Hi Dan....Welcome to the Community!
Kalei took the words right out of my mouth!!! Conures in-general, regardless of the species, are known as "Velcro Birds" because they typically bond extremely closely with only one single person in the household (or their "Flock"), and this often causes a lot of issues with the others in the house. So if you're avoiding a Senegal Parrot or any other species of Parrot because you're afraid that the bird may bond to only one person in your house, a Conure is not the answer at all. ( By the way, both Sun Conures and Jenday Conures, which are very, very similar and only really differ in their coloring, are very well known as being one of both the loudest pet parrots in regards to volume, as well as being some of the most overall vocal pet parrots. Their volume is usually the big issue, so if you live in an apartment, townhouse, duplex, etc., any type of home where you have neighbors on the other side of a wall, it's usually a really good idea to avoid both Suns and Jendays; however, the issue with you worrying about your bird only bonding closely with one person and being aggressive with other people in the house is definitely a much bigger issue when it comes ot Conures in-general)...
Here's the problem that you're going to have, and you need to keep this in-mind BEFORE you bring home ANY species of Parrot, since it's not just yourself that you're thinking about: No matter what species of parrot you bring home, whether it's a young, hand-raised baby that has just weaned, or whether you adopt an adult parrot from a Rescue, or anything in-between, there is absolutely NO WAY to know who that bird is going to choose as being "their person", and who they are not going to like or be aggressive against, as that won't be determined until the bird has been living in your home for a while and they make their choice...And this is often a problem for people who don't live alone. And trust me when I say that there is absolutely no rhyme or reason as to why they choose who they choose as being "their person" and bond closely with.
A very common scenario that we see people coming here all the time to ask about happens with a couple who brings home a new bird. Usually one of them is the one who has always wanted a bird and who has been pushing for the bird, and the other person may or may not also want to bring a bird into their family, sometimes the other person absolutely doesn't want anything to do with the bird, and they tell their spouse/significant-other that they don't care whether or not they bring home a bird, but they are not going to be the one who cares for the bird...So the person who wants the bird chooses one and brings it home, and does EVERYTHING for the bird. In some cases this person either doesn't work or they work from home and are able to spend all day, every single day with the bird, while their significant-other/spouse is gone all day, every day, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with the bird, while the other person is the one who feeds the bird every meal, gives it all it's treats, cleans it cage, spends all day long with the bird every day and has the bird out of it's cage all day long with them every day, etc...And it ends-up that the bird, for whatever reason, chooses the other person as the one they want to bond-closely with, and they want little to do with the person who wanted them in the first place...And this often causes huge issues in relationships and marriages...And the same thing often happens with a bird that is supposed to belong to one of the kids, is purchased for the kid and the kid is completely responsible for the bird, and the bird bonds with one of the parents or with one of the kid's siblings...
When this happens there are some things you can do to try to at least strengthen your relationship with the bird, so that even if the bird didn't choose you, at least they like you or are willing to spend time with you...These things include making sure that all the "good" things are done by you, all the treats are given to the bird by you, etc., and all the bad things like Vet trips are done by the person the bird has chosen to bond with...Other than that just making sure that you're the person who spends all their time with the bird whenever possible, whenever everyone is home YOU are the person who is with the bird...But you have to make sure you aren't forcing/pushing the bird to do things they don't want to do or forcing them to be with you when their chosen person is at home...It's a tough situation at best...
***So you need to be totally aware that often times Parrots do not make good "family" pets at all...In fact, I wouldn't ever call Parrots a "family" pet, like a dog or cat or ferret or other pet who likes all the family members and is fine spending time with and being touched by/held by everyone in the house, etc. Parrots in-general do not work that way at all. And while there are exceptions, these are INDIVIDUAL BIRD EXCEPTIONS, rather than there being one particular species of parrot that are great "family" pets and who often bond with everyone in the household..If that happens, it's simply "luck of the draw" of the individual bird you brought home.
***As stated above, Conures, regardless of the species, are extremely clingy, needy, affectionate birds that do bond very, very closely with "their person", who they choose for whatever reason they choose them...Is it possible that a Conure could bond very closely with one particular person in the house and then STILL love the others in the house as well? That's a tough question, as I try to answer it I keep going to type "Not Likely"...They do often choose a particular person, but while that person isn't at home but someone else is, they are perfectly fine hanging-out with that person, but only until "their person" comes home, then all bets are off. I think the bottom-line is that you just don't ever know until you get the bird home, they get through "The Honeymoon Period", settle-in, and they cling-on to one particular person, and you see how they interact with them and everyone else...It's just a wait and see kind of thing. But a Conure is probably not the best choice if this is going to be an issue with you and your family...
I have both a Green Cheek Conure and a Senegal Parrot, but I live alone and am currently single, so they are both bonded to me extremely closely...Would that change if/when someone else comes into the picture? I don't know, but I do know that whenever anyone comes over to my house and spends time with me, they don't particularly like it...My Green Cheek is known for doing the "quick bite and fly-away" thing to anyone who touches me; I will also add that my Green Cheek Conure is the bird in my Flock who is definitely, without a doubt the most-closely bonded to me...When they say "Velcro-Birds" about Conures, they mean it! My Senegal is WAY MORE laid-back than either my Conure or my Quaker Parrot, though he too is very bonded to me, he doesn't tend to attack other people who come over to the house (or attack me whenever someone touches me, as to say "Move! They're touching you! Move!")...Both my Green Cheek and my Quaker act the same way, very possessive and protective of me, and very aggressive/jealous of anyone who touches me...
My Cockatiel would absolutely be my most "neutral" bird; while she is bonded to me closely, she is the only one who will step-up for someone else and who never attacks anyone who touches me. (All 4 of them came to my home as hand-raised/hand-fed babies who had just finished weaning, just an FYI) I grew-up with a mom who bred parrots, including Cockatiels, and I bred Cockatiels, Green Cheeks, Suns, Jendays, etc., and the Cockatiels overall were the most-friendly, "outgoing" parrots by-far in the sense that they do bond closely with one specific person, but they can also like/be cuddly and friendly with everyone else in the house as well...So a Cockatiel might be a species of Parrot you want to look into...
Others will hopefully give their opinions and give some ideas as well...
. A few random thoughts - if you have the opportunity, it can be a good idea and a confidence builder to spend some time volunteering with a rescue to get some hands-on experience with birds; there is a wealth of information in the various sub-forums that will provide you with some basic info about species, diet and behavior; lots of good people here to answer questions you have (there are no stupid questions). Many of us have conures...they are amazing little companions. Looking forward to hearing about your adventure!
