Conure vs. Parrotlet?

[caseymayyne]

I'm looking for a clingy, clownish bird.
I have a love bird and a cockatiel, so I do have experience with birds. People have told me to let the bird pick me, but I'm not sure how to go about that.
Pros and Cons of each one? Which is your favorite and why?
Any information about the species, or recommendation to look into another species would be great.

 

[IolaniAviary]

Never try to compare a Parrotlet with a Conure. The closest you can get to a Conure in a smaller form is a Lovebird, and even then there are HUGE differences. Since you have a Lovebird, I'll use them as an example.

Lovebirds are feisty, playful, and clingy they are essentially a miniature angry Conure. I know that sounds rather funny, but Lovebirds tend to act like a Conure on a bad day. Unless they are truly properly acclimated (which is scarce) they tend to be slightly mean. Now if you found a breeder who properly acclimates you'd never have that issue, and you'd find they can be just as sweet and loving as a Conure. You can hold my chicks on their backs for heaven sakes. However, Lovebirds have a low talking ability and females can become aggressive single person birds if they are not constantly socialized.

Conures on the other hand are mischievous! They are always testing things, pushing your buttons, trying to get in trouble. They are like a child in many ways. I've noticed that even when hand-raised, your going to expect a bit of the terrible twos. I love my Conure, he always keeps me on my toes. However, for a lot of people they are too much. Some people become very frustrated when their bird decides to test them. I've seen Conures who one day decide they don't want to step up, and would like to nip instead. With a Conure you don't wait and say "I'll try tomorrow", you work with it right then or it's something they've learned they can do. But the best part about Conures is 20 minutes later they're kissing and cuddling.

Parrotlets remind me of Budgies when compared to the two. If you stick your hand in a non-tame Lovebird cage, your likely to get a nice bite. If you stick your hand in a Parrotlet cage it's likely the bird will fly off. They are much more flight than fight, they are mellow and docile birds. They can be fun for some people, but I personally like a good challenge! A bird that keeps me on my toes and gets in a little bit of trouble.


I think it's very important to go with species. Go interact with some different birds at a friends, breeders, or even a parrot store! Most of the time they have similar traits.

 

[Echo]

Have you ever thought about Linnies (Lineolated Parakeet). I don't own one but heard they are sweet and docile and love cuddles.....

Maybe someone with one can describe their personalities?

 

[lexx510]

I'm looking for a clingy, clownish bird.
I have a love bird and a cockatiel, so I do have experience with birds. People have told me to let the bird pick me, but I'm not sure how to go about that.
Pros and Cons of each one? Which is your favorite and why?
Any information about the species, or recommendation to look into another species would be great.

Green cheek conures = clingy & clownish.

Our pineapple green cheek is super snugly, loves to give kisses, and loves to be around us at all times. He's a real goofball and never fails to make us laugh. He can be a bit nippy when he's moody, but parrots can be cranky at time just like people. Once you learn to understand their behavior and respect their boundaries, the biting becomes very minimal.

I can only speak for green cheek conures, as I've never owned a lovebird.

 

[caseymayyne]

Never try to compare a Parrotlet with a Conure. The closest you can get to a Conure in a smaller form is a Lovebird, and even then there are HUGE differences. Since you have a Lovebird, I'll use them as an example.

Lovebirds are feisty, playful, and clingy they are essentially a miniature angry Conure. I know that sounds rather funny, but Lovebirds tend to act like a Conure on a bad day. Unless they are truly properly acclimated (which is scarce) they tend to be slightly mean. Now if you found a breeder who properly acclimates you'd never have that issue, and you'd find they can be just as sweet and loving as a Conure. You can hold my chicks on their backs for heaven sakes. However, Lovebirds have a low talking ability and females can become aggressive single person birds if they are not constantly socialized.

