Sun Conures Vs. Senegals. Your input is greatly appreciated.

[Andrea75]

Hi Everyone,

My family is ready to add a new bird to our family after the passing of our beloved Cockatiel, Sunny, almost 2 years ago. We have pretty much narrowed it down to a Sun Conure or a Senegal. We have already found a breeder and are just waiting for the babies to be weaned, but we need to make a decision soon. I have done a lot of research online and consulted a friend who takes in bird rescues and is familiar with several different kinds of parrots. However, I would really love some input from those of you who have experience with one or both of these types of birds. We do have 4 children. The older two have experience with handling birds and played an equal role in caring for and training our Cockatiel. I realize each bird is going to have its own personality, but ideally we would like for it to bond with multiple family members. To what extent have you been able to train these birds to talk, mimick, and learn tricks? Is there anything you feel we should seriously consider before choosing one of these birds?

Just want to add, we really have an appreciation for these birds. They are both beautiful. We just want to make the right decision for our family and our new bird baby.

Thank you in advance for your input.

Andrea

 

[Phlox]

I only know about suns from personal experience, but they are both much stronger willed birds than a cockatiel, so I hope you are prepared for that.

Sun conures are gorgeous and can be very sweet and clownish, but they are also quite demanding and glass breakingly loud and you really can't break them of either. I have read that Senegals are known for territorial behavior but are quiet and intensely intelligent, so they need quality training to do well.

Both are known for being one person birds.

Both have many fine qualities too, but are going to be a much bigger handful than a tiel.

Are you looking for something similar to a tiel personality?

 

[faeryphoebe1]

I've never had a Senegal but adore my Sunny. He's so much fun!

He likes to hang upside down and ring bells. He dances and bops his head to Michael Jackson songs. Sunny loves to climb inside the shirts of his humans.

Sunny loves going to the park and the mall. He wears his aviator harness.

Drawbacks: His call is LOUD... ear piercing. If I'm shouldering him, then my ears will ring for a few minutes.

He can bite hard if something startles him. Other than that... he's perfect!

Sunny was a hand raised baby who came home to us after he was weaned at about 12 weeks of age. He's 1-1/2 years old now.

 

[RavensGryf]

I would personally recommend Senegal. The reason is... Typically, the Poicephalus parrots are QUIET, meaning not a lot of power in the voice PLUS, they are typically not inclined to call and call for you if they can't see you. If they do, they're not persistent. They're VERY independent. Not needy birds in the least. Really quite easy. Many individuals can be hands-cuddly too. Poicephalus (Senegals) are really the only genus of parrots who can at the same time be a cuddly bird BUT is not clingy.

Conures are beautiful, cute, clever, etc... But even a well trained, well socialized conure has more of what I call a "big bird personality" (which isn't a bad thing) but they may have a tendency to persist being with you and calling out to you more easily, and/or developing some behavioral issues more easily than the typical Senegal. I'm not saying anything bad about Conures at all . But conures are very social birds who congregate in large flocks in the wild. This extremely social nature carries over a bit in our homes. Not saying Senegals aren't social, but they are naturally not huge flock birds, generally don't like our other birds, and are more 'okay' with being alone when need be.
Many people will say how easy their conure is, and I believe it, but the typical Sennie is even easier going. Well, except for the adult hormones... I will say, Poi males can be vicious when hormonal.

 

[BoomBoom]

I have a sun conure who I adore. The descriptions above regarding suns are actually pretty spot on. I've never owned a Senegal. I've only met one outside of a petstore. His name was Puppy. I remembered thinking how Puppy was just so chill! The owner was walking around with the bird in his shirt (it was clipped), he let me handle him. Puppy let me pet him and even sniff him ( I am a bird sniffer). He never made a sound, never tried to resist. I remember remarking how I wish Boomer was that laid back (he was in my birdie backpack at the time screeching down the whole parking lot).

 

[thekarens]

Well Julie pretty much said all there is to say about pois. I have two sennies and they are both cuddle bugs and independent. I would recommend if you go with a sennie that you make sure your whole family spends time with the bird. My family had no interest so now they are 1 person birds. They will step up for others, but they don't like it.

 

[Birdman666]

Short answer: Sennies generally have more 'tude. Sennies are flock birds (with attitude.) They can be multiple-personality birds (i.e. cuddle bug one minute, playful the next, biting the next, cuddlebug again, getting into something I know I'm not supposed to, and I don't care just try and stop me the next.)

Conures are pair bond birds. Conures are just shrunken macaws with less bite pressure in my opinion. (Beware of conure spoiled bird syndrome - IF YOU GET ONE DON'T GO THERE! These birds can be easily trained to scream... )

Both are very smart, and make excellent trick birds.

 

[Andrea75]

We really did love our Cockatiel. We got him from a friend who used to breed them. My daughter had been begging for one and we finally agreed. He was a bit bitty at first (I think that's typical of a lot birds especially at first though), but he eventually got to the point where he really never bit at all. He was very sweet, loved to snuggle under your chin, we taught him to mimick a number of phrases and he could "whistle" a couple songs as well. Everyone in our family was very interactive with him. I work from home and he would hang out with me while I worked. Honestly, I had no idea that our family would become so attached to him. We still really miss him. I'm not even sure if his behavior was typical of a Cockatiel. He is the only one we have ever had and even the person we got him from was always impressed with him.

We initially thought about getting another Cockatiel, but after a lot of discussion decided we would like to go with something different. We saw a Sun Conure at the pet store that was very sweet and I just feel in love with and my former neighbor recommended a Senegal. She takes in birds that have been through several different homes and works with them. She has a Senegal and thought that maybe that would be a good fit. She didn't seem to recommend the Conures at all, but the only ones she has had experience with is a pair that has been rehomed 3 different times and haven't really been handled much at all so I don't think they are a good representation of the breed if they had been cared for properly. Anyway, that's why I appreciated everyone here's opinion.
I am also open to suggestions so please feel free to recommend a breed if you think it may be a good fit for us. We know this is a long term commitment and are prepared to put the time and care required in.

Thank so much for your input

 

[thekarens]

You might want to find a rescue or bird store and meet a lot of different birds to get a feeling if what they are like. Both conures and sennies make great pets, but there are a lot of different species of birds out there and you might find a different species that you enjoy.

 

[Phlox]

Well, if you want a step up from a tiel but a little more "bird" a lot of people, me included, recommend green creek conures. Much quieter than the brighter colored conures, but still with lots of bird attitude. They are a lot easier going in my experience.

I've also heard great things about Poicephalus parrots and there are several owners here that could tell you more. They are easier going and quiet too but bigger and more hearty than a cockatiel.

Green cheeks will be pretty easy to find since they are so popular however. If you can find some to play with, I think you should test drive one. I'm pretty biased, but they really are the sweetest things.

 

[thebirdnerd]

If noise isn't that much of an issue, then I would recommend a conure over the sennie...both are great birds but conures make amazing family pets if socialized properly when young. Some are great talkers too, such as the blue crown.