Birds That Can Sing: Nature's Most Musical Creatures

Before we dive in, we’d like to clarify that “quiet pet birds” refers to pet birds that are quiet compared to other pet birds. No bird can be considered silent; that’s just not how they work. If you’re very sensitive to noise, a feathered pet probably simply isn’t for you unless you want to spend your days walking around the house wearing noise-cancelling headphones. We think it’s important to mention this: noise complaints are one of the main reasons so many birds (especially parrots) are surrendered or even abandoned every year. You think about it, it all makes a lot of sense. After all, birds are prey animals that tend to exist in social groups (flocks) for safety purposes.

In order to communicate with each other while they’re in flight or sitting in different trees, many have developed the ability to yell pretty loudly. It’s in their nature to use this ability to constantly verify their flock is still there. Any cockatiel or budgie owner will know the familiar songs that males produce as a way of wooing their female flock mates, and the ringneck dove’s flirty coo is iconic.

Speaking of noise: when choosing a bird species to add to your family, it can really help to take some time to figure out which types of sounds you’re sensitive to and which might carry through the walls and bother your neighbors. Again, many birds, particularly parrots, are abandoned because their owners weren’t prepared for the amount of noise they made. Make sure yours doesn’t become one of them! It can really help to visit other people who keep birds, head to your local bird rescue, or try YouTube to listen to the different species before you make a decision. Different people are sensitive to different kinds of noise. Some birds produce a steady stream of sound but may not be very loud. Others normally only vocalize for a few short periods a day, but produce much higher decibel levels.

One common appearance on lists of the quietest pet birds are parrot from the genus Forpus, such as the Pacific parrotlet. These are actually the smallest parrots to be kept as pets, with some of them weighing as little as 25 grams even when fully grown! With small parrots come small noises, and although a parrotlet can definitely cause a ruckus, it’s not going to be nearly as crazy as with their larger cousins. Additionally, parrotlets don’t make noise all day. If yours does burst into screams, it usually won’t last longer than a couple of minutes. As far as apartment living goes, parrot usually make a good choice, unless your neighbors are very sensitive. Their ‘meeps’ are high-pitched, which doesn’t travel as well through walls as lower-pitched noises do.

The ubiquitous budgie is one of the most popular pet birds. There are many reasons for this, one of them being their relatively low noise levels. Sure, a flock of budgies can definitely raise hell and they’re definitely louder than the aforementioned rosy Bourke. Still, a solo budgie or a pair can generally be considered pretty quiet as far as birds go. Female budgies are usually less noisy than the males. It’s the boys that produce a constant stream of chatter and singing, most of which shouldn’t be too bothersome. A happy budgie twittering away is more of a happy sound than an annoying one!

Some people scoff at the idea of keeping a pigeon or dove in one’s home. Aren’t those basically disease-riddled flying rats and best avoided? Although they can be very annoying in a city setting, let us tell you from personal experience: If you want to keep birds, doves and pigeons are actually at the top of our list of recommendations. It should be the Columbidae (pigeons), that dominate our homes! Because pigeons are quite large, why not consider the ubiquitous and somewhat more compact ring neck dove? These pretty gray birds aren’t just more evenly tempered than parrots well-socialized doves will be snuggly and very unlikely to ever lash out but they’re also much, much quieter.

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Frequently asked quesdtions (FAQs)

1. What sound does a ring-necked dove make?
   Ring-necked doves are famous for their gentle cooing sound, which is calm and soothing to hear.
2. Are budgies, parrotlets, and ring-necked doves good pet birds?
   Yes, these birds are popular pets because they are friendly, easy to care for, and create pleasant natural sounds.
3. Are these birds suitable for beginners?
   Yes, budgies, parrotlets, and ring-necked doves are often recommended for beginners because they are small, friendly, and relatively easy to care for.