Sun Conure OR Orange Wing Amazon?

Ok... So, things with my goffin totally fell apart. Had an emergency and the timing was terrible, and suffice to say he did not come home with us.. I spent that weekend totally upset and disappointed... Then I picked myself up and decided to start looking again. I started reading, and researching all species again. I checked for some breeders and asked some questions of them. I have come down to two different breeders. One breeds Sun Conures, and the other actually has a personal pet they are selling, which happens to be an orange wing.

The orange wing is 9 years old, unsexed but assumed to be male. He is apparently VERY outgoing and sweet, is comfortable and accustomed to people, no preference of male/female care givers, and is all around a great bird.

The suns are 17 weeks old, so still little babies. They were handfed, and are also accustomed to children. (I have a 4 and 2.5 yr old) Quiet and sweet thus far in their short little lives haha.

So, I think mostly my conversation with myself needs to be about age and the =/- of having a baby vs. a rehome. Im a stay at home mom, with all kinds of time to spend. The bird will be out of his cage most of the day with us, and husband will be happy to also hang out with him in the evenings before bed.

Both live about an hour away, and so I havent yet gone to meet them, and I think I will meet both this weekend anyhow, I just want to sort of have a discussion with myself/ you guys (the wealth of knowledge hehe) about the merits and negatives of both. The cost is only different by about 80$ (the OWA being more expensive)

Anyone care to chime in?

Thanks for any knowledge and guidance you can provide. As an aside, this will be my first pet parrot, but Ive fostered many birds (U2,CAG, IRN, Sun, and smaller cockatiels and budgies) and feel confident in my ability to learn and understand and keep a bird happy.

Well, I can't really help you because I've had both and enjoyed each one for what they were.

Most behavorists don't recommend an Amazon for housholds with small children as an Amazon can inflict serious bites in tender flesh. Conures can bite also, but since they are smaller, the bite may not be as damaging.

Both species are noisy. The Amazon may be louder.

Just remember, adding a bird to the family is similar to adopting a toddler. They do require proper training whether they be young or old. And you must be able to keep up with basic training to keep them mannerly.

Good luck with your decision!

Thanks TessieB. I have fostered parrots before, and am aware of the work involved I forgot to mention that the Amazon has 5 children in the home right now, so he is used to them. Also, my children are very respectful for animals, and they will never be left alone with nor allowed to handle our parrot without my or my husbands help. And not until they are much older than they are now. They will be allowed to talk to, dance with, treat and help make toys/clean the cage, but no handling beyond petting until they are older, and certainly no touching until I feel I know the bird fairly well. Accidents happen, I am aware of this, but I take all precautions I can.

Could you maybe elaborate on what you meant by enjoying them 'for what they were?' I'm not sure I understand.

Thanks again

If the Amazon is an adult and really is super sweet and likes people, he may be the safer choice. A baby sun will go thru the whole hormonal nightmare of puberty and even a super sweet sun can go thru a phase with the growing pains. And a sun's beak is not much smaller then an amazon, the sun has a much larger beak then the smaller conures. We have a baby sun now and my daughter has done a great job teaching him proper beak play, but we still expect during that maturity phase, he'll take a bite out of someone!

Suns are amazing birds and I have to differ with the opinion an Amazon is louder... suns are incredibly loud for such small birds. Even a fairly quiet sun will make some calls that will literally have your ears ringing (trust me, happens almost daily with Loki). But he's not loud and a screamer, he just likes to express his opinion! The amazons we've met at the shelter seem to be more talky, grumbly kind of noises. There is a double yellow headed Amazon there I love, he sits above everyone and just does commentary on everything that goes on, but he's not loud or screaming.

The amazon at his age will pretty much be 'what you see is what you get', tho every bird can get a little grumpy or such during breeding season, generally speaking you know what you are getting into.

Having such young kids would be a worry with any baby bird, just in my opinion... when our green cheeks went thru puberty they were hormonal little brats, tho both are really awesome sweet birds.

Just my thoughts as having both birds and being a mom (tho my baby is way older then yours!!).

Good luck in your choice.

For me personally, I would also rather have a bird who has gone through puberty already rather than a baby. I love both Suns and OWA's, but we had decided against a Sun because of the screeching. Our OWA is not really loud at all, but he can be if he wants to!
Good luck with whoever you decide on

Two totally different types of birds. I would think it would depend on what you were looking for in a pet parrot. If you wanted a goffins I'd think the sun would be the closer choice as far as cuddliness and playfulness goes. On the flip side the owa is already through hormones, so you wouldn't have to deal with that.

I'd just like to say that at 9 years young, the OWA is in no way, shape, or form OVER the hormonal stage. Just ask our henpecked, his over 40 year young YN STILL gets hormonal (in a VERY sweet sort of way).

Thanks so much for replying! That was actually the same conversation I was having with myself with regards to the hormonal bits... I expect breeding season may frustrate him some, but I understand that. Being able to avoid puberty would be nice. I expect some noise, but I do have young boys, and so noise is.... well.. Abundant but again expected. hehe

Interesting how folks offer advice, which you then minimize. If I were you, I would not consider an Amazon with young children in the house. Your first job is to protect your kids.

