Advise on a smaller parrot for an older Lady?

[OwnedbyMacaws]

Hi all!

My Aunt's cockatiel passed away last year at the ripe old age of 19. She's now interested in another bird, but wants something a little bigger than a cockatiel. She's 56 years old, and says she doesn't want to get a Macaw or a Cockatoo because they'd outlive her and she'd worry over what happened to it when she passed away. Also she worries that with a larger parrot as she ages she might not be able to handle it properly.

So, she asked me what I thought would be a good parrot for her and honestly, I don't have a clue. I had a couple of cockatiels and parakeets growing up and then went straight to Sunny, and learned about Macaws. I have little to no knowledge on the inbetween parrots.

So what would you folks suggest for a 56 year old that is in the possible 20 to 30 year life span, not quite Macaw or Too size, but something bigger than a keet or tiel?

(BTW, she won't be just running out to buy the bird, once we get a few suggestions, we'll be reading up and researching, before we buy)

Thanks, Dana

[MaryG1959]

First of all 56 isn't "older".....

How about a mini macaw? Like a yellow collar, hahns or noble macaw?

They are a lovely size and sweet.

Or, how about a senegal?

[OwnedbyMacaws]

Originally Posted by MaryG1959

First of all 56 isn't "older".....

How about a mini macaw? Like a yellow collar, hahns or noble macaw?

They are a lovely size and sweet.

Or, how about a senegal?

LOL, Hey, those are her words not mine, I promise. Personally, I think she'll live to be a hundred, considering her health.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into these and see what she thinks of them.

[danforth3]

How about a maxi pionus, white-capped pionus, blue-headed pionus, senegal, meyers, jardine? They have life spans of about 25 to 35 years, have great personalities and can be sweet like a tiel. They are also on the quiet side like tiels.

[Samm]

There is also the Quaker, they make very loveable pets.......

[OwnedbyMacaws]

I forgot to ask, what do folks think about the Sun Conures?

Aunt Meg fell in love with the colors of the one in the pet shop but I don't know anything about them.

She also liked the female Eclectus but I told her I thought their life spans were about the same as Macaws and Toos. (I know this might sound strange but she's really worried about dying before the bird and leaving it all alone)

[ParrotJoe]

I think a blue headed pionus would make a great pet for her imo. Theyre small, but bigger than a tiel. I've had one for about nine years now, if given proper attention they make very little noise, some are known to talk ( mine doesn't) but really a sweet guy.

The sun conures seem cool but the main complaint I hear about those is there extremely high shrilled screech that knocks people off their rockers.

[Casa Amazona]

Okay, let's get this straight. 56 is NOT "older." Well, maybe it's older than 19, but then 19 is very young.

There are so very many "in-between" size birds that it would be hard for me to pick one. A lot would have to do with your Aunt Meg's likes and dislikes. The Lilac-Crown Amazon and the Orange-Wing Amazon are both exceptionally sweet little ones, but their lifespan might be longer than she wants in her next companion.

All the best to her whatever she decides.

[The Outlaw]

I would forgo the Sun conure due to noise issues, but I always think Quakers are worth a second look. If she is really looking for a lovely bird that will probably have a lifespan in the 30 to 40 year range, then a male SI Eclectus would make a wonderful pet.

[OwnedbyMacaws]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

I would forgo the Sun conure due to noise issues, but I always think Quakers are worth a second look. If she is really looking for a lovely bird that will probably have a lifespan in the 30 to 40 year range, then a male SI Eclectus would make a wonderful pet.

Are all conures noisy then?

I think that Meg is attracted alot by the colorful birds, which is why she was drawn to the female Eclectus but like I said, the life span seems to be a big factor for her too, even though she knows darn well I wouldn't let the bird be abandoned if something should happen.