headed and white-bellied caiques, with feeding, housing, behavior, enrichment, and health information.
Cockatiels
- Dr. Bob's Cockatiel Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored, stand-alone guide to cockatiel housing, nutrition, diet conversion, exercise, enrichment, training, reproductive health, preventive care, and common medical concerns. - Birds'n'Ways — Breeding Cockatiels
Breeder-focused article on pairing, sexing, nest boxes, incubation, and chick rearing; use current veterinary sources for medical decisions. - Cockatiel Cottage — Taming and Training
Long-standing owner resource on trust building, step-up training, biting, and handling. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Cockatiel
Current species profile covering diet, housing, behavior, enrichment, vocalization, and common medical concerns. - National Cockatiel Society
Established cockatiel organization with information on care, breeding, color varieties, standards, and responsible aviculture. - National Cockatiel Society — Novice Exhibitor / Visual Standard
Breed-standard and color/mutation reference from the National Cockatiel Society.
Cockatoos
- Dr. Bob's Cockatoo Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to cockatoo species differences, housing, powder-down management, nutrition, social behavior, reproductive management, enrichment, and preventive care. - Cockatoo Aggression — Guest Article on This Site
Guest article by Sam Foster addressing aggressive behavior in cockatoos. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Cockatoo
Current owner guide to cockatoo housing, feeding, behavior, social needs, enrichment, noise, and common health concerns. - World Parrot Trust — Cockatoos
Directory of cockatoo species with individual natural-history, captive-care, diet, housing, enrichment, and conservation profiles. - World Parrot Trust — Galah / Rose-breasted Cockatoo
Current species account with feeding, housing, enrichment, breeding, natural history, and conservation information. - World Parrot Trust — Gang-gang Cockatoo
Species-specific information replacing an obsolete legacy page. - World Parrot Trust — Major Mitchell's / Pink Cockatoo
Current species profile for Major Mitchell's (Pink) Cockatoo. - World Parrot Trust — Palm Cockatoo
Detailed profile with natural history, captive housing, diet, enrichment, breeding biology, and conservation.
Conures
- Dr. Bob's Conure Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to companion conure housing, nutrition, exercise, behavior, enrichment, training, and preventive medicine. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Conure
General conure resource covering care, diet, behavior, enrichment, housing, and common health concerns, with links to individual conure types. - World Parrot Trust — Conures
Species directory for conures and related South American parrots with individual profiles.
Eclectus
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Eclectus
Current companion-bird profile covering feeding, large-cage requirements, behavior, enrichment, and common health concerns. - World Parrot Trust — Eclectus Parrots
Search the encyclopedia for Eclectus species and regional forms; profiles include natural history, housing, diet, breeding, and conservation.
Grey-cheeked Parakeets
- Birds'n'Ways — The Grey Cheek: Larger Than Life
Current location of the long-standing Grey-cheeked Parakeet article, with husbandry, diet, behavior, and breeding discussion. - World Parrot Trust — Grey-cheeked Parakeet
Authoritative species profile with captive housing, diet, enrichment, breeding, natural history, and conservation.
Hawk-headed Parrots
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Hawk-headed Parrot
Species-specific care, feeding, behavior, housing, enrichment, and health information.
Indian Ringnecks / Psittacula
- Genetic Calculator — Indian Ringneck
Functional color-genetics calculator retained from the original resource page. - Indian Ringneck Genetics
Long-standing genetics reference for Indian Ringneck color inheritance. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Indian Ring-Necked Parakeet
Current care profile covering diet, housing, behavior, training, social needs, and common health concerns.
Kakarikis
- World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia
Search for Red-crowned, Yellow-crowned, or other Cyanoramphus parakeets for current species accounts, natural history, housing, diet, and conservation.
Lories & Lorikeets
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Lory
Current care guide emphasizing the specialized nectar/fruit diet, housing, behavior, enrichment, food hygiene, and iron-storage-disease concerns. - World Parrot Trust — Lories and Lorikeets
Species directory with individual profiles covering diet, housing, ecology, breeding, and conservation.
