You may face something of a dilemma if you’re thinking of a pet parrot, yet live in an apartment where excess noise could be a big factor. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a parrot, but it may mean you will need to set your sites on one of the smaller parrot bird breeds, because these also tend to be quieter. If you decide upon a smaller bird like this, then you will not have to deal with the fact that a much larger bird could feel too cramped living in a small apartment.

Probably the first type of parrot you think of is the large, bright, multi-colored macaw. But despite the bird’s beauty and friendly nature, it may not make the best pet in an apartment. Apart from being large, this is also quite a loud bird, which may cause problems with the neighbors. The Amazon parrot, another of these bird breeds, is bright green and talks more clearly than the macaw. Yet it needs a great deal of stimulation and attention, and can become aggressive if it doesn’t get it. Living in a small apartment with an aggressive bird may not be your ideal situation.

A better pet parrot for a smaller dwelling where excess noise can be a problem might be something like a parakeet, also known as a budgerigar, or budgie. These birds chatter and chirp, and many can learn to mimic a few words of human speech with a little bird training, but they are very unlikely to get so raucous that your neighbors would complain. These small members of the parrot family can live up to fifteen years, and can be trained to land on your finger or shoulder and keep you company.

If you live in an apartment and are thinking of getting a pet parrot, you have several different breeds to choose from, even if you can’t go for the larger ones. You do need to realize, though, that even these smaller parrots need a lot of attention and stimulation, so part of your pet care will have to involve spending time with them. They also do better if they’re allowed some time out of their cage each day. If you are willing to give them the time and attention they need, these smaller parrots can be wonderful apartment companions.

Kenny Leichester is a foremost expert in the interior design industry specializing in the outdoor or patio settings using patio heaters, patio umbrellas, outdoor cushions, patio lighting and so on to create exquisitely beautiful layout. His work on patio umbrellas are widely distributed and is a regular contributor to PatioShoppers.com.