Which parrot is best for a first-time owner in Canada?

A friend keeps asking me to recommend a 'starter parrot.' She's never owned a bird, has a busy-ish schedule, and lives in Toronto. I have my opinions but wanted to crowdsource — what do you all recommend for an absolute beginner?

Budgies, every time. Hardy, affordable, gentle, and you can get a pair so they're never lonely. If she wants something a bit bigger and cuddlier, a cockatiel is the classic step up.

I'd add: please point her toward adoption. So many budgies, cockatiels and conures need homes. A slightly older rehomed bird is often calmer and already tame — great for a beginner.

For a true first-time owner, the classic trio is budgie → cockatiel → green cheek conure, roughly in order of ease. Budgies are the most forgiving and lowest-commitment; cockatiels are gentle and affectionate; green cheeks are more interactive but need more time.

Key honest caveats for your friend: even a budgie lives 7–10+ years (cockatiels 15–20, conures 20–30), needs daily interaction, fresh food, and an avian vet. "Busy-ish" is fine for a budgie pair, harder for a single conure.

We rank options with the trade-offs in our first-time-owner guide. And echoing Rachel — adopting a bird already needing a home is a wonderful first step; many lovely birds are listed on our rehoming portal.