A birdcage is an enclosure designed to keep pet birds safely contained while giving them space to move around. Most birdcages are made from metal bars or wire mesh that let air and light through while keeping the bird from flying away. Inside, you'll typically find perches for the bird to stand on, containers for food and water, and sometimes toys or mirrors.

The size and design of a birdcage depend on what kind of bird lives there. A parakeet might need a cage only a foot or two wide, while a large parrot requires one big enough to spread its wings fully. Good birdcages give birds room to hop between perches and exercise their wings without feeling cramped.

People have kept birds in cages for thousands of years, both as pets and to study their behavior and songs. Today, responsible bird owners choose cages that let their birds live comfortably, with enough space to move naturally. Many owners also let their birds out regularly to fly around a room under supervision.

The term sometimes appears in phrases like gilded cage, which means a beautiful but confining situation, like being wealthy but trapped by expectations or responsibilities.