Hey There!

[HockeyChk12]

Hey There,

My name is Beck. I have joined here cuz I've recently decided that I've waited long enough its time to get my first big bird. (took care of 2 cockatiels for 2 years) Recently I fell in love with a sun conure at a chain pet shop. (yes and then went to a private pet store and got the chain store lecture) It is a baby, it is so excited when it sees you it will run into the glass and fall back. However, visually I had my eyes set on a Jenday. I like that they have darker deeper colors. BUT, to be honest, I would like a Blue Fronted Amazon. I think. Well, You can see my dilema. I love the friendly, playfulness, colorfulness of the conures, I am afraid that the talk around here of screaming is scaring me. But for the zons, there is the fact I would like a talker.
Also, I have a fat cat that is a scaredey cat.(loud noises, I need something she will get used to and not forever live under my bed) My friends mom use too breed Amazons and I never heard one yell too loud,too long. But from what I hear here the conures can go on for ever and are a lot screechier if thats a word. I also understand from reading here, that those with one of them seem to have quieter ones then those with more then one. So, looking for facts and opinions,major pros and cons,beauty, sounds and size also.

[homebird]

I'd like to say hi - I'm pretty much in the same trouble but with different bird preferences. Have you checked out jetanlori's Charm & Betty [blueheaded Pionus & a Cape Parrot - an african breed - same family as sennies etc & jardines] - see Bird Talk for the videos on them . These are not too noisey & the blue on the Pionus is beautiful.

It will be fun to see everyone telling you just how great their birds are.

[HockeyChk12]

I don't know bout the birds talking but the owners sure are proud to speak on thier behalf. This is a great site, I am glad to be a part of and I too look foward to hearing bout everybodys feathered families!

[Irish]

Me first! Me first! LOL!

I have a sun conure. He is an adult. He is somewhat noisy, extremely beautiful, a bit unpredictable, but very sweet (women only, though!). He doesn't talk. He's nothing, noise-wise, compared to the cockatoo and macaws!

Blue Headed Pionus! I like those guys! Don't know a lot about them, having only known one, but what I saw, I liked :-)

Amazons--not for me! Seems like they're the Jekyll and Hyde of the bird world. No one hit me, though, ok? Just my own opinion from my own experiences with them :-).

I say go for a Macaw :-). Noisy? Yep. Beautiful? Definitely. Perfect? In my eyes :-).

Good luck!

[Monica]

Any bird can be loud, especially if it's needs are not met.... Sun's just happen to be even louder than normal, mainly when they reach maturity!!!

Amazons you can normally tell what they are saying by body language as they tend to be very expressive birds.


The only "large" bird I can speak of is my cherry head conure... Of course she doesn't fit the norm for conures, and she has had quite a past.... Not cuddly persay, or even palyfull, nor human orientated, however she does love kisses, the occasional scritch, and going outside to our apple tree! As long as her needs are met, she's my most quietest bird (imagin that! and I also have 6 cockatiels, 2 bourkes, and 3 budgies living here!), but when she wants something, she's sure to let me know! Or if one of the cats happens to get in the room! Regardless though, I love her!

[Mylo's Mama]

I would choose the Amazon, hands down! I have a yellow-nape and he is the coolest bird! As with any bird, you have to be able to pay lots of attn to whomever you get. I also have a Nanday Conure. He's cool (he's a rescue that I did) but totally screechy. Good Luck!!!!

[HockeyChk12]

Birds!! who would have thought that by comming here, I would be more confused. started out Sun or Jenday. Then confessed my passion for a BFA. Now the conures I like sound like they sound bad, and the BFA sounds mean, and while the Jenday/sun isn't out of my mind entirely.....Dennis puts pictures of beautiful Lilac crowned zons up, another person shows off a bronzed wing pionus (that I'll confess I've never heard of nor seen) so I want to thank you all and say you keep helping, I'll keep reading, and hopefully some day this year I will make my selection. -Beck

[Machelle]

