what is the difference?

[wishforabird]

What is the difference between Pionus behavior and Conure behavior? I know the conures are more active, louder, etc. does anyone have any experience observing both of these species?

[AdminBuffaloParrot]

I have never head a Pionus.  I think they are more laid back and not as loud as the Conures. ;)

[wishforabird]

that is what I have learned too, but laid back to the point of ho-hum/ no playfulness? I am in love with the conure's antics, and seem to keep getting drawn back to them.  The pionus is being considered for the benefit of my husband and children, who are not as savvy and for the noise issue.  BUt then again I have heard that a male cockatiel is louder than  GCC.  What about a trip? I would want to take it and the dog with me, hubby raised concerns over hotel accomodations having an issue with a bird...is it quiet enough to keep at a pet-friendly hotel? I know you have GCCs D, so I can get a honest feedback from you and the other GCC parronts here.  Play devil's advocate with me.  I need to be ready when I get asked the sensible/reasonable questions that a non-bird person would ask.  I need to make sure that the family will not 'take me out behind the shed' for bringing in a bird.   I fell in love with a GCC in the first place for good reason, they rock.  I need to know what I am getting into.

[macawlover2]

I think a lot of it is how you raise him/her. Oscar has been living with macaws for the majority of his life, and I think because of that, he doesn't act as timid as most greys do. Plus, I made sure I brought him places so he gets used to different things. Basically, I switched things around as much as I could so he was more open to change. I think if you did taht with a pionus, he/she'd be a playful bird even on trips. And I think that pionus are definitely quiet enough for a pet-friendly hotel. We need anmlcop here!

[lorek]

i woudl agree some ml2 but of the pionus i have dealt with they are much more one person birds and are VERY reserved for any parrot i've ever seen.   They are not socialites and are prone to being perch potatoes unless you teach them specifically to play well.  IMO conures are about as far from that as can be.  Most parrots fall somewhere in between the two.

[2ndChanceJr]

In my experience, the pionus is a nervous bird, more one person and very quiet. Conures are more of a flock bird and very curious.

[BrilliantFids]

A Pionus always looks like its planning its next move, I used to have a WCP (timmy) . The slowness and lazyness of him always reminded me of a sloth. He always had this look about him, he looked like he was thinking long and hard about something, very intense. He could not tolerate the loudness of my flock, infact the conures (I had 3 at the time) really bothered him. The other birds where too busy for him, too busy and too loud. So im wondering if kids might be a little too much for a pi?

[BPMar]

Looks like you have gotten alot of great advice already and agree with it.  The Pi are a bit bigger and they make a wheezing sound and are supposed to have a musky smell to them.  They are beautiful, the 2 we had transported to Chance were great.  I think if you want more of a clown and family bird to go with the Conure.

[wishforabird]

that is what I was thinking, I am just afraid that if I have to go downstairs to do laundry (NOT bird safe), or go grocery shopping as i do on Saturday morns, it will scream and holler until I get back.  How do I go out for the day and leave it with my husband and the kids and not have it go nuts? feeding doors will be a must or my husband will not deal with it, he is afraid of them!  ???

I need a clown, I NEED TO LAUGH.  I have a high-stress job here, etc. etc. etc.  I have 3 conure books and countless other books (birds for dummies, parrots for dummies, guide to a well-behaved parrt, etc. etc. etc.) and the more I read the more I am leaning toward the conure.  My daughter saw the 'parrots for dummies' and said, DUMMIES? Dummies can't have Parrots!!!) ain't that the truth.

[AdminBuffaloParrot]

The GCC are just great.  Not to loud, affectionate and they are clowns.  Just keep in mind that every Conure is different.  I have seen some nasty GCC's but ours is the family sweetheart smitten.gif

[wishforabird]

so how can I tell? if I go get one, how will I know it is a good one? are there any personality 'markers' that I can look for that are little clues? what if the honeymmon period is over and I have Cujo?  I can't help but go back in my mind to the GCC I fell in love with, I like that they hang upside down and goof off.  I have no feel for this, any experience type things you can tell me?

[lorek]

i would say wahtever you see the first time or two you meet one is waht they are going to be like.. watch how they interact with teh employee/rescuer and you will see how they will interact wiht you... our conures we sell are always keen to let us know what's up as well as are pretty much up for anything a customer wants to do.  they are so outgoing they usually take to new people fairly well.

[isawul00k]

What is the difference between Pionus behavior and Conure behavior? I know the conures are more active, louder, etc. does anyone have any experience observing both of these species?

my female pionus is very ho-hum. she will play some and blah blah.. but she loves to just sit on her perch.. 

the best comparison would be  gecko.  yes the gecko of the parrots...great to just hang with. very picky on when to be scritched. very curous..chewers..

she gets going sometimes otherwise she just sleeps. she makes a noise like a goose(honker), kinda cute. very sweet.. not a cuddler.

my conure GCC is a female. super sweet. can be agressive towards new people/bigger birds..she is small its part of small personalities.

[isawul00k]

that is what I was thinking, I am just afraid that if I have to go downstairs to do laundry (NOT bird safe), or go grocery shopping as i do on Saturday morns, it will scream and holler until I get back.  How do I go out for the day and leave it with my husband and the kids and not have it go nuts? feeding doors will be a must or my husband will not deal with it, he is afraid of them!  ???

I need a clown, I NEED TO LAUGH.  I have a high-stress job here, etc. etc. etc.  I have 3 conure books and countless other books (birds for dummies, parrots for dummies, guide to a well-behaved parrt, etc. etc. etc.) and the more I read the more I am leaning toward the conure.  My daughter saw the 'parrots for dummies' and said, DUMMIES? Dummies can't have Parrots!!!) ain't that the truth.

get a  Caique if you want fun and playful. they can be very loud, and agressive,

 a pionus is what you should consider but they are more curious then playful, very easy going, not cuddlers though. kinda klumsy. but very sweet natured..
 if my pionus was a male he would be named watcher.

[isawul00k]

so how can I tell? if I go get one, how will I know it is a good one? are there any personality 'markers' that I can look for that are little clues? what if the honeymmon period is over and I have Cujo?  I can't help but go back in my mind to the GCC I fell in love with, I like that they hang upside down and goof off.  I have no feel for this, any experience type things you can tell me?

its like picking a puppy kinda..whichever one you feel a connection with...however this maybe. you will feel it if it is right. thats how i pick.

ive picked quiet guys that end up being loud. ive had playful babies that are perch potatos (copyrighted this word )..funn stuff

as for the musky smell. i never really notice but ya i guess they smell like dads old shirt...