10 Blue Feathered Birds You Can Keep as Pets
Bluebirds are one of a kind! While you’re well-acquainted with green birds, there are many blue-feathered bird species. They’re of various sizes and come in different shades of blue.
From powdery light blue, deep indigos to flashy blue markings, several of these pet birds that can be your companions at home. Are you looking to share your home with one of these beautiful creatures?
Also Read: Red Feathered Pet Birds
Below are the top blue feathered birds you can keep as pets:
1. Blue Budgerigar
Weighing about 25 grams with a wingspan of approximately 10 to 14 inches, this blue budgie is a mutated species of the original green or yellow budgie selectively crossbred. They have blue feathers on their heads, chests and bellies.
Blue Budgerigar also has black spots and stripes on its wings, heads, backs and tails. Ideal for beginners and experienced bird owners, budgies have been listed amongst popular pet bird species for years.
With a life expectancy of 15-20 years, they outlive many cats, dogs and other little mammals. Irrespective of the cage size, so long it’s spacious, Blue budgies will stay active, unlike other birds. If you’re looking for a low-maintenance pet, this will make a great addition to your family.
2. Hyacinth Macaw
The cobalt-blue colored bird is a rare species that needs specialized care from a dedicated owner. The time, money, and effort invested in caring for this unique bird make it common in the zoo than in private homes.
Its large size and robust, sharp hooked beak makes it look scary, but Hyacinth Macaw is gentle. From husky growls and screams to high chirps, this beautiful bird has various means of expressing themselves.
They tend to purr and can be quite noisy when they’re in large numbers. Hyacinth Macaws have yellow specks around their eyes, base and corners of their beaks.
Under normal and right circumstances, they make good pets, but if not given room to socialize, roam and exercise, they can be nippy and aggressive. Often referred to as a gentle giant, this large and alluring bird can be a handful at times, so you’ll need to think it through before deciding to own one of these species.
3. Blue Quaker Parrot
Similar to the original Quaker Parrots, Blue Quaker Parrots are produced from the selective breeding of captive birds for years. The fun-loving and social bird makes a great avian companion.
With its low maintenance, exceptional talking ability and availability, the Blue Quaker Parrot is small-sized and has a large personality. Also called Blue Monk Parakeet, this lovely bird has unique plumage which distinguishes it from other breeds.
The long-tailed Quaker chatters while feeding and make numerous screeching calls. Quakers have a great capacity to mimic human actions. They can imitate sounds and loud voices. Their noisy nature doesn’t make these pets the right choice for families with small children.
The Blue Quaker Parrot can be trained to speak as early as six months. They can also be taught to do some tricks and learn vocabulary, but their confidence and intelligence can hinder training them.
4. Blue Ringneck Parakeet
Due to their high intelligence, Ringneck Parakeet makes great pets for bird enthusiasts. If handled well, they can become tame. The bluebird can learn to do a few tricks like stringing beads, untying knots, and picking up objects.
Being a playful and energetic bird, you’ll need to provide lots of toys for them to play with and keep them engaged. Though they aren’t good at mimicking speech, Blue Ringneck Parakeets can be taught to whistle, talk and mimic other sounds.
Their pleasant personalities and beauty make them stand out amongst other bird species. They can act aggressively towards other pets; they will also attack larger birds and dogs if they feel threatened.
If you can handle large parrots and you’re ready to dedicate time and effort to care for them, then this pet bird will be best suited for you.
5. Blue Lovebird
Having a warm and friendly nature, the Blue Lovebird is a package of fun. They bond more easily with their owner than their pairs. The blue masked lovebirds are curious and may want to leave their cage sometimes.
They’re small-sized, attractive to the eye and make ideal pets. The agile birds can live with other lovebirds hence the need to house them in a large cage of about 36 x 24 x 24 inches, with four perches, toys, and bowls for food and water.
Blue Lovebirds are cuddly, less noisy to others but chatters frequently. Possessing the capacity to perform funny tricks and socialize, the bird is lovely and adorable in all ways.
A formulated diet composed of fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and grains with plenty of water enriches and revitalizes the Blue Lovebirds. Also, for their good health and vigor, you should keep them in pairs instead of singly.
Blue masked lovebirds are also a great option if you are looking to get lovebirds as pets:
6. Blue Finch
Their bright blue feathers and melodious calls make Blue Finch an alluring pet for bird enthusiasts. If properly taken care of, they can live up to 27 years. Since these brightly colored birds exercise by flying, you should enclose them in an area of 12 inches by 18 inches per pair.
They thrive best at an optimum daytime temperature between 60°F to 70°F and night temperatures of 40°F. Like several finches, Blue Finches are highly sociable. With little maintenance and care, a clean cage with a daily intake of fresh food and water, your pet bird will do fine.
7. Nicobar Pigeons
Nicobar pigeons are exotic birds that are about 40cm in length. They have distinct, long black and purple feathers on the neck. This rare species gives repeated low-pitched calls; hence they’re not very vocal.
The females are a bit smaller compared to males. They have a small bill knob, shorter hackles and browner underbellies than the male counterparts. Nicobar pigeons feed mainly on seeds, fruits and buds.
Groups fly in single file or columns, unlike the other pigeons. Currently, this sought after pet can’t be easily acquired in the United States and other areas.
8. Great Blue Turaco
The great blue turaco is the largest species of the turaco family, it can reach 28-30 inches (70-76 cm) in length and can weight 28-45 oz (800-1300 g).
It is not very a common pet bird, because it needs a lot of space to fly and run around. These birds are hard to tame, even if you raise them from an early age.
Just like all turaco birds, the great blue turaco also eats mostly fruits and plants.
9. Blue and Gold Macaw
Having a beautiful blue body and dark lemon-yellow chest, the blue and gold macaw seems aptly named. From their voices to their temperaments, everything about them is significant. Their color and raucous attitude demand attention even when they’re calm.
With their loving hearts and sensitive natures, Blue and Gold Macaw are formidable forces to reckon with. Their sweet disposition, intelligence and learning capacity make them a lovely pet. Socializing with several people and other birds makes them get accustomed to different people.
They’re quite tricky and make headliners at pet shows. With consistent training, pet birds can learn to speak a vocabulary of about 20 words and phrases.
Gifted with an audible voice, Blue and Gold Macaw are regarded as one of the best talking parrots. Although they can be loud, they can be calm once they’re provided with adequate mental stimulation and allowed to socialize.
10. Blue Crowned Conure
The blue Crowned Conure is also called the blue-crowned parakeet or blue-crowned budgie. Having a large vocabulary and high intelligence, this species is regarded as one of the talkative birds in the Conure family.
The bird first gained popularity in the 1998 movie “Paulie”. When hand-trained and allowed to socialize, the blue-crowned parakeet becomes one of the most amicable birds in the family.
Though it’s not the cuddliest, it’s the attention-seeking and affectionate species. Like its cousins, they’re quite vocal and can disturb the neighbors. It would be best if you considered the proximity to neighbors before settling for this pet.
Available for sale in pet stores and avian specialty stores, this species makes a good family pet.
I’ve included this bird to the end of the list, because is mostly green, only its head is covered with blue feathers.
Conclusion
From characteristics to temperament, care and needs, you now know what blue birds are. You’re probably thinking of the one to choose.
Ensure you choose wisely. Regardless of your choice, never forget these avian companions have more to offer than you can ever imagine.