[KimBear]

Also consider the bare-eyed cockatoo. They're one of the "quieter" cockatoos. However, there really is no cockatoo that's what most people would consider a quiet parrot. If noise is an issue, a cockatoo might not be a good choice. What qualities are pointing the way towards a cockatoo? If cuddliness is the biggest factor, it's important to know that cockatoos need more than just cuddling in order to be good companions in most families. They are probably the most demanding of all parrots, no matter what species you get.

In general, the Goffins and the bare-eyeds have reputations as being a bit less "needy" than the larger cockatoos, and their voices aren't as loud volume-wise, but they can be just as noisy and problematic if they aren't raised or cared for properly. The Ducorps, depending on where you live, is not a very commonly seen pet, so I don't get too much feedback on them.

It's good to visit a number of breeders so you can spend time with different birds, and see the parent birds if possible. If you can't do this, at least talk to the breeders, and get references from their clients. Past customers can give you a good clue as to how well socialized the babies are and how well the breeders respond if you ever have a problem. Good breeders care where their babies go, so expect to be interviewed (or tell your sister she can expect to be interviewed). If a breeder doesn't ask questions about you, that's a sign they may not care much about the welfare of their babies, and you should probably look elsewhere.

So much of how a cockatoo behaves is the result of how he's raised once he gets home, not only as a young bird, but as he gets older, too. If bad habits are allowed to set in, and aren't dealt with properly, you can end up with a nightmare no matter how good a job the breeder did. Noisiness is one of those things that can't be predicted just because a species has a reputation for being quiet or not quiet. It's got so much to do with how you raise the bird.

That being said, you can post your question in the cockatoo area to get feedback from other owners. Responses from this area are supposed to be limited to me only, and I don't like to tell people which parrot is "better" because too many variables are involved.

Getting information from other owners is helpful, but don't just base your decision on that. Interview your potential sources carefully, and in the end, go with a breeder, pet store, whatever, that you feel will provide you with the most well-socialized, healthy parrot. And PLEASE DON'T GET AN UNWEANED BABY NO MATTER WHAT THE BREEDER TELLS YOU!!!! Trust me. You don't want to go there. Really.

You may also consider adopting an older bird, but that can be a lot trickier, since you could end up with someone else's nightmare. Rescue centers are full of good birds that need homes, so check with some of those, too. With an older bird, you can get a pretty decent sense of their personality, and that would include their tendancy towards noisiness.

Good luck with your search!!