Translated by Nick R
Choosing a cage for our bird is one of the most important things when adopting. This will be its space, where it will sleep, eat and spend most of its life cycle. So here are the types of cages you can offer to your winged friend. Come on!
Table of Contents
What do I need to know before buying a birdcage?
There are several things to consider to find the ideal cage for your bird: one that suits its needs and offers comfort. The cage must have a good balance among these 4 characteristics:
Size The cage dimensions are determinant | Material The higher the investment the longer will your cage last. |
Shape Your bird´s comfort will depend on the shape of its cage. | Bars Are you attentive to your bird’s care and safety? The distance between the bars is key. |
The size does matter
The size of the cage does matter taking into account that birds are very active and have the faculty to fly. Therefore, in captivity, you must offer them enough space to make their stay in your home a fabulous experience.
The material of the cage
Birds use their beak for everything, particularly as another claw and for foraging, thus, the cage must be made of stainless steel and without enamels that could be toxic.
Obviously, you must watch out for quality and durability because not everything that is sold as stainless steel will last.
The shape of the cage
Although the shape of the cage is primarily an aesthetic feature, it is also extremely important because it will affect how much space it can be used and how easy it is to clean. In addition, the shape has repercussions on the bird’s emotional stability. What? Yes, just as you read it; I’ll explain later.
The bars of the cage
The firmness and quality of the cage are important, as well as the bars. How so? When I refer to the bars, I am talking about the distance between them, which will depend on the species of bird you have. Also, some species such as parrots prefer horizontal bars. Contrary to popular belief, not all cages have vertical bars.
Now let’s take a look at which cage suits your bird best.
Types of bird cages by size
Bird cages can have different sizes, here are the types of bird cages according to their size:
Small bird cages
Small cages are usually used for smaller birds. Birds don’t like to be alone in most cases; they will need the company of the opposite sex so you will most likely have to look for a companion. The average width of these cages is 30 cm x depth of 23 cm x height of 38 cm, some of them can be a little higher.
On the other hand, the bars will have narrow spacing from each other, no more than 1cm, precisely because this cage is for small birds that could get out if they exceed this measure.
The disadvantage of a small cage is that the amount of objects for recreation and physical activity of your bird is reduced. The best option in this case is to offer them hangers and foraging objects, in addition to increasing the hours of recreation outside the cage.
Among the most common small cages we find:
Hanging cage
As its name suggests, hanging cages are those cages of small size that you can hang from the ceiling or wall, ideal for birds such as:
- Canaries
- Parakeets
- Zebra Diamonds
Obviously, you cannot use it for groups of birds, but for a couple of these small birds only.
You might get the idea when you think of Tweety, the famous canary who was chased by Sylvester the cat.

Savic cage
Savic cages, also known as transport cages, are static and the smallest. I recommend using them exclusively for transporting your birds as they are small. They are usually very flattened, which will not allow your bird to fly comfortably, but just flutter.
Therefore, a small cage like the savic is not recommended as a place to stay, but as a transport cage, for example, when your bird is injured or sick and you have to isolate it while it is taken to the vet.
Medium Bird Cages
When we talk about medium-sized cages, we are talking about larger cages with the capacity to house groups of birds. Medium-sized cages are recommended for small groups of birds between 2 and 6 small birds or a couple of medium-sized birds.
The average size of these aviaries ranges from 34.5cm x 28cm x 49.5cm to 57cm x 45cm x 81cm; the perfect space for pairs of larger birds such as cockatiels. As for the bars, they can have a distance between them of up to 1.5cm, not more.
Medium-sized cages are useful to control a small group of birds, making it easier to maintain their welfare inside the cage and to take them out for recreation.
The most common medium-sized cages are:
Medium cages
Birdhouses are static cages designed for small groups of birds, they have room for your birds to flutter as well as to fly freely: most of them are vertically elongated.
The spacing of this type of cage allows you to put some recreational objects inside it, such as hangers, perches, and toys.

