10 Black Pet Bird Species You Can Bring Home (With Pictures)
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Birds can make affectionate, fun, and beautiful pets. They come in a vast array of colors and with various markings and appearances. And while we do see a lot of black-colored birds in the wild, from blackbirds to crows and ravens, most pet and domesticated birds tend to be on the colorful side instead.
However, with that said, there are various options for those looking for black pet bird species, and we have highlighted 10 of them below. These birds are predominantly black, but you will find a vast array of other birds that have small amounts of black in their feather colors.
The 10 Black Pet Bird Species
1. Black Palm Cockatoo
| Size: | 26 inches |
| Weight: | 4 pounds |
The Black Palm Cockatoo, which is also called the Goliath Cockatoo or the Great Black Cockatoo, is native to Australia. In captivity, the bird can live as long as 70 years so keeping one does require a lifetime commitment for you and potentially even your children. Like a lot of cockatoo species, the Black Palm Tattoo, which has distinctive head plumage that stands proud from the rest of the head, is a loud species so it is not considered ideal for those that live in apartments. The bird’s black feathers are contrasted by a red face, and the red is said to change color according to the mood of the bird.
2. Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo
| Size: | 22 inches |
| Weight: | 1.5 pounds |
Although not as large or heavy as the Black Palm Cockatoo, the Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo is still a sizeable bird and will grow to 22 inches. It lives as long, if not slightly longer, than the Black Palm, reaching 80 years. This is another species that makes a lot of loud noise so is best in houses, rather than apartments. They also prefer cooler temperatures.
3. Glossy Black Cockatoo
| Size: | 18 inches |
| Weight: | 5 pounds |
The Glossy Black Cockatoo is shorter than the two species above, but weighing as much as 5 pounds, it is also heavier. This a short, stocky Cockatoo, and, as its name suggests, its black feathers shine and shimmer. It also has orange feathers in its tail while its head feathers are more brown than black. The species makes a friendly pet that is always happy to play and spend time with its human handlers.
4. Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo
| Size: | 26 inches |
| Weight: | 3 pounds |
The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo is a big bird with black wings, colored banding on the chest, and red feathers in its tail. This species is known to be quieter than the ones above, which, when coupled with its friendly and sociable nature, makes it a good choice for living in any apartment or house and with any humans.
5. Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo
| Size: | 28 inches |
| Weight: | 3 pounds |
The large Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo is primarily black in color, but it does have yellow feathers in its tail and has a yellow blush on the face. It is a loud bird and primarily makes a noise at night so won’t make friends with close neighbors. It is especially noisy when lonely or hungry. It is an intelligent species and will enjoy looking around the house and trying to find or create new games.
6. Black Finch
| Size: | 6 inches |
| Weight: | 0.75 ounces |
Finches, on the whole, are small birds. They are popular as caged pets and don’t usually require or want too much in the way of handling, but they can enjoy spending time in the same room as their human and they will chatter away quietly as you go about your business. The Black Finch is on the large side for a finch, although still considerably smaller than a Cockatoo or Parrot. This bird does well when kept with other birds of similar species.
7. Black Lory
| Size: | 15 inches |
| Weight: | 6 pounds |
The Black Lory lives up to 25 years and is basically all black. They are friendly and playful birds, which makes them great pets, but potential owners need to be aware that they can be loud, and they can also be demanding of your attention. A bored Lory will make a lot of noise to get attention, too.
8. Keel-Billed Toucan
| Size: | 21 inches |
| Weight: | 5 pounds |
The most striking feature of the Keel-Billed Toucan is, of course, that incredible bill. In this case, it is multi-colored with a red tip and yellow base. The face and chest of the bird are also a striking banana yellow, but the rest of the Keel-Billed Toucan is a deep black color. This species needs to be fed frogs and lizards, as well as seeds, so it might be more of a challenging pet than a lot of other bird species.
9. Magpie
| Size: | 20 inches |
| Weight: | 5 pounds |
The Magpie is a super intelligent bird that has black and white feathers. As well as being intelligent, Magpies are curious and if they have been socialized, they make very friendly pets that will get along with family members and visitors. Magpies are corvids, and in some parts of the world, including the US, it is illegal to own corvids, so check local laws.
10. Raven
| Size: | 28 inches |
| Weight: | 6 pounds |
Ravens are also corvids and, as they come from the same family as Magpies, it is not surprising to learn that they are also very intelligent birds. They can make pleasant pets, if keeping them is legal where you live, and some Ravens have been known to mimic a few words, although this is by no means guaranteed.
Conclusion
Black-colored birds are not unusual in the wild. In fact, most of us are surrounded by them. But, they are a lot more unusual as pet birds, with most pets being brightly colored species like Budgies, Canaries, and Parrots. However, there are black-feathered species that make excellent pets. Do check local laws before keeping any species, because corvids like Magpies and Ravens might be illegal where you live. And, if you live in an apartment, be careful when choosing one of the Cockatoo species because some of them can be very loud.
See Also:
- 5 Cute Pink Pet Bird Species (With Pictures)
- Are Crows Smarter Than Parrots? Bird Intelligence Explained
Featured Image Credit: ChiemSeherin, Pixabay
