I'd like to get a pet bird. Where do I start?

I have a nice screened-in porch and live in hot Florida. I'd like to keep the bird out there, so it's not so loud and messy in the house and because, I think, it would be more interesting for the bird to see the other wildlife that visits our backyard.

My questions:

1. Is it fine to keep the bird on the porch? In the winter, it can get down to 40 degrees. Summers usually between 75-100 degrees.
2. What kind of bird should I get? I'd like something small.
3. How big should the cage be?
4. I don't necessarily want to be handling the bird all the time, and I my wife isn't keen on letting it out of the cage. Is this ok? To keep it in the cage and take it out only on occasion?
5. People tell me birds carry bad germs. Is this true? More than cats or dogs do?

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