Do pet birds make a lot of noise?

Stay away from all parrots. Being noisy is an intrinsic part of being a parrot. Even the deceptively petite and sweet-looking budgie (parakeet) can make a terrible racket.

Canaries and other finches are also little chatterboxes. The species that are commonly kept as pets are selectively bred for having the best songs, so you are unlikely to stumble across a quiet one.

Quails and partridges, although not as common, can still be found in the pet trade. Chinese painted/button quail are the easiest to find. They make soft peeping sounds when they are content, and will squeak when they are startled, but they are not nearly as loquacious as parrots.