Breeding cage
There are different sizes of breeding cages. The most common cages for this purpose are double cages, which have two compartments with plates in the middle that separate the pairs for mating. For example, in the case of canaries which must be separated for the male canary to start his singing ritual to woo the female.
They are designed for both domestic and farm poultry. And we are talking about domestic bird breeding, breeding that is not for the production of poultry and doesn’t require more than two compartments.
Regarding the measures, in this type of cage the width changes to practically double the height.

Large bird cages
Large cages are more recommended for larger bird species or when you have a numerous group of birds.
This category includes cages of different sizes exceeding 1 meter in height and 80 cm in width. The bars can have up to 2cm distance between them and for larger parrots such as macaws up to 3cm.
When we talk about cages of this size, we are talking about aviaries and you have the option to choose between a static aviary or a mobile aviary.
Large aviaries
Aviaries and most cages are static, that is, they have a base to be set in a specific place. As well as medium-sized aviaries, aviaries or large cages are used for groups of birds, in this case, larger animals and in groups of more than 2 pairs depending on the species; since you could also adapt the aviary for a greater number of small birds.
Generally, the height and width dimensions are larger, showing a rectangular shape, because it provides the birds with more freedom to fly.

Types of bird cages according to their mobility
In terms of the mobility offered by a cage or aviary, there are two types: static and mobile.
Static bird cages
The static cage, as its name says, is a home with little mobility. Among the static cages, we can find the medium-sized aviaries and breeding cages, for example, and those that remain to be mentioned (read on, read on). Most cages and aviaries are of this type because of their wide distribution in the market.
Mobile bird cages
Among the largest cages, we can find wheeled aviaries, which are used to easily move the birds. This type of cage is very useful when your home has a nice size and you have an alternative space to the routine where your friends stay daily, such as a patio or a terrace.
Although there are medium-sized mobile aviaries, if you are going to buy one, I recommend you to buy a large one; either because you have many birds or they are big in size. This type of aviary allows you to have large mobile and safe space.
These are personally one of my favorites because I can move my birds from a less cool or poorly lit place to another with better temperature and better conditions. In addition, I can take advantage of other spaces that take my birds out of the routine, teaching them tricks when they are well trained or simply allowing them to recreate safely when they still need to be trained.

Types of bird cages according to their shape
The shape of the cages is also a typology that serves to identify the right cage for our bird.
Rectangular bird cages
Rectangular bird cages (pictures above) are the best option, they provide the bird with more space for recreation and movement, and also offer reference points for flying. In most cases, they are made of stainless steel, which makes them more resistant and durable.
The bars have a better distance between each other, adapting to the size of the cages and the animals. Remember the beak is very important and the cage should fit perfectly to its shape.
However, their main disadvantage is the difficulty to clean them when they are very large and the angles of the corners are very tight.
Oval bird cages
Oval cages are available in different sizes, static, hanging, or mobile; they seem to offer a feeling of spaciousness. Some have only the oval apex and others are completely oval.
This is the cage that I recommend the least because it doesn’t provide many points of reference and tends to be dangerous for the birds, many times they get trapped in the dome of the cage, where the space between the bars narrows.
In addition, they are often made of materials other than solid stainless steel, such as plastic or similar reinforced mesh, which makes them of lower quality and, therefore, less durable.

Before you go, I have something for you…
Tips for choosing your bird’s cage
Here are three important recommendations concerning the care of birds and their cages:
- The spacing of the bars must be such that the birds’ heads don’t get stuck.
- The door locks must be secure so that your little friend is not able to open them, especially when it comes to parrots; you know, birds are very intelligent animals.
- The cage has to be located in a place away from physical, chemical, and biological hazards. Also, offer them a large space outside the cage so that they can recreate during the day.
You already know what types of cages exist for birds, now you can recognize which one is the best for your winged friend Look for the ideal cage!
You may be interested in:
What birds can I have as a pet?
How to take care of a cockatiel?