Hi Beck. The best thing to do is research and realize that with every bad characteristic is a good one and vice versa. Every bird has their wonderful qualities and with that comes their not so wonderful qualities. You have to decide whats more important to you. You also have to realize that the general for a bird does not necessarily mean that all birds of that species are like that. There are exceptions but you need to be prepared and decide what is more important to you. If you have any rescues in your are, you should try to visit it and see the personalities of the ones they have. Its also important that the bird chooses you. I have a sun conure, Kiri. She is stunningly beautiful and a total clown. She can be noisy when she wants to be and that's not very often at all. From what I hear, thats totally unlike sun conures in general. My mealy amazon, Caesar, has her beat hands down in the noise level. He is EXTREMELY loud. Thats why his previous owners got rid of him. Yes, he's noisy, but he's also very funny, very sweet, very rambunctious and very pig headed. LOL! With the good comes the bad. But I would never think of getting rid of him. He's my baby. I've heard horror stories about male amazons that quite frankly, if I heard before I got him, I probably never would have gotten a male amazon. But I'm very glad that I did. He makes me smile every single day. Every one of my fids brings joy to my life. Yes they have their bad qualities but the are all awesome in their own individual way. I cant tell you which bird would be best for you. Only you can decide that after you research and visit some birds. There are so many birds that are given up because most people do not research before they get one and after the fact decide they do not like what they got themselves into. Its AWESOME that you are getting information before making a decision. I know you will decide on the right one!!! Good luck!!!!

[birdscomefirst]

Hi,
Machelle said it best. It's often best to do some research, then research more , then research again. Many birds are given certain characteristics in general but each bird is an individual with individual likes, dislikes and preferences. Take for example Congo African Grey Parrots. It is almost always generalized that they are the best talkers among parrots. The fact is that some are brilliant talkers but others say very little at all.

Conures are all supposed to be extremely noisy. I have two sun conures and a Brown-Throated conure. They are very rarely noisy as they are happy playing and keeping themselves amused. of course they get time with daddy :-) but noise is not an issue even though many, many, conures can screech incessantly all day long :-) It sounds like an Eastern Blue-Jay up in a tree only much, much closer:-)

Some Amazons talk, some whistle, some talk and whistle. Some Amazons make great sounds. Some are quiet but when an Amazon winds up, some like the mealy Amazon can rival any cockatoo or macaw for decibel level :-)

Having a larger parrot can be incredibly rewarding. It can also be incredibly challenging. My advice is not to think about generalizations. I wouldn't bring home a bird based upon the expectations that might be created by a generalization. One of my Greys can have a conversation with me, so can one of my Cockatoos. (They do understand appropriate speech) yet two of my greys will only whistle.

Ask questions and by all means try to get to know some birds personally before you settle in on what should be a wonderful lifetime companion. It truly is a lifetime commitment as a macaw for example can live for 50 years or more. Cockatoos can live for more than 70 years. Conures can live upwards of 30 years.
It is a beautiful experience but there are life changes that go along with being owned by a parrot. I am sure you will make a great choice!

Have Fun,
Bill

[homebird]

I seem to revise my list on a monthly basis with some birds going to the bottom of my list, only to return to the top.
I have fallen in love with Greys, Goffin Cockatoos & Lesser Cirtron Crested Toos as well. They appeal to me a lot & I'm always wandering over to them at bird fairs & in stores. But some days I think I'm way off the mark. Do I want a bird that might make the very sounds that drive me crazy? - as I live in a noisey part of town already.
~ Hormones are a big issue - some birds are more hormonal, species-wise.
~ Then there are allergy issues. The Tiels are dusty birds, like the above mentioned birds, but to a lesser degree.
~ Smaller birds that have risen to the top of my list: the Cockatiel, Green Cheeked Conure (lots of similar birds in this area!http://www.flatratewebsites.com/site...k/conures.html) & the Linnie (Lineolated Parakeet - although it has a short tail http://www.angelfire.com/ak/whisperingwings/page4.html), & the Budgie. They aren't too loud - & can be housed with a generous cage for them, that doesn't take over your space.

Chin up! - Keep asking questions - read (have you read Bird Talk Mag?) - maybe join a Bird Club. I think the more you know now, the better chance you'll have of enjoying whichever bird you get. I want to have fun not tragedy.