I have grown up with budgies (regular, not English), and have a tiel now. The budgies were little comedians, SO funny, and one of them that I had was a master talker. He amazed everyone with how clear and well he talked! Budgies that have to be left alone several hours a day would probably do best with two, but my first budgie was alone while I went to school and my mom worked, and he was fine with the radio or TV on, plus he is the one who could talk amazingly. He was also probably the most bonded to me compared to the budgies we had in groups. Parakeets can be little chatterboxes, we used to have to cover Peepers, my parakeet in childhood, if he was in his cage and we were trying to watch TV. One thing is for sure, budgies are one of the most entertaining little birds I've ever been around .

I have a cockatiel now. She is the most gentle, affectionate, and cuddly bird I've ever had. Others I have spoken to have felt their female tiels were more affectionate than their males. She's not as comedic, but she loves and craves being with me, preferably riding on my shoulder, as much as she possibly can. She absolutely loves getting head rubs and has never bitten me, ever, even when I pick her up. She is my first tiel so I am not sure how close to the norm she is, but most people I've known who had tiels agreed they are very sweet and affectionate birds. But they also really crave to be with their people more than a budgie would I think, so definitely need daily attention and loving . My tiel Dawn is mute, but generally tiels are a quieter bird when compared to other species, especially females. This is in general of course. There are louder and quieter individuals

Those have been my experiences with birdies!

Oh, Dawn gets Zupreem pellets (the fruit kind), and about 20% parakeet seed (cockatiel mixes have too many fatty sunflower seeds), plus a wide variety of fresh fruits and veggies.