I too, can speak for the Conure and the Cockatiel (which isn't on your list) Our Yellow Sided Green Cheek Conure, Franklin is a HOOOT! (see pic's of him in my profile albums) I was HOPING for a cuddly conure, but we ended up with a rather bold natured boy
He'll be 3 years old in March 2014 and we've had him since he was 3 months old.
He's funny (hysterical is a more accurate description), acrobatic, smart and very much opinionated. He likes to play "peek a boo" he burrows under blankets and makes tunnels, he's a circus show most of the time with his toys, takes a daily bath in his water dish and we are his human jungle gym. He's learned a fair amount of vocabulary...which green cheek conure's aren't known much for their speaking ability, but he says Hello, Frank the Tank, Frankieeee, Him a good Boy, he goes to sleep every night telling himself he's a pretty pretty pretty bird, pretty bird in a whispering voice, but NEVER says it out loud during the day, which I think is soo funny! He's learning to say "What'cha Doing? Oh and he says...Give Kiss...but only after he's made an attempt to nip me and I gasp at him and say...in a rather shocking and disappointing tone - Baaaaad! Bad birds Bite, Good birds give Kisses...and then I'll stress to him...OOONLY Give Kiss...well it's the funniest thing ever...because as I'm telling him this he's all puffed up in his "tough bird" act bawling me out in Conure chatter with the occasional...GIVE KISS (in his gruff tone) thrown in there....I absolutely HAVE to get this on video one of these days...as it's hilarious!
Basically, he's trying to argue with me that HE WAS giving me a kiss! And then...he will touch me with his beak and make a kiss sound.
I can't imagine life without him!
He as a voracious appetite and will eat or try absolutely ANYTHING offered to him...and will bully his way to foods NOT offered to him which he believes he has a right to. He is a definite - if it's his it's his, if its mine it's his.
If you are trying to choose a conure for their cuddliness...well be prepared that you might get a bold bird like Franklin. I wanted cuddly too...but I'm absolutely NOT disappointed with our boy one bit. He's unique!
And although cockatiel's weren't on your list...here's a quick pitch for them. We have 3 cockatiels now and oh how I love them! I think cockatiels are a bit under estimated and deserve more credit for their pet qualities. I've owned 3 male cockatiels over the years and all of them have developed amazing vocabularies! Our female tiels chirp and such, but neither have learned a word.
Cockatiels are a LOT more "laid back" then conures, being more content to just sit on our shoulder and "hang out" , preen themselves, preen you and share a treat with you just happy to be with you. Where Franklin is all over the map exploring the wilds so to speak.
This CAN sometimes be a bit frustrating...because hanging out with Franklin while doing dishes...not good as he's always trying to climb down my arms or chest/stomach into the icky dish water, or get into the shower action of rinsing the dish, you can't prepare a meal with him because he's always in the way taste testing every ingredient, reading a book or magazine with Franklin...good luck...he's always in the way putting holes in the pages and shredding the book, good luck typing on the computer...he's ripping the keys off the keyboard and the mouse is NOT up for discussion...it's HIS!! Want to play a game on your cell phone...hahahahaha...he's growling and chasing your fingers away from the screen! But a cockatiel...ahhhh....such a relief to the mayhem of Frankie...cockatiels just love to quietly hang out...at least, that has been my experience with the 5 I've owned over the years. Cockatiels are very smart and the ones we have, have proven to be highly trainable and very loving.
Just remember that all birds are individuals and although some species are better known for certain characteristics eg: greys for their talking ability, conures for their cuddliness/acrobatics...the one you pick...just might NOT fit the "mold" for that species.
I wouldn't trade in Frankie for the most cuddly bird in the world, but he is DEFINITELY NOT the bird for everyone, he can be a lot to deal with when you just want to sit and relax after a long hard day at work and that behavior is just not in his "vocabulary"
Good Luck with what ever bird you choose and do keep us posted!
Toni
