PET BIRDS

With hardly a trill or a grace note, Joseph delivers economically worded advice on how to choose a pet bird (what type of bird? . . . how old is it? . . . what sex, if that can be determined?), on cage size, diet, exercise (often overlooked) and taming. Joseph discusses doves, pigeons, canaries and finches as well as the popular cockatiels and budgerigars (parakeets) and the average bird owner will be well served here provided he is ready to call a vet when something goes seriously wrong and isn't unduly frustrated by a pet who refuses to sing or talk. However anyone who wants to breed birds would do well to pass up Joseph's casual do's and don'ts for Villiard's more extensive program in Birds as Pets (1974).