Im sorry legal_eagle? I didnt minimize anyones advice. I am taking everything everyone says to heart, and am sharing the info I have about me and about the bird. I am sorry you choose to be offended and find me to be minimizing anyones advice. That is NOT what I have done, not anywhere. I dont even understand how that could be what you've taken away from what I said. But ok.?

I raised an Amazon around kids. My "boys" were 10 & 7 when Hunter (my Yellow Nape) came home. It was a WONDERFUL experience for everyone, and she is THE sweetest bird anyone could ever wish for.

She bonded closely to them, and they can BOTH do anything and everything with her at any given time - to this day, 15 years later.

Here are some photos, as you can see, family friends were ALSO able to handle her at a young age.

My son & Hunter



Family friend & Hunter



My son & Hunter these days

legal_eagle said:

Interesting how folks offer advice, which you then minimize. If I were you, I would not consider an Amazon with young children in the house. Your first job is to protect your kids.

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The OP was not minimizing anyone's advice- merely trying to get different perspectives on which species would be the best fit.

And I disagree with an amazon not being able to coexist with young children- I had a particularly "aggressive" amazon who coexisted perfectly fine with my toddler. My child never got bit by him- so it's possible for a responsible parront, such as the OP, to successfully keep amazons and children under the same roof if they so choose.

Thank you to jerseywendy and also to getwozzy, I thought I was nuts wondering where exactly that comment came from. Its disheartening as someone who does have some experience, but for sure always learning about parrot ownership and is asking questions for someone to swoop in and try to be condescending and rude. Of COURSE my job is to first and foremost ensure the safety of my children. But to do that I need to be able to ask questions, provide responses and actually learn. Ive done SO MUCH research, hours of reading, Im a little obsessive tbh hehe. As I said, Im not exactly a neonate to animal ownership, and I understand its complex and it varies from bird to bird, let alone species to species. But if I never asked the questions, Ill never learn anything from anything more than a book or online source.

Anyway, I can skip over the not so helpful stuff thankfully. There's always one in every crowd who looks for conflict or negativity where there isnt any.

Oh heck, since I'm at it....I raised 2 (!!) Amazons around my wee ones.

Here are a few more pictures. I also had a MALE Magna DYH, who could be QUITE the handful when he reached sexual maturity, yet he NEVER drew blood on my boys.

Me, personally, would choose the OWA- but I'm biased with amazons I don't have any personal experience with suns though....

But with your previous bird experience and his description- sounds like you'd do just fine together IMHO no matter what species you choose, at some point you'll have to deal with hormonal issues, and adults may come with behavioral "baggage" -but as long as you're willing to do what it takes to overcome those obstacles, then I wouldn't let those factors necessarily deter you from adopting a specific bird.

JerseyWendy said:

I'd just like to say that at 9 years young, the OWA is in no way, shape, or form OVER the hormonal stage. Just ask our henpecked, his over 40 year young YN STILL gets hormonal (in a VERY sweet sort of way).

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I've seen 60 yo DYH amazons that still become hormonal. So that is entirely correct.

And talk about an apples and oranges comparison!

I personally love them both, but they are at opposite ends of the size and activity scale...

I'd probably go with the Amazon, but that's just me.

legal_eagle said:

Interesting how folks offer advice, which you then minimize. If I were you, I would not consider an Amazon with young children in the house. Your first job is to protect your kids.

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I've seen amazons that love children, and chase adults around... (The kid was the favorite person in the house.)

And, excuse me, but I had a seven year old in the house and SIX amazons (counting fosters), and THREE macaws (again, counting fosters), THREE conures, a CAG, and a Goffins Too...

The only bird that ever bit her was my evil dusky conure... AND THAT WAS HER BIRD!

And she could, and does, handle ALL OF THEM!

Incidentally, when we lived in Venezuela, as a young child (I was 7 years old at the time) my parents had five amazons, and two macaws. I couldn't get anywhere near any of them. They would bite me. I knew that. My parents warned me about it. The birds themselves made it perfectly clear when I was entering the "line of death" zone...

Amazons absolutely WILL warn before biting.

I know. I know. Haha I guess maybe Im just coming from a place of not really having a preference... Like I dont have a 'dream bird' or ideal type of bird. We are not crazy active people, but we like to do things, and have a lot of time to offer, and appropriate space to provide either species. Its both a blessing and a curse... It makes it harder to decide simply because it truly doesn't matter ultimately. Once we commit to something, that's it, we make it work. Ive had U2s, and IRN, and others, and I loved fostering them all. Mind you I never had a bird with any kind of issue beyond frustrated attention seeking screaming, and I fixed that with some toys, and blanket for time outs, and t was a sun. I would not consider an animal with known aggression, but really beyond that I am open. I know that makes people cringe, as someone who worked in rescue of exotics, dogs and cats, believe me I know.... But I am educating myself, and being very selective about the individual bird rather than the species as a whole... But to do that I *do* need to consider the basics of each. I am not your average Joe randomly deciding one day I want something pretty that talks. This is coming after a long time of consideration and some time spent with birds.

Again, thank you so much to everyone offering advice, knowledge, and experience. I REALLY appreciate your input.

I think that when you meet them, the decision may become clear - sometimes (quite often) the bird picks you

@Wendy - LOVED the pictures! Your zons and your sons are quite stunning!

I would go with the Amazon.