Ask five people what to call the little green-and-yellow bird in the pet shop window and you might get five different answers. Budgie care starts with clearing up a mix-up that trips up almost every new owner — budgie, parakeet, and budgerigar are three names for the exact same bird, not three different species. Once…

Bringing home your first pet bird starts with one question: which species will actually fit your life? The best pet birds for beginners share a few traits in common they’re hardy, sociable, and forgiving of a few first-time mistakes. Watch closely and you’ll notice something interesting: the birds people love most as beginners aren’t always…