Lovebirds
- Dr. Bob's Lovebird Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide covering all nine lovebird species, housing, nutrition, pair versus single-bird care, female territoriality, reproduction, enrichment, and preventive health. - Abyssinian Lovebirds — Parrot Parrot
Functional species-specific aviculture article retained from the original page. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Lovebird
Current owner guide to lovebird feeding, housing, social behavior, enrichment, and health. - World Parrot Trust — Grey-headed / Madagascar Lovebird
Current species profile for the Madagascar (Grey-headed) Lovebird, replacing an unreliable older species link. - World Parrot Trust — Lovebirds
Directory of lovebird species with species-specific natural history, captive housing, diet, breeding, and conservation information.
Macaws
- Dr. Bob's Macaw Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored stand-alone guide to macaw species, very large-parrot housing, flight, nutrition, Hyacinth dietary needs, behavior, respiratory protection, enrichment, and preventive medicine. - BlueMacaws — Biology, Breeding and Keeping of the Hyacinth Macaw
Detailed Hyacinth Macaw biology and aviculture article retained from the original page in its current location. - BlueMacaws — Hyacinthine Macaws: Care and Breeding
Long-form care and breeding article. - BlueMacaws — Keeping and Breeding the Hyacinth Macaw
Species-specific husbandry and breeding reference. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Macaw
Current overview of macaw care, feeding, housing, enrichment, behavior, noise, and common health concerns. - World Parrot Trust — Macaws
Species directory with profiles for large and mini-macaws, including wild ecology, captive care, breeding, and conservation.
Parrotlets
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Parrotlet
Current parrotlet care guide covering housing, feeding, social behavior, handling, enrichment, and common problems. - World Parrot Trust — Parrotlets
Species directory with identification, natural history, captive-care, breeding, and conservation profiles.
Pionus
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Pionus Parrots
Current owner guide to Pionus temperament, diet, housing, social needs, and health. - World Parrot Trust — Blue-headed Pionus
Species-specific profile with captive housing, diet, enrichment, natural history, and conservation.
Poicephalus Parrots
- Beauty of Birds — Brown-headed Parrot
Functional species-specific reference retained from the original page. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Poicephalus
Current group-level guide covering the care, feeding, behavior, and companion-bird characteristics of Poicephalus parrots. - World Parrot Trust — Brown-necked Parrot
Current species profile for the Brown-necked Parrot. - World Parrot Trust — Meyer's Parrot
Current species profile replacing a misdirected Animal-World link. - World Parrot Trust — Niam-niam Parrot
Species profile retained from the original page. - World Parrot Trust — Red-fronted / Jardine's Parrot
Current Jardine's Parrot species profile replacing old forum and inaccessible links. - World Parrot Trust — Rüppell's Parrot
Species profile retained from the original page. - World Parrot Trust — Senegal Parrot
Species profile retained from the original page.
Quaker / Monk Parakeets
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Quaker Parakeet
Current care profile covering diet, housing, behavior, socialization, enrichment, and common health concerns.
Vasa Parrots
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Vasa Parrot
Current companion-bird profile covering natural history, care, feeding, behavior, and breeding. - World Parrot Trust — Vasa Parrot
Species profile retained from the original page with housing, diet, breeding, longevity, and conservation information.
Passerines & Other Small Companion Birds
Resources for canaries and finches, with emphasis on flock behavior, flight space, feeding, breeding, and common health concerns.
Canaries
- Dr. Bob's Canary Care Guide
Veterinarian-authored guide to canary housing, flight, nutrition, diet conversion, color feeding, behavior, breeding, preventive health, and common diseases. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Canary
Current owner guide to canary feeding, housing, singing/behavior, breeding considerations, and common health conditions. - Petcraft — The Canary FAQ
Functional long-standing canary FAQ retained from the original page as a supplementary resource.
