When it comes to bird breeds that are known for being friendly and sociable, budgerigars (budgies) and cockatiels are often considered among the friendliest.

Budgerigars (Budgies): These small parrots are very social, affectionate, and can bond closely with their human caretakers. They love interaction and can even learn to mimic speech and sounds.

Cockatiels: Also very gentle and affectionate, cockatiels enjoy being handled and are known for their playful and loving nature. They often form strong bonds with their owners and respond well to training.

Other friendly breeds include lovebirds (if socialized well), conures, and some parrotlets. But budgies and cockatiels tend to be the most approachable and easy-going for first-time bird owners.

The most petted bird is generally the budgerigar (budgie). They’re popular because they’re small, social, and enjoy interacting with people.

Other commonly petted birds include:

Cockatiels – known for being gentle and affectionate

Lovebirds – can be quite friendly when properly socialized

Conures – lively birds that enjoy attention and petting

African Grey Parrots – intelligent and social, often forming strong bonds with humans

Overall, budgies tend to top the list as the bird species most often handled and petted by people.

The most aggressive birds toward humans tend to be certain species that are highly territorial or protective. Here are some of the most notorious:

Cassowaries — often called the world’s most dangerous bird, cassowaries can seriously injure or even kill people with their powerful legs and sharp claws. They’re very territorial and aggressive if provoked.

Southern Giant Petrels — known to be aggressive scavengers, sometimes intimidating humans and other animals around carcasses.

Australian Magpies — during breeding season, some magpies will dive-bomb people who get too close to their nests.

Swans — while they look graceful, swans can be surprisingly aggressive if they feel threatened, especially during nesting season.

In general, birds that are large, territorial, or protective of their young tend to show more aggression toward humans. But most wild birds will avoid people unless provoked or cornered.

When it comes to the cleanest pet birds, a few stand out:

Budgies — they’re small, pretty tidy, and take good care of their own grooming. Plus, their cages are easier to keep clean.

Canaries — these little guys are known for being neat and don’t usually make much of a mess. Since they mostly stay in one spot, cleaning up is simpler.

Finches — like canaries, finches are constantly preening themselves and aren’t super messy.

Basically, smaller birds that groom themselves a lot and don’t scatter feathers everywhere tend to be the cleanest pets. Bigger parrots? They can be a bit messier with feathers and food.

So if keeping things tidy is your thing, these little birds are a solid bet.

The most snuggly birds are usually those that love close contact and enjoy being handled. Here are a few famously cuddly birds:

Cockatiels — known for their sweet, gentle nature, cockatiels love to snuggle up on your shoulder or cuddle in your hand.

Lovebirds — true to their name, lovebirds are affectionate and often enjoy sitting close to their favorite person, sometimes even nuzzling in for a cuddle.

Parrotlets — tiny but full of personality, many parrotlets love being close and can be surprisingly cuddly once they trust you.

Budgies (Parakeets) — while small, many budgies (also called parakeets) enjoy gentle petting and can be quite affectionate.

These birds tend to enjoy physical closeness and can become real little snuggle buddies with some bonding time.

If you’re looking for the cheapest birds to own, small and low-maintenance ones are usually your best bet. They don’t need fancy cages or special food, so they’re easier on the wallet. Some of the most affordable options are:

Budgies (parakeets) — they’re pretty inexpensive to buy, don’t need a huge cage, and eat simple seed mixes or pellets.

Finches — tiny, easy to care for, and don’t take up much space or require anything fancy.

Canaries — similar deal to finches; low cost and pretty simple to keep happy.

They’re all great if you want a bird friend without spending a ton of money. Just keep in mind, even the cheapest birds still need good care and attention!

The hardest birds to take care of are usually the big, super smart ones that need a lot of attention and mental stimulation. They’re not the easiest pets and definitely require some dedication. Some of the toughest include:

African Grey Parrots — these guys are really smart and social. They get bored super easily, so they need tons of toys, challenges, and interaction or they can start acting out.

Macaws — big and loud with tons of energy. They need a lot of space, special food, and daily hangout time to stay happy.

Cockatoos — super affectionate but also kind of needy. If you don’t give them enough attention, they can get loud and destructive.

Amazon Parrots — they’re talkative and social birds who need mental stimulation and a close bond with their owner.

Basically, these birds need owners who have the time and patience to really give them what they need. They’re not really for beginners or people looking for low-maintenance pets.

When it comes to birds that get angry or aggressive easily, a few well-known species stand out:

Mockingbirds are bold and highly territorial. They won’t hesitate to dive at people or animals that get too close to their nests. Despite their small size, they’re fearless when defending their space.

Kingbirds are some of the most aggressive songbirds out there. They’re known for chasing off much larger birds (and even humans) during nesting season.

Blue Jays are intelligent and social but can also be pretty feisty. They’re not shy about protecting their food or nest and will often bully smaller birds.

Arctic Terns, on the other hand, are much more peaceful in comparison. While they will defend their nests if threatened, they’re generally not aggressive toward humans and tend to avoid confrontation.

So, if you’re looking at which birds tend to get angry quickly, mockingbirds, kingbirds, and blue jays top the list for their bold, territorial behavior—while arctic terns are more on the chill side.

The fastest bird in the world is the peregrine falcon, and honestly, nothing else really comes close.

When it goes into a dive, it can hit speeds of over 240 miles per hour, which makes it the fastest animal on the planet, not just the fastest bird.

If you’re talking about fast flying in a straight line, birds like the white-throated needletail (which can reach around 105 mph) and the grey-headed albatross (which can cruise at high speeds with the help of strong winds) are also pretty impressive.

But in terms of top speed overall, the peregrine falcon is definitely the winner.

No bird can literally hypnotize a human, but some definitely have a way of grabbing our attention and holding it in a way that feels kind of magical. Here are a few birds people often describe as mesmerizing:

Owls – Their big, forward-facing eyes and the way they just stare without moving can feel a little eerie but totally captivating.

Lyrebirds – These guys can mimic almost any sound, from chainsaws to camera clicks to human voices. Watching them perform is fascinating.

Peacocks – When they fan out their feathers and start that shimmering shake, it’s really hard to look away.

Opium Bird (Nicobar Pigeon) – This rare bird has shiny, glowing feathers that seem to change color as it moves. It’s so visually striking that people have called it the “Opium Bird” because of how hypnotic it looks.

So while no bird actually puts people in a trance, some definitely have that kind of effect just by being so unique and beautiful.