by Billie Staib

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

With man's constant fascination with flight, it is no wonder that we have such a love for birds. Parrots are amazing creatures that can add a great deal of life and color to our lives. If you are looking to add one of these intelligent beauties to your home, there are several things you should consider before deciding on the parrot that will best fit in with your existing household, including other pets. It is best to think about these things before you start visiting breeders or pet stores. Otherwise you run the risk of inadvertently skewing your answers so that you are (amazingly enough) most compatible with that parrot that said hello to you while you were buying treats for Fido in your local pet store.

"It slices, it dices..."

Choosing a parrot should definitely not be anything like deciding to buy a product from an infomercial. However this is the approach that many people take when selecting their first parrot. They are awed by the parrots colors or its ability to speak. These things may be important to you, but they should definitely not be you top considerations. These are perks similar to having a child that becomes a concert pianist, a doctor, or a supermodel. You may be proud of these traits, but they are not the most important qualities of the child.

Here are a few of the more important qualities of a parrot to consider:

Size: There is big difference between having a parakeet on your finger and a macaw on your arm. The bigger guys are big on personality, but you need to make sure that you will feel comfortable handling the bird. Sometimes people get a larger bird and then keep it cage bound because they are afraid of being bitten. (Unfortunately, this makes the parrot less tame and often more likely to bite.)

Volume: There is also a huge difference in the volume and amount of chatter from one bird to another. If possible, listen to some audio clips on line and see what sounds you prefer and can handle on a daily basis. There are sad stories of owners that keep their birds locked in another room or have the bird's cage covered most of the time to keep it quiet.

Cuddliness: Some birds love to be cuddled and held (Cockatoo), while others don't prefer to be left alone most of the time (African Greys). This doesn't mean that they are "wild." It is just how that species is. Do you want a parrot that loves (demands) to snuggle? Or one that you can interact with without a lot of physical attention?

Social Preference: Some parents inherently love everyone,

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