Sun Conure vs Green Cheeck Conure

[ScubaJ]

So I have made up my mind on getting a bird, but still narrowing which would be best for me. This is my first true bird, so I was looking at smaller and cheaper, conures.

I was looking at this page to use as a broad comparison on species.
http://www.parrot-and-conure-world.com/parrot-species-comparison-chart.html

Sun is listed as Loud, Poor Talker, Good Cuddler...

Green Cheek is listed as Low noise, Fair Talker, Good Cuddler...

From what I have seen they are both good looking birds, Sun is obviously the better looking because of the color. I know the website isn't 100% accurate on a given species and even less accurate given each bird is slightly different.

Are green cheeks that noticeably quieter? I have done a lot of research on Conures and would there be anything different in owning a Sun vs Green? Intelligent level the same? Other then color is there a reason Sun's are over double the price?

 

[ashley]

I work at a pet store and conures in general, all of them, are quite loud as a species. They love to squawk and make noise. Make sure that you (and your neighbours) can deal with that.

Have you looked into the Poicephalus family of parrots? They are small and more quiet and quite the little clowns. Some of them are in the same price range as the Sun conures.

 

[Lauren]

I have never owned a conure before (I've always had smaller parrots and a few of my friends have conures) but I have posted a few "looking for" ads on my local classified website and gotten a few warning e-mails on how loud they can be.

But I can tell you that Conures (green cheeked, maroon, sun, cherry all of 'em) are very loud for their sizes. If you are in an apartment, I definitely would not recommend those. You will be having complaints before you know it about volume levels hehe. Of course, every bird is to his own and you MIGHT luck out and have a quiet one, but you can never predict.
If you live in a house and loudness is not an issue, by all means welcome a conure into your home!


I would assume the pricing differences on the Sun conures is because they are a rare colour. I know that the conures that are here on Vancouver island range from 160 - 700+ canadian $ the more expensive ones ironically are more harder to find colours (I have never seen a sun conure for sale here in Victoria, but a cherry conure goes for 600+ ) *Hmmm where's the pattern lol*

 

[ScubaJ]

Thanks for the replies.

Luckily I do live in a house where the neighbors won't be a problem unless I had something like a large macaw. I have handled the Suns in person and they are loud, especially as a group... and it can be ear piercing. But the color of the Suns may very well be worth it over the Green Cheeks, I mean since its not a short term pet I might as well get something I like more. I will just assume Conures, as a species are loud.

The other option which I keep getting more interested in is a Timneh Grey... but still researching as this one as its a lot more demanding.

Again, thanks for the answers!

 

[Lauren]

Greys, too's and I think really any large parrot are more demanding when it comes to long term attention. But correct me if I'm wrong, I have never owned a large parrot.

I guess since noise isn't an issue You can get whatever you want!
But if you don't mind me asking, what is it you're looking for in a future family addition? What attracts you so much to the conures? (other than that sun's are GORGEOUS?)

 

[Parrot16]

OH i you should ask Tex. or CHristy they both have one of each. So they would be able to give a good caparison. Though it alsoi has to do individual personality. I think Suns are louder than green cheeks. Though i think they're both pretty loud and personally wouldn't get either one of them if i lived in an apartment/condo living situation. Although Tex and Christy both live in an apartment. I think they just got lucky though. I personally wouldn't risk it if i lived in an apartment. If i were you i would talk to Tex and Christy(or someone who has both experience with bot at least), and then i would look at breeder availability. Maybe there's no sun breeders in your area, or maybe theres no green cheek breeders in your area. Or maybe there is both and you don't like one of the breeders or something. Or if tehre is both and you like both the breeders, you ahve a strong feeling with both then i would visit both. See which one bonds with you better. Though if your really set on either one of the birds and tehre isn't any breeders in your area, you cold always contact another breeder in another state(assuming you live in the states) or province(assuming you live in canada) and most breeder allow shipping so if you want you can ship it in to your area. It'sa about a hundred dollars extra though for the flight. But these birds last on average around 25 - 30 years at least. So this guy/girl will be with ya for a long time. It's worth waiting for what you want unless there no breeder in the entire country... then could be a problem but since conures, specially those kinds are pretty popular.. in i thin everywhere i doubt you'd have a problem.

 

[TexDot33]

... Sun is listed as Loud, Poor Talker, Good Cuddler... Green Cheek is listed as Low noise, Fair Talker, Good Cuddler...

That's a fairly fair assessment of my two ... Hamlet is our cuddle-bug. She has to be in your face anytime you are home. She won't stay in her cage if you are there she has to be with us. She wants to cuddle when ever she can and she's not the best talker ... maybe two or three words (Hamlet, Water, Mac Mac - all two syllable words so we are never exactly sure ... )

Mac on the other hand, very independent, doesn't want to cuddle unless it is on his terms, he's adventurous (climbs the curtains and perches on the curtain rod ... always exploring) and loves to talk. Mac's vocabulary is about a dozen words and phrases ... and he's less than a year old.

The most important thing to consider here is that each bird is an individual and will have a personality all their own. So what we might say are general traits of a certain type of bird isn't true for all birds, just like general traits of humans aren't true for all humans!

Are green cheeks that noticeably quieter?

Hammie and Mac are both loud, if Hamlet is a 9 on a scale of 1 - 10 then Mac is a 7+ ... the difference is that Mac is a lot of chatter and words, while Hamlet is a lot of squawking and flock calls.

... If you are in an apartment, I definitely would not recommend those. You will be having complaints before you know it about volume levels hehe.

Incorrect, Chirsty and I live in an apartment and have yet to have a noise violation, and we have had the boys for almost a year now. Each apartment is different, but in my apartment noise complaints can't be filed until after our "quiet hours" or 10 PM and before 8 AM (all this is in our lease as well) these are hours that Mac and Hammie are sleeping and aren't noisy ... I have also talked to our neighbors and they have all said that they can't her the birds at all ... so I think we are really lucky in that aspect.

 

[ScubaJ]

There are actually several Sun breeders near me... at least 3. Suddenly I have gone 360 degrees on picks. Well not exactly, I kept looking into the Timneh and I went to one of the local breeders with a store near me, really really nice people that I got to pick their brain a little and I decided to pick the mid ground between the Conure and Timneh Grey.

The Brown Headed African Parrot, not very colorful, but related to the African Greys, good speakers, quiet, and also heavier price tag then a conure. Still cheaper then the Timneh by a long shot and also cheaper then a Hahn's Macaw which I was looking into earlier. The local store has them for $475 and he runs deals with combo purchases which he would lower the price for me when buying a cage as well. And this store really takes care and breeds and raises their own birds, which to me is worth a little extra anyways.

Thanks for the help though!

 

[Lauren]

Tex I'd have to say you lucked out with neighbours and your birds hehe!!!

Both my friends with the conures you can hear theirs down the block in their subdivision!!! And luckily their neighbours have dogs so they understand the barking/chirping

 

[TexDot33]

... And luckily their neighbours have dogs so they understand the barking/chirping

A co-worker of mine, when she lived in the South, had a U2 and the U2 learned to imitate her dogs perfectly! So, one day her neighbors were complaining about her "dogs" being too loud. She told the neighbor that the dogs had been inside all day and they weren't making any noises. The neighbor actually called the cops on her and the dogs and when the cops came out to invesitage the noise complaint, they found that the DOGS had been in all day, her U2 however, had been out in the pool area and was causing quite a racket!

Lauren, it's not really luck ... Hamlet and Mac CAN be loud (when Christy and I come home from work, for example ... "YEAH!!!! YOU'RE HOME!!! COME LOVE ME!!!"), but a conure who has all its needs met doesn't usually scream. Ignored, unstimulated, under-entertained conures can be a pain in the ass though!

 

[ashley]

The Brown Headed African Parrot, not very colorful, but related to the African Greys, good speakers, quiet, and also heavier price tag then a conure.

I love my little brown head! He is quite the sweet heart. He loves to cuddle and attempts words all the time (most of it chatter) but in general is quiter than my lovebird ever was. He is kind of plain looking on first glance but up close he is turquoise coloured and pure bright yellow under his wings!!

 

[JoT]

I was rooting for the brown head. Is that one out? Although I do have a nanday conure myself.

 

[helcar]

HI I have both a Sun and a Green Cheek. Our little green cheek is much more quiet. However If you live a quiet life a Sun should also lead a reletivly qiiet life also. They have their moments and when they do my eardrum vibrates.I prefer the green cheek a very good first bird. Have fun! Helen C

 

[Hoofnagle]

I have a Green Cheek Conure and he was recommended by the lady who hand fed him. Big Bird is wonderful; can be noisy but we love it. We live in a home in the country so noise is not a problem.

 

[cindi]

I also have a green cheek conure and I just love him "JJ" would not trade him for the world. He is 6 months old and my 1st bird. I am considering getting another bird so that he will have a playmate??? Any suggestions on that?

 

[Auggie's Dad]

Be aware Cindi what the possible outcomes a new bird could be:

1) They get along greatly and still want to be around you
2) They fight and never adapt to each other, and JJ resents you bringing home the new one
3) They bond with each other then want nothing to do with you perhaps even to the extent of attacking you.

Now many people do have success and #1 happens, but in a fair amount of the time one of the other possibilities does. I only have one bird, and that's the way it will stay as I don't want to risk the relationship I have with Auggie. But again, many people do have success with adding another bird, hopefully they can chime in and they may prove that my concerns are unwarranted.

 

[GCC]

So will green cheeks not cuddle as much

 

[JasmineGCC]

Jasmine my GCC is a cuddly darling but only when she wants to - usually first thing in the morning or before bed. During the day she's like a hyperactive monkey zooming round me climbing everywhere (my head hair neck back nose ....) and very playful. She uses her beak to explore and whilst can be very gentle when preening me, can be a bit over enthusiastic and a bit painful! Noise wise she chatters a lot but not that loud. The only time she shouts is is she's alarmed or wants her breakfast
I love her dearly and can't imagine life without her - such a big personality in a small package

 

[IgnisSol]

I think you should choose a bird by their personality, I honestly thought I was going to get a gcc because supposibly they are quieter, but I am so glad I have my Sun conure... And he doesn't really "scream" that much, I've found that if he has plenty of time out of his cage and he gets to use his brain, then he's pretty quiet.... But I might but lucky

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

ScubaJ,
I think you should set a budget to purchase your first bird, a spacious cage & accessories -- plenty of good and safe toys or toy parts to make them yourself, good perches, dishes, snuggle hut, top quality food, a playpen or tabletop perch if in the budget, and is good to plan first vet visit so you know what's what soon after bringing home, etc. etc. etc. Then if you are going to be meeting them in person and they are ready and available to take home, look at the choices from that price down that are appealing to you, and pick the one that you connect with -- the one that you and s/he just feel "it" when you meet and spend some time together. When you meet that one, you'll know it. You're making a commitment that might be as much 50+ yeasr long based on the species you have mentioned.

Anyhow, that's what I suggest after reading your posts.

Keep us posted.