Conures on the other hand are mischievous! They are always testing things, pushing your buttons, trying to get in trouble. They are like a child in many ways. I've noticed that even when hand-raised, your going to expect a bit of the terrible twos. I love my Conure, he always keeps me on my toes. However, for a lot of people they are too much. Some people become very frustrated when their bird decides to test them. I've seen Conures who one day decide they don't want to step up, and would like to nip instead. With a Conure you don't wait and say "I'll try tomorrow", you work with it right then or it's something they've learned they can do. But the best part about Conures is 20 minutes later they're kissing and cuddling.

Parrotlets remind me of Budgies when compared to the two. If you stick your hand in a non-tame Lovebird cage, your likely to get a nice bite. If you stick your hand in a Parrotlet cage it's likely the bird will fly off. They are much more flight than fight, they are mellow and docile birds. They can be fun for some people, but I personally like a good challenge! A bird that keeps me on my toes and gets in a little bit of trouble.


I think it's very important to go with species. Go interact with some different birds at a friends, breeders, or even a parrot store! Most of the time they have similar traits.

I think you're right. I'm more interested in something that's going to keep me on my toes. That's the problem with my cockatiel, he doesn't do much at all. I LOVE my lovebird because he's just so funny, while still being the cuddliest bird I've ever owned.

 

[IolaniAviary]

I would go with a Conure then, maybe a GCC? They are quiet, but they have that cuddly, goofy, and mischievous attitude. Paco is my little guy, and he's the funniest bird. He will fly off just to circle around you and come back, sometimes he won't step up unless I play with his beak first, he makes muffled screeching sounds when he doesn't want to go back in his cage (like a child throwing a tantrum), and he's always trying to get into some sort of trouble. He also will snuggle on my chest and actually almost "roll-over" onto his back. Did I mention he can get out of almost any age?

If you do choose a Conure just don't go to a chain pet-store. They even mark the species incorrectly sometimes. They also charge $500 where as many breeders charge under $100.

 

[MominNC]

I went to petsmart this morning in taking the Llhasa in for checkup. My parakeets needed seed again. I couldn't resist the temptation to see what sort of birds were for sale. The one really big cage looked empty until I heard a chirp. I still couldn't find the bird until I looked up, way up. There hanging from the mesh plastic ceiling like a bat and rocking back and forth was a green cheeked conure. I have to say now a conure wins the competition over a parrotlet.

 

[MikeyTN]

Casey,

I find my Cockatiels to be quite funny. They love to play, give kisses, do funny stuff. There's one that don't out of 4 of my tiels. She is a bit standoffish, but I made her like that by keeping my distance. She used to be so sweet with me, but I almost lost her because of it cause she became a chronic egg layer because I was her mate. So I had to distance myself while she heals after her ordeal when she almost died....But all my other 4 are always playing around, doing strange things, and just being plain silly.

But all the GCC I've encountered are cute little acrobatic playful little birds. Like it was mentioned, Lovebirds will give a very nasty bite if not tamed! They will do sneak attacks too!!! Parrolets would just fly away if not tamed, but tamed ones are very cute! IF I were ever to own a conure again, it will be a GCC, the other ones I just can not tolerate as I used to own some....

Any bird can be playful and fun, just depends on the individual! They're just like people, all have different personalities!

 

[Pinky]

I have a green cheek conure and he is everything you're looking for! He is very clownish loves to dance and sings (even though its not in words he just beeps) He's so smart. He knows what words mean. I can say "Pinky, wanna dance? DANCE!" and he starts dancing around. Or I can say Pink, you're a crazy bird! And he'll start flying around the room swooping and dashing all crazy. I mean the intelligence is unbelievable sometimes. They're not loud like most conures, and he loves to cuddle! He gets under the blankets or in your hoodie. He'll even roll on his back and lay there and loves his belly to pet. I never knew little birds could hold so much personality. Getting my green cheek was the best choice. I was debating between gcc and a quaker, and I love my little Pinky now and couldn't imagine life without him!