8 Quiet Pet Birds for Apartments and Small Spaces
Have you always dreamt of owning a pet bird, but worried that their beautiful songs may not be appreciated by your neighbours?
Good news! You can bring a feathered friend into your home while still being respectful of those around you.
In this post, we’re going to look at quiet pet birds for apartments, condos, and other smaller living spaces.
If there is one thing that birds are often known for, it’s the constant chatter.
For a bird lover, the call of their feathered friend is a beautiful song that warms their heart and brings a smile to their face.
However, for nearby neighbours, it might be nothing more than noise that triggers complaints and problems.
While you likely aren’t going to run and add a scarlet macaw into your apartment, unless you’re prepared to deal with the fall out of their excessive chatter, there are quieter birds that will fit into your lifestyle.
One common mistake that new bird owners make is to select their bird based solely on their size.
There are quieter birds of every size and colour. Therefore, it is important to do your research and specifically look at the different breeds that are available.
It should also be noted that there are NO silent birds. Birds are naturally social and vocal creatures.
The breeds are on this list are either naturally quieter or can be trained to keep the noise down, making them better suited for apartment living.
If you are looking for a silent pet, there may be other options that are better suited for your lifestyle than a bird.
Check Out These 8 Quiet Pet Birds for Apartments, Condos, and Other Small Spaces
Parakeets (Budgies)
A small but beautifully coloured breed of bird, parakeets are a popular family pet.
They are best known for how social they are, enjoying any bonding or interaction with their human family members.
Quieter voices make them a better fit for apartment living despite the fact that they tend to chatter away much of the time that they are in their cages.
If you are interested in training your bird, parakeets can be taught to say words.
The good news is that their voices are still quiet enough that even when they are talking, they are far less likely to bother your neighbours.
Finches
Another small pet bird that comes in a wide variety of beautiful colours, finches are a popular choice for those living in smaller spaces.
They are vocal birds, singing throughout much of the day, but their small size results in a much softer and quieter volume.
There are many different varieties of finch available, with zebra finches often credited as being the loudest and Gouldian finches as the quietest.
They require less attention and maintenance than many of the other birds on this list, preferring to be left with their partners in their cage rather than being handled by their human family members.
Cockatiels
Another highly popular bird breed in Canada and the United States, cockatiels are often recommended for newer bird handlers as they require less specialized care.
They are smaller in size, with quieter voices, but they do LOVE to talk.
In addition to the standard chirp, they can also whistle, hiss, coo, call and even talk if you take the time to train them.
One important point that first-time cockatiel owners should know is that they are prone to night frights, waking up in a complete panic.
These night frights are best prevented by placing a cover over your cockatiel’s cage at night, helping them to sleep through the night better.
Pacific Parrotlets
One of the smallest parrot breeds, parrotlets are adorable miniature versions of the parrots that captivate so many of us.
They are significantly smaller in size but also quiet by nature, making them an ideal choice for smaller living spaces.
While they can be shy or nervous, they are tamed quickly with proper handling.
If you are considering a parrotlet, you need to consider whether you are prepared for the commitment as they can live for up to 30 years.
Senegal Parrots
Unlike many of the other birds on this list, the Senegal parrot is a larger breed of parrot. But don’t let their size fool you.
As long as you have the space in your apartment or condo, they make a great pet for smaller living spaces.
If you are interested in teaching your bird to talk, Senegal parrots can be quite the conversationalists.
They may also mimic sounds that they hear such as sneezes, coughs, alarm clocks or noises from the television or radio.
Outside of their conversational skills, however, they are mostly silent.
Meyer’s Parrots
A lesser-known parrot species out of Africa, the Meyer’s Parrot is a master of mimicry.
This means that they are not only a good choice if you are interested in teaching your bird to talk, but they may also pick up the sound of your alarm or the beep from your oven timer.
They are smaller birds and make much less noise than the larger parrot varieties, with their vocalizations best described as chirps or tweets.
Mini Macaws
If you are in love with the larger macaws but don’t live in a space that will accommodate their size or the excessive noise, adopting a mini macaw may be a great alternative.
Not only are these parrots smaller in size, but they can also be trained to be much quieter if you’re willing to put the work into addressing the training and socialization required.
There are a wide variety of different ‘mini macaws’ including the blue-headed macaw, yellow-collared macaw, severe macaw, and Hahn’s macaw.
They are relatively easy to care for compared to many of the larger parrot varieties, making them a great choice for those that are interested in adopting their first parrot.
Canaries
Best known for their traditional yellow colour, canaries can now be found in a range of colours because of breeding.
They are small birds, comfortable with a smaller living space.
Their popular birdsong makes it clear that they aren’t a silent bird.
Luckily, their voices are relatively quiet, allowing you to enjoy their songs without irritating the person next door.
Tips and Tricks for Keeping Your Bird Quieter
As I previously mentioned, none of the birds on this list are silent. They are going to make noise of some form, and not always at the most ideal times.
You may find yourself dealing with a neighbour or roommate asking you to keep it done, or you may be on the search for some tips to lower the noise level at night so that you can enjoy a peaceful night of sleep.
These tips will help you to encourage your pet bird to be quieter in general or at a specific time.
Avoid Over Excitement
Any time that you are speaking to your bird or engaging in conversation with someone around your bird, make sure that you are keeping the excitement factor on low.
Your bird will often feed off your energy. Therefore, if you’re over excited, they will be too!
If you create a calm and quiet atmosphere, it will help your bird relax.
When you are watching television or listening to the radio, keep the volume levels down.
Reconsider Cage Location
You may have to move your bird’s cage to another area of the apartment to provide them with a calmer atmosphere.
If the room that they are currently kept in is generally high-energy (like the main living space for a family), they may be feeding off that.
