Cockatiels and budgies of corse are great first birds, but if he's looking for something a bit bigger I love and would recommend an Indian ringneck parakeet. I have one and he is great. He can get vocal, but compared to other birds they really aren't too loud. My Oscar is a pretty good talker and a wonderful eater, and he loves to be with us. They come in several different colors- green, blue, yellow, white.
Here is a picture of Oscar after a shower: