I have a 9 year old Senegal that I adopted from a rescue when he was about 5. I don't know much of his early life except that he spent most of his time in a cage out on a porch in South Florida. And while in rescue, two families tried to adopt him but both returned him because he was a vicious biter. Which I have definitely confirmed. Though he has his sweet moments, rare that they are. A very independent bird most of the time. Although he sometimes shows interest in other people, I don't let anyone else handle him because his bites are so powerful and he won't let go when he really means it. He has driven the tip of his beak to the bone in my finger before.
As for noise, he certainly has a high pitch squeal that can really pierce the ears. Generally does that when he is unhappy about something. He is making that squeal and some high pitched squeaks and conure noises right now trying to get my attention. I had to lock him up because he has developed a fascination with a floor vent recently and wants to go over and try to pick it up or scrape the paint off of it. He hasn't given it up yet though I'm getting him away any time he goes near it. He puffs up and clicks his beak at me so a bite would be coming if I tried to pick him up so I use a towel that he will latch onto so I can carry him back to the couch or cage.
This bird has a very strong will and a stubborn streak like you would not believe.
He is fairly intelligent and can solve puzzle toys in no time at all. If he wasn't so stubborn, maybe I would have more luck in training him. But he looks at me and the treat in my hand and walks away, pointedly uninterested in cooperating.
He is NOT good around other pets. I have two blue crown conures and I can't let him near them or he will attack with intent to injure. And I have to watch for signs that he is fixating on them which is an indicator that he will try to attack from across the room. Usually a quick rocking back and forth and occasional spin. I have no doubt that Sidney would attack dogs or cats if I had any. Senegals generally don't like other birds as a species trait. There is a person on the forum that has two of them and she says that they would try to eat each other if given the chance. So they don't really even like other Senegals.
Sidney was clipped when I adopted him and I don't know how much flying he did before I let his wings grow out. He flies ok though his landings sure can use some work. They are more of a semi-controlled crash.
However to expand on their good traits, my first Senegal was also out of a rescue situation. The first time I met her she was sharing a wooden play pen with an african grey and a sun conure, if I remember correctly. The sun especially would beat her up. Knock her off the perch if she was in his way. She was a timid thing, scared to panicked flight if anyone approached her. Clipped, she would usually crash somewhere.
I adopted her a few months later. It took close to a year of working with her gaining trust but when she finally gave it, she gave it all. She turned into the sweetest shoulder hugging friendly bird. An absolute darling. Would go to anyone without hesitation. Melted under any scritching & petting. She had that same squeal that Sidney has but she only used it when I would leave. An almost heart wrenching "Don't go!" Her sudden loss still stings almost 20 years later.
But as sweet as she was, she also showed aggression towards other birds. I was in Virginia at my brother's house with her and the area experienced a severe ice storm. My brother's place still had power but others in the area lost it so he took in a pair of budgies to keep warm while the crews worked to restore electric. I didn't really know anything about quarantine then and the budgies were in the room I stayed in with Kelly. She stalked those birds. Wanted to get to them in the worst way. They were never out of their cage so they were safe. But that was a surprise to me seeing how she reacted to them.
Senegals sometimes get a reputation as being a bad bird to get. They aren't. But the impressions I get from others who have them and my own experiences make me think they do take more effort to handle and train properly than other species do. And there is always the fact that individuals will vary in their personalities. And what kind of a situation they will live in. With a lot of thought, I realize that Sidney probably would have been better off as a single bird. And maybe with a single person who was there more to keep his busy mind occupied. Despite the occasional friction, I think he has a pretty good life with me. He is not going anywhere.
Sorry for the long response. I can get wordy at times.
