What bird can be kept alone?

Many pet owners wonder if birds can be kept alone or if they need to be kept in pairs. The answer depends on the specific species of bird. Some birds are highly social and do need a companion, while others do okay on their own. When deciding whether a bird can be kept alone, you need to consider the bird’s personality and nature, as well as understand its social needs. Keep reading to learn more about what types of birds can be kept alone.

Key Factors That Determine If a Bird Can Be Alone

There are a few key factors that determine if a particular bird species can be kept alone without a companion.

Bird’s Natural Behavior

A bird’s natural behavior in the wild provides clues about its level of socialization. Highly social birds like budgies, lovebirds, and cockatiels live in large flocks in their natural environment. They thrive when housed with other birds because it matches their instincts to live in a large community. Solitary birds like canaries tend to live alone or in pairs in the wild. They can do well housed singly as pets.

Personality

Even within the same species, individual personalities make a difference. Some birds are extroverts that crave constant interaction. Other birds have a more independent personality and are less distressed when alone. Observe the individual bird’s behavior to get a sense of its personality. Nervous birds that get easily frightened do better with a companion. Confident birds may be okay alone.

Amount of Human Interaction

The amount of attention the bird gets from human family members also determines if it can be alone. Birds that get frequent daily interaction and bonding time with people are less likely to be lonely than birds that are frequently left alone. However, even highly social birds can be kept alone if the owner is prepared to spend many hours a day interacting with them.

Age of Bird

Younger birds that are still juveniles often need more socialization than mature adult birds. It can be especially problematic to keep baby parrots alone. They require interaction with members of their own species to learn proper behavior and communication skills. Adolescent and adult birds are better candidates for being solitary pets.

Best Birds to Keep Alone

While no bird should be alone all the time, some species do well housed singly as long as they get adequate human companionship. Here are some of the top birds that can be good solitary pets:

Canaries

Canaries are a popular songbird that can do well housed alone in a cage. In the wild, they form loose flocks but do not require the intense social bonds seen in parrots and finches. A single canary will thrive with frequent interaction and bonding time with human family members. Make sure to get a hand-tamed bird.

Finches

Some species of finch, like the zebra finch, are highly social and must live with other finches. But other types like society finches do well alone. They entertain themselves singing and do not require finch companionship. Societies appreciate human interaction but are independent enough to be solitary pets.

Parrotlets

Most small parrots are extremely social and need same-species companionship. But parrotlets are an exception. This pint-sized parrot species is content housed singly provided they receive adequate time out of the cage to bond with their owner. Parrotlets kept alone retain their ability to mimic human speech.

Softbills

Softbills is a term used to describe a variety of species like mynahs, toucans, hornbills, and turacos. Most softbills tend to be independent in nature and do well housed alone as pets. Providing toys for enrichment is important. But they do not necessarily require other birds for companionship.

Pionus Parrots

The Pionus parrot genus includes cuddly medium-sized parrots like the bronze-winged pionus. These parrots are an exception to the rule that parrots must be kept in pairs. Pionus parrots tend to bond strongly with their owner and do not need other birds for company. Just be sure to spend ample time interacting daily with a solitary pionus.

Birds That Should Not Be Alone

While the above birds can potentially be housed alone, there are many species that require social housing with other birds of their own kind. Here are some birds that should always be kept with at least one other companion:

Budgies

Budgies, also known as parakeets, are highly gregarious birds that live communally in huge flocks in the wild. They require social interaction from members of their own species. Keeping a budgie alone usually leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and poor health. Always house budgies in pairs or small groups.

Cockatiels

Like budgies, cockatiels are flocking birds that suffer without same-species company. Lonely cockatiels often turn to self-destructive behaviors like excessive screaming or feather plucking. Provide cockatiels with a companion, whether another cockatiel or a bird of a similar size like a peach-faced lovebird.

Finches

Most species of finch are highly communal and must be kept in groups. Zebra finches, in particular, require the companionship of other zebra finches to thrive. They may become depressed or fail to sing if housed alone. Even a mated pair of finches will be happier in a larger mixed flock.

African Grey Parrots

Smart African grey parrots have intense social needs. Housing them alone leads to boredom, frustration, and behavior problems. Some greys can be kept alone if they receive virtually constant one-on-one interaction with owners who are home most of the day. Otherwise, a second grey parrot or other medium-large parrot companion is recommended.

Lovebirds

Lovebirds form incredibly strong, lifelong pair bonds with a mate. Because of this, they should never be kept singly. House lovebirds in compatible pairs or small groups. Even when housed with a companion, lovebirds still need daily interaction with human family members.

Providing For Solitary Birds

If you do decide to keep a solitary bird, you must take measures to ensure it stays happy and enriched:

Spend Time Daily

Owners of solitary birds should plan to spend at least 2-3 hours per day directly interacting with them outside the cage. The more time the better. Birds like parrotlets do fine alone only with near-constant companionship.

Provide Toys

Rotate through plenty of toys to keep solitary birds entertained and mentally stimulated. Toys allow them to indulge their natural behaviors like chewing, foraging, and playing. Rotate toys weekly to prevent boredom.

Offer Audio/Video

Leaving the TV or radio on provides background noise to keep solitary birds company. Bird YouTube channels feature hours of bird videos that capture their interest. Some owners use “bird sitter” DVDs designed when owners are away.

Try A Mirror

Some solitary birds enjoy interacting with a mirror, seeing it as a companion. Be sure to remove the mirror if the bird appears frustrated or aggressive towards its reflection.

Give Social Time

Make arrangements for your solitary pet bird to have periodic play dates with other birds owned by family or friends. Even occasional social time helps solitary birds.

Solitary Bird Species Quick Facts

Conclusion

While some birds are social flocking species that require companions, others can potentially be kept alone as pets provided they receive sufficient human interaction. Solitary bird species like canaries, parrotlets, and pionus parrots tend to have more independent personalities. They bond strongly with owners and do not necessarily require other birds for company. Even solitary birds need lots of toys and enrichment. And some occasional interaction with other birds is still beneficial. Think carefully about your lifestyle and the individual bird’s personality before deciding whether it can handle being alone. With proper care, some birds thrive as solitary companions.