We've had (or still have) cockatiels (wide variation in character from kissy/cuddly to "one person bird" bite everyone else hard) Eclectus- some variation in character our first would bite hard when cranky, present one only bites the wife
Not a "cuddly" bird in my experience, they don't like to be touched anywhere but their beak or sometimes breast. Kakarikis- we disliked them, always hiding in weird places (often in my CD rack
), hard to catch to put to bed, male became vicious to the extent he'd fly at my face. Lorikeet- terrific character, very playful and cuddly, quite loud, fair talker. Tends to be something of a bully (even bluffs a Little Corella and sometimes our eccy) and of course quite messy. Plus they require special food.
Princess parrot, ours is a "special case" as he is one of three different birds given to us to hand-raise with two as keepers with the intention that this guy went back to the breeder, but he has a deformed beak and can't eat seed. A real character, not cuddly at all (hates to be touched except for beak or breast) and something of a bully towards smaller birds (despite the lack of a "hook"). He even surprised our eccy by rushing at him with beak open but we don't normally have them out at the same time. He's called Kermit because with his beak he looked like a frog. Highly amusing antics both in and out of cage and he's the only bird we have who will look us straight in the eye. Very messy, especially with his diet of powdered pellets made into a paste. He'll drop a messy load on a table or benchtop then walk through it or spread it around with his (very long) tail.
I had an African lovebird years ago and he was a great character, unstoppable chewer, I used to have to fight him for the newspaper, and he loved pulling out the ends on biros (the little plug at the top). Lastly, we have a Plumhead, not cuddly, very fast flyer, easy to feed although continually fouling water with its seed. Interesting character although another paper chewer and something of a bully too, but never uses its beak (on other birds or us) although it can be mildly discomforting when it uses its beak to climb from shoulder to head via the ear
Of all our birds I think cockatiels are great, but they do vary widely in character so it's hard to generalise. We also have a (newish) budgie and he has been a revelation- huge character, very fast learner (talking) and a joy to own. The only ones I wouldn't own again would be the 'rikis.
then she'd sit on his tail, he'd roll over and kick her again.... they were a lot of fun to watch together!
