Poicephalus vs Pionus

[sidech]

I have a Brown Headed parrot (Poicephalus) and many of the sites I researched mentioned that they were good appartment birds, because they are really not noisy. Here' s my opinion after a little over a month with mine.

Noise level : very low, makes really soft sounds, maybe one loud scream per day (lasts 20-30 seconds)

Activity level : medium

Cuddleness (sp?) : high (loves to be petted everywhere, kissed, grabbed, name it). Wants to be with you all the time

My conclusion : definitely a very very good parrot for appartment living conditions !

[Natacha]

I think Meyer's are known to be the quieter of the pois but I'll let one of our multi-poi owners confirm that. Can't say much about Pionus.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!

My two Meyer's are the loudest of my Pois. Plus they have this specific call, which I call the Meyer's call (since none of my other birds do it but both Meyer's do), that they do together and it's rather loud and can get annoying. Mind you, Petey on his own was the loudest of my Pois as the time, but wasn't calling as much.

Between Pionus and Poicephalus..well it's obvious what I would choose

I did look into Pionus when I was looking for a second parrot (after my Lovebird) and I have to say, the "couch potato" reputation Pionus have and the extra edge Pois apparently had made my decision easier

[Rue]

I don't know quite how the Pi's got that couch potato reputation. None of the owners I've talked with have confirmed that.

My Amazon is my couch potato...she's not into voluntary exercise...the Pi is always on the go...but never obnoxious or destructive.

Another plus to the Pis...they smell so good! Best I can describe it is as a fruity floral odour...*mmmm*

[pchela]

They do smell really good! So do Amazons.


Actually, almost all birds have a nice smell to them but some are stronger or sweeter than others. I wonder why they have that smell?

[Rue]

I'm not sure...maybe part of species recognition? Maybe visual recognition isn't enough...maybe odour helps identify relatives?

My Amazon smells nice...but the Pi really smells delicious...

The CAG doesn't have much of an odour...just kinda dusty...more like the 'tiels...

[pchela]

Oddly Timneh Greys have a sweet smell to them but Congos don't really smell at all.

Caiques smell good too and of course my Senegal has a nice smell though it is very subtle.

[Michael]

You bird wiffers are sick! Actually it was pretty freaky when some people I met were going on and on about how much they like how their Pionus smells. That was like the main feature of the bird apparently. It got really freaky when they were asking me to wiff Kili. I grabbed her, pulled her tail out of the way and offered them to sniff her vent

[Rue]

*ack* No vent wiffing! Head wiffing only!

[Giantmoa]

my green cheek smells faintly like vanilla every once in a while and I can't for the life of me figure out why...

I'm not sure...maybe part of species recognition? Maybe visual recognition isn't enough...maybe odour helps identify relatives?

My Amazon smells nice...but the Pi really smells delicious...

The CAG doesn't have much of an odour...just kinda dusty...more like the 'tiels...

I was under the impression the vast majority of birds have no sense of smell or a poor sense of smell? turkey vultures and kiwis being an exception =] could be wrong though...

[Michael]

Parrots do have a sense of smell but nothing outstanding. I think they can smell stuff up close but just not as a long distance guide like for dogs or turkey vultures.