Finches
- Lafeber Pet Birds — Finch
Current overview of companion finch housing, flock behavior, flight needs, diet, and common medical conditions. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Gouldian Finch
Species-specific care, feeding, behavior, housing, and health information for Gouldian finches. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Society Finch
Species-specific information on social housing, diet, breeding behavior, enrichment, and health. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Zebra Finch
Species-specific care, diet, breeding, behavior, and common health concerns. - National Finch & Softbill Society
Established organization devoted to finches and softbills, with education, husbandry, breeding, and conservation resources.
Breeding, Incubation, Genetics & Transport
Specialized resources for experienced owners and breeders. Hand-feeding, incubation, breeding, and transport can carry significant health and regulatory risks; current avian-veterinary and government guidance should take priority.
Breeding & Chick Rearing
- Birds'n'Ways — Breeding African Greys
Breeder-focused African Grey series retained in its current location. - Birds'n'Ways — Breeding Cockatiels
Breeder-focused cockatiel article retained in its current location. - Illinois Extension — Candling Eggs
University Extension guide explaining how candling is performed and how incubated embryo development is assessed.
Genetics & Color
- Genetic Calculator
Current online genetic calculator supporting many psittacine and other avicultural color mutations. - Genetic Calculator — Indian Ringneck
Indian Ringneck color-inheritance calculator retained from the original page. - Indian Ringneck Genetics
Functional long-standing reference on Indian Ringneck color genetics. - National Cockatiel Society
Cockatiel color, mutation, standard, breeding, and husbandry information.
Transport & Import
- Planned Parrothood — Air Travel Guide to Shipping Birds
Functional practical air-travel guide retained from the original page; carrier and government rules should always be checked separately because they change. - USDA APHIS — Bring a Pet Bird into the United States
Current federal requirements for importing or returning qualifying pet birds to the United States.
Birding, Natural History & Conservation
General birding, species-natural-history, and conservation resources that complement the companion-bird information above.
Birding & Conservation
- Audubon — Birding
Bird identification, birding, conservation, and natural-history resources. - BirdLife International — Magazine
Current global bird-conservation reporting and species/habitat features. - World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia
Searchable parrot species encyclopedia combining natural history, captive husbandry, breeding, conservation, and range information.
Current Veterinary & Scientific References
Broad current resources for feeding, husbandry, behavior, disease recognition, preventive care, enrichment, and responsible bird ownership.
Current Veterinary & Scientific References
- Association of Avian Veterinarians — Bird Owner Resource Brochure Series
Printable avian-veterinary handouts covering basic care, behavior, psittacosis, avian influenza, senior parrots, ducks, and other owner topics. - Association of Avian Veterinarians — Bird Owner Resources
Updated owner handouts written by avian-veterinarian members, including basic care, normal and abnormal behavior, signs of illness, diet conversion, enrichment, senior-bird care, and species-specific information. - Lafeber Pet Birds — Types of Birds
Large species directory with owner-level profiles that commonly include care and feeding, personality and behavior, housing, health, and natural history. - Merck Veterinary Manual — Feeding a Pet Bird
Peer-reviewed owner guidance on balanced avian nutrition and safe feeding practices. - Merck Veterinary Manual — Introduction to Disorders and Diseases of Pet Birds
Peer-reviewed overview of illness recognition, prevention, infectious disease, environmental hazards, and when veterinary attention is needed. - Merck Veterinary Manual — Nutritional Disorders of Pet Birds
Current peer-reviewed information about obesity, vitamin/mineral deficiencies and excesses, iron storage disease, and nutrition-related illness. - Merck Veterinary Manual — Overview of Pet Birds
Professional overview emphasizing nutrition, behavior, husbandry, wellness, and the psychological needs of companion birds. - World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia
Extensive species-level reference with captive housing, diet, enrichment, longevity, reproduction, wild diet, behavior, ecology, and conservation status.