They may also hear noises from outside of your apartment or in neighbouring apartments.
Provide Mental Stimulation
A bird that is overly loud may simply be bored. This is easily avoidable.
Make sure that you are providing plenty of mental stimulation in the form of toys and fixtures in their cage.
This will help to keep them occupied both while you are at home as well as when you’re gone (avoiding noise complaints when you’re at work).
Don’t forget that birds are social creatures. This means that you need to provide them with social interaction of some form.
The type of interaction will depend on the bird and their comfort level but can include talking, playing games, petting, handling, or training.
Training
Some birds will require you to put in the time and effort to set expectations and teach them the acceptable level of noise.
Failing to make these rules clear can cause significant confusion.
This is especially true if you are teaching your bird to talk and vocalize. Otherwise, you may be giving your bird mixed messages.
Calm your bird down by talking to them gently, stroking them (if they are comfortable with that) or holding them close to you for warmth and comfort.
Once your bird has calmed down, reward it with a treat.
Try stepping out of the room after your bird is calm and quiet.
If they remain quiet during the time that you are in the next room, come back and reward them.
You can continue extending this length of time until the bird stays quiet all night while you are sleeping, or all day when you are away at work.
Cover Their Cage
This is a well-known trick, but not many new bird owners realize why we do it. When you go to sleep, place a dark-coloured cover made from a breathable material like cotton over your bird’s cage.
The cover will help to create a quiet and dark atmosphere for your bird, encouraging them to sleep soundly.
Rule Out Health Concerns
If you notice that a normally quiet bird is making a lot of noise, this could be the sign that they are dealing with pain or illness and are trying to let you know.
Any time that you notice your bird acting out of character in any way, you should contact your veterinarian.
Watch for any additional signs that something is off including a change in appetite, changes in stool consistency or colour, unexplained loss of feathers, signs of lethargy or difficulty maintaining their balance.
Which quiet birds for apartments or smaller spaces do you recommend?
I would love to hear any tips or tricks that you have found to be effective in keeping your bird calm and quiet! Feel free to share your advice in the comments below.
Feature Image Credit: onceawitkin | Canva
This post is going to help so many people out. I love the idea of getting a bird for some company!
Rosie
They make great pets. Especially for those who may be living in a small space where they can’t accommodate a dog or a larger pet. Birds are highly social, so they are more than interested in creating a bond with their human family.
My mother has a pet parakeet who is very quiet and really sweet. I have never owned a parakeet or bird in general, but they seem like a good idea for apartment living. Especially if you want a companion to hang out with. Birds are fascinating. I learned a lot from this post about different breeds. Thanks!
They are such a great option for people that may not have the lifestyle for a dog, for example. They are loyal companions and highly social.
I had a neighbor who had parakeets, they were so sweet and cute too. I would help take care of them when they were out of town or when I was watching the kids. They 100% feed off the energy of those kids though lol. 🙂
Yes, they definitely feed off the energy of those around them. The more excited their human family members get, the more excited they get in return lol
I had two budgies when I was a child, and yes they made some noise but they were in the playroom so the family did not make a big deal out of them, for me it was a great lesson having them as it taught me responsibility when it comes to pets, I loved them
They are a great choice for a family pet!
Fascinating to hear about birds. Nearby we have a person with an aviary and you can hear the gentle cheeping of the birds. It’s not invasive (unlike say a Rooster – which is illegal in an urban area of NZ!!!) and they are so pretty too.
Toulouse thinks they are pretty good (to eat) so I could never have any. A remember a pub in the UK had two Macaws. They were HUGE things but perfect for a pub as they are like kids with ADD and NEED constant stimulation!
I love that gentle cheeping. It’s such a peaceful sound, isn’t it?
Birds make great companions. I miss having pet birds in my life. I had several different types of birds as a young adult including parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds, Senegals, and an Alexandrine ringneck. He could be pretty vocal at times, but nothing like a macaw or cockatoo.
I didn’t have birds as a young child, but a friend of mine did and I would go spend time with her birds any time that I could. That’s where my love of them started originally.
Aww, we used to have Parakeets when I was little. Cute, sweet birds that can be a lot of fun. Now we just stick with dogs. Not sure how well that might always mix because mom’s terrier did kill one of her Parakeets.
I absolutely LOVE birds but we travel too much right now to properly care for one. Maybe we will be able to adopt one someday down the road when we choose to slow down a bit or transition into a style of camping that would accommodate a bird. Backpacking and tenting definitely aren’t a good fit.
How ironic that I’m reading this post as I hear the melodious voice of a bird next door. It doesn’t happen often so I don’t mind but this is very insightful information. I for one knew about parakeets making good pets for apartment living. And they are adorable, however didn’t realize finches can be kept as pets. Thanks for sharing this list. It’s very helpful for those exploring other options than a pet with 4 paws.
I find that there is a big difference between the peaceful chirps of these smaller birds and the loud squawk that comes from many of the larger birds. Especially if that larger bird isn’t one that you chose to bring into the house. It’s no different than keeping your dog from barking excessively in an apartment building.
This is a really interesting post. Funny enough, someone in my building got a bird recently and I hear it every now and then. It isn’t disruptive, and I enjoy it when I’m coming in and out of the building. Overall, it’s very quiet.
They can make great pets for apartment living as long as you choose the right birds. A large macaw with their loud voices could easily drive the neighbours crazy.
I had a pet budgie once – he was pretty quiet most of the time. I never knew it was possible to train birds to be quieter! x
They are great birds for people who are concerned about keeping the noise level down.
We had some Finches when I was growing up. I loved their chatter and could sit and watch them all day.
I have always found their little chirps to be super relaxing.