An important thing to keep in mind: you need your familiar to memorize spells, keeping it safe is a BIG priority.
There are three reasons that most folks choose familiars, all are valid. The first is too pick based on the bonus granted by the critter: shoring up a weak save, boosting a common skill, increasing initiative etc...
The second method is the utility for scouting, combat, or what not. As you are highly comcerned about safety, be careful here.
The third reason is cool factor, some familiars just feel great, stats be damned.
Any of these three are valid, what is more important to you?
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I have chosen Shaman as my class, but I don't know what spirit animal to choose. I think a bird would be good, since they can fly and go into small places, but what else is a good option?
what fits your character? are you a viking? well, then a raven would work.
are you in a tropical space? how about a bat? or a parrot?
are you some kind of slightly creepy dude? pick like a giant bug and just ask the DM if it can use bird stats.
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I really like ones that fly as they can scout and stay out of combat.
Raven is a very nice one for Flight and ability to speak. Makes a good scout that blends in most places.
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In Soviet Golarion, Spirit Animal Choose YOU!
Since you need your familiar to be capable of preparing spells, I strongly recommend you don't use it Java Man described for the 2nd task. It could really be a very bad idea. All it takes it one stray attack and you can't cast spells for a while. I would recommend only using it for scouting if you're left with no other choice.
You mileage may vary, but in most of the games I run and play in GMs don't really target a familiar that isn't participating in combat without a good reason.
So, I don't think there is a huge issue with things like using a bird to scout out the terrain as you are travelling overland or having an owl keeping watch at night. While there is some danger there, in most games it would only be for a specific reason (for example, if your enemy knew you had an owl familiar and was trying to sneak up on your camp.)
Venturing into especially dangerous areas is a different story. If you send your familiar into the crumbly old ruin with a sign on above the door saying Castle of Doom (levels 12-15) then your familiar probably isn't coming back. Similarly, if you have it attack or deliver touch spells you can expect the enemy to target it just like the would target a PC.
This is a YMMV issue.
As a GM I've had a player send out a familiar to scout a castle in broad daylight. The familiar flew all the way around the castle, well half way. When someone noticed that the bird was flying in a peculiar manner around the castle the didn't think much about shooting it with a couple arrows.
This is a magical world, in which people commonly have links with animals. So it shouldn't be surprising that intelligent enemies might be paranoid of this.
Since your casting is dependent on your familiar, I just personally don't think it's worth the risk.
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Does your shaman have a personality trait or characteristic that stands out? This might just be me but, for a familiar, I like to start with a few animals that symbolize aspects of the character. If I need to focus on its survival or mechanical usefulness, I'll narrow things down to the one animal that balances my character's personality with game utility.
As an example, if your shaman is sociable, proud and strong, you might look at a rat (sociable,) hawk (proud) and dwarf caiman (strength.) Each of those animals has its own strengths that could make it a good companion aside from the bonus it gives your shaman. Rats are highly mobile and unobtrusive, hawks make good scouts and messengers and caiman are good at hiding and strong enough to deal respectable damage for a familiar.
You'll probably enjoy playing your shaman more if your spirit animal feels like a part of him and a friend than if you treat it like a piece of equipment or a tool.