Birds were a popular type of Victorian pet, particularly for ladies and girls who lived in small homes or couldn't manage a dog or even a cat. Many types of birds were kept as pets that would be considered "wild" today, such as wrens, warblers and jackdaws. Parrots and their kin, of course, were always popular, and amazed Victorian owners with their repertoire and their longevity. This section looks at avian pets and their care.

The Canary Bird, by W. Kidd (Peterson's, 1858)

A Bird Show (Leisure Hour, 1860)

Food and Management of Canaries (Peterson's, 1866)

The Story of a Parrot, by Hezekiah Butterworth (St. Nicholas, 1875)

The tale of a parrot belonging to John Greenleaf Whittier when the poet was a boy.

Our Pets: Canaries and British Cage Birds (Little Folks, 1878)

Our Pets: Foreign Cage Birds (Little Folks, 1878)

Our Pets: Parrots and Cockatoos (Little Folks, 1878)

Our Aviary, or, How We Kept Canaries, by Eliza Clarke (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Our Mules, Parrots, Cockatoos, etc., by Eliza Clarke (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

In this case "mule" refers to a type of bird!

Our Pigeon-Cote, and How We Stocked it, by Eliza Clarke (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

How an Amateur Carpenter May Make an Aviary, by A.H. Malan (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1880)

How to Select and Manage Singing Birds (Girl's Own Paper, 1881)

Girls' Own Pets, by Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N. (Girl's Own Paper, 1882-83)

How to choose and care for pet birds.

The Breeding of Fancy Pigeons, by E.S. Starr (Century Magazine, 1886B)

Homing Pigeons, by E.S. Starr (Century Magazine, 1886B)

Many excellent illustrations of different types of pigeons.

On Keeping Birds, by W.T. Greene (Harper's Monthly, 1887B)

Love-Birds and Pygmy Parrots, by W.T. Greene (English Illustrated Magazine, 1892A)

Our Birds (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

Parrot Stories (The Strand, 1892A)

Tales of some of the curious things repeated by parrots, with wonderful illustrations by J.A. Shepherd.

Talking Birds, by A.T. Elwes (Girl's Own Paper, 1892)

Accounts of a variety of conversational avians, including jackdaws, jays, magpies, starlings and mynah birds.

The Introduction of the Canary into Europe (Girl's Own Paper, 1894)

Zig-Zags at the Zoo 21: Zig-Zag Scansorial (parrots), by Arthur Morrison and J.A. Shepherd (The Strand, 1894 - See the complete series)

Tame Doves, by Eliza Brightwen (Girl's Own Paper, 1895)

Peacocks, by Richard Gurney (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

Canaries: Their Rearing and Management (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

Pigeons of Peking, by Alfred D. Sheffield (St. Nicholas, 1900A)

The Chinese sport of pigeon-flying, along with the decoys used to control the birds.

An Hour with a Bird-Doctor, by Frank Holmfield (Strand, 1901B)

Mr. E.W. Little, London's busiest bird-doctor.

See also

• Bird Stories

• Managing Poultry