The Amazons are a little bigger and more expensive than many of the other birds on this list, but they´re just too darn appealing to leave off it. Amazons are among the best talkers around, especially the yellow-naped species. They are also beautiful, brilliant, and love to clown around. They love to be in the limelight, and they seem to feed off the attention they attract.

Some Amazon species are easier to live with than others. For beginners, the lilac-crowns, blue-fronted, red-lored, and white-fronted are good choices. These are less demanding, quieter, and all around are easy to handle.

The problem for beginners: Amazons can be too smart. As with any parrot, you need to be sure you´re giving your bird lots of structured socialization, a fair share of toys, and plenty of exercise.

Because of their small price tag and easy availability, budgerigars (or parakeets) are often treated as a throwaway bird — easily purchased, easily disposed of, easily replaced. This deplorable attitude keeps people from valuing these birds for their affectionate personality — some budgies even become very good talkers, albeit with tiny little voices.

Colors now reach far beyond the green or blue you remember from the pet department at the dime store. They´re usually timid, at first, but budgies can be tamed by gentle, patient handling and can bond closely to their human companions. For a very gentle child, budgies are ideal pets.

Choosing a good pet store is important when buying any pet, but especially important for buying budgies. Mass-produced birds are harder to tame because they haven´t been socialized, and they´re more prone to life-threatening diseases.

The canary — among the most popular and varied pet birds in the world — is well known for his vocal talents and vibrant color. Canaries are actually finches, and they can be green or yellow, bright orange, or even brown. Still, when folks think of them today, they most often conjure up a brilliantly colored yellow bird, thanks to the Sylvester-outsmarting Tweety Bird.

If you want a singer, make sure your new bird is a male — female canaries don´t sing.

This bird is perfect for beginners who aren´t sure they want as much interaction as some other species require. The canary is happy to hang out in a cage and entertain you with beauty and song. In fact, they´d rather not be handled. Because they don´t desire handling, the canary is a good children´s pet, providing song and beauty and allowing youngsters to observe the wonder of birds close up.

Cockatiels are an exceptionally popular bird, and justifiably so. These small parrots are flat-out loving, and they live to snuggle and be petted. If you only recognize the gray bird with orange patches, you may be surprised at how many colors are available, thanks to the work of some energetic breeders.

Some cockatiels learn to talk, but many are better at whistling. This bird is another who´s a good choice for children as long as they understand the need for careful handling.

As pets, you´ve got about a dozen varieties of conures to choose from. The best bet for new owners is the green-cheeked or maroon-bellied conures, which are both much, much quieter than the more popular sun conure (but then, so are some rock bands). They are affectionate and playful. Some may even grace you with a few acquired phrases.

The finch is another hands-off bird, a little charmer who embodies the word "vivacious." Finches are flashy, fast moving, and fun to watch, with a lively, constant twittering that´s considerably below the decibel level parrots are capable of attaining.

Finches do better in a social situation, so plan on buying two or more and giving them a cage with plenty of space to exercise their wings — these birds get around by flying and they don´t climb for exercise. Also remember that when they´re too crowded, territorial cage battles between cage mates will erupt.

Because they´re perfectly content to live without handling, finches make good caged birds for an older child´s room.

Green and silvery Quakers are active and upbeat, and they like to vocalize. Some learn to talk, while others love to whistle. They can all be loving if they´re socialized when young and given consistent, respectful handling.

Note that these birds are illegal in a handful of states because they are considered a threat to native agriculture. (For information on restrictions where you live, check with your nearest Department of Agriculture or fish and game authorities.) Still, the Quaker is well worth considering if you live in places where they are legal.

The small African parrots known collectively as poicephalus are an easy-going bunch. Senegals are probably the most common, a handsome little bird with a gray head, green back and wings, and yellow-orange underside. Other species in the group include the Meyer´s, Jardine, cape, red belly, and brown head — all known for their small size (a little bigger than a cockatiel) and affectionate personalities. They aren´t the best talkers here, but their noise level is pretty low.

After they decide you´re trustworthy, these birds are especially fond of having their heads and necks scratched — in fact, they beg for it, tipping their heads and leaning over to expose their necks for a good scratch.

Don´t let the small size of the Parrotlet fool you; these 5-inch dynamos are all parrot — active, inquisitive, loving, and demanding. Apple-green or blue in hue, parrotlets are more quiet than some of their larger relatives, but some do develop the gift of gab.

Peach-faced lovebirds are beautiful, active, and playful. A well-socialized peach-faced can be your best pal for years, if you don´t leave him to waste away alone in a cage. When hand-raised and socialized with humans, these little guys love to be handled, carried around in your shirt pocket or on your collar. They´re very affectionate, not overly loud, and capable of picking up a few phrases.