Budgie or cockatiel as a first bird: which should you choose?
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Budgie or cockatiel as a first bird? Both are excellent starter birds. The budgerigar is smaller, livelier and more economical (15 to 40 €); the cockatiel, larger and more laid-back, is often more affectionate but needs more space and a bigger budget (60 to 150 €). Your choice mostly comes down to the space available and the kind of relationship you are after.
Contents · 5 sections
How do their temperaments differ day to day?
The budgie is a chatterbox: active and playful, it babbles all day and can learn a few words. The cockatiel is more contemplative: it whistles tunes, adores crest scratches and forms a strong bond with its human. Both species are flock birds: in either case, the question of one bird or two deserves serious thought.
What space and equipment should you plan for?
- Budgie: cage at least 80 cm long, bar spacing of 10-12 mm.
- Cockatiel: cage at least 100 cm long, 15-20 mm bars, thicker perches.
- In both cases: natural wood perches of varied diameters, toys to destroy, daily out-of-cage time.
The equipment details are in our accessories section, and the classic gear blunders in our guide to first-bird mistakes.
How do the budgets compare over a year?
First year with a budgie: around 200 to 350 € (bird, cage, accessories, food). First year with a cockatiel: 350 to 600 €, larger cage obliges. Monthly, expect 20 to 30 € for a budgie and 25 to 40 € for a cockatiel, avian vet visits not included (40 to 80 € per consultation).
Which is the noisier?
Neither is silent. The budgie produces a continuous but light chatter; the cockatiel is quieter overall, with occasional louder calls, especially from males. In a flat, both fit in well as long as boredom is prevented — see our advice on noise and neighbours.
Frequently asked questions
Which species lives longer?
The budgie lives 8 to 12 years, the cockatiel 15 to 20 and sometimes more: a commitment to weigh up before adopting.
Which is the better talker?
The male budgie is surprisingly gifted at repeating words; the cockatiel excels instead at melodic whistling.
Can they live together?
In a large aviary, cohabitation is possible, but each species needs a companion of its own kind to stay well balanced.
In our shop, for this use: Bendable multicolour cotton rope perch, 40 cm (€21.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Birds universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
