Annie's right. I had a sexed male Blue Head that I wish I never got. He went back to the breeder after four years of screaming and unpredictable biting. Maybe it is a male thing. He did talk some though. A squeaky, tinny voice, but you could understand him.

Amy,  There is no way to tell the sex of pionus without DNA or surgical sexing.  They look exactly alike.  I didn't know Maxi was female til she surprised me with eggs two years ago. I called her a female just because she was so sweet natured.  She became even more loving when she was broody.  I had to quit handling her because she thought I was her mate and kept laying eggs til we were afraid she would die of eggbinding. She finally stopped after 18 + eggs. Now I can handle her again and I pray she doesn't decide to do that trick again.

If a talking, singing bird is of primary importance to you, then a pionus may not be the bird for you.  I think most are rather quiet and don't say a lot, not like a grey or amazon. There is always an exception though, and Mom2's blueheaded is proof of that. 

I think they are the perfect size.  I have had a macaw and budgies and every size bird in between.  This size is my favorite.  Easy to handle, not too heavy, but not fragile.

I suppose jealousy of a baby could be a cause for a bird to start biting.  Haven't had that experience since my kids were grown when I got my first birds.

Annie

 

Hi Amy,

I hope you have found out alot about the Pionus from us talking back and forth. I have here a picture of my Bronzewing I had. Her name is Skylar but the lady who has her calls her Pi Pi. This is her at 4 months old.

Amy from NH

The pic of Skylar is beautiful.  So is the one in your album of Waddles and Skylar.

Great for size comparison, too, for people who aren't familiar with pionus.

Love the one of Weebles in front of the fan.  Poofy!!

Annie

 

I've been reading this thread because my neighbor just offered me his white capped pionus.  He said the bird bites and he doesn't like the mess.  Said the bird is seven years old and he has had him two years.  He also said the bird is too loud.  He handles the bird with an oven mitt because his is so afraid of the bite.  What I have been reading here and other places is that they are not biters and their beaks are not as strong as other birds their size.  I can see the cage is too small for him and I don't know how much he is out of the cage.  I am really tempted, but can't make up my mind if I should take this bird.  I have an Indian Ringneck now.  He is an only bird and very spoiled.  Don't know what I am writing this for.  Just thinking out loud.  Any thoughts?  The guy seems to be a nice man, and although he doesn't want the bird, he is keeping him until he finds a good home for him. 

Awwww, that's a tough one.  Very sweet of you even to consider taking the bird. 

MuddyMouse,

I can't advise you, but if I were in your place I would ask the gentleman some more questions.  Did things start out good between him and the bird and then "go south", or were there trust/ biting/ behavior issues perhaps from the start  ?  Everything I have read says not to use gloves around birds- it frightens them, so while I don't blame this man for wanting to save some skin, he probably did not help the situation with using an oven mitt. 

 

Some birds will step up onto a hand or arm covered in a towel.  My ringneck will not step up onto skinny finger.  She does OK with a bare wrist/ back of the hand, but prefers the cuff of my denim long sleeve shirt.  Some birds sort of bite/ nibble a finger/hand as they step up, to test the sturdiness of the "branch"/ offered hand/ perch and if this man did not know that and jerked his hand away from the start, it might have just reinforced biting in the bird.  There is also a company that makes hand held perches with a protective clear plexiglass guard betwee the perch and your hand, that would help avoid bites until the bird is used to you.

 

Also, I would ask him what he knows about the bird's history from the first 5 years.  What kind of home was the bird in (small/ quiet household, lots of pets/kids/noisey, lots of attention vs usually ignored, any known biting/ behavior issues then ?)

 

Also, you mentioned cage size, so I gather you have met this bird.  How did the bird react to you ?

 

I know this does not help in your decision, but may give you more "food for thought" or the responses (if you post them here) may let the experienced bird people make observations that would  help you decide if this bird is right for you and vice versa.

 

If you DO decide to bring this bird into your home, and your only bird so far is an IRN, I would be very curious to learn how the ringneck reacts to not being the only bird anymore and how it accepts (or not) the new bird in it's home  (I have an indian ringneck and it is my only bird).

 

Good luck with your decision.

 

 

hi guys,

i am a white cap pionus mom, Jammys is about 1 yr now.  She picked me out when she was a month old.  I have had her right from the start.  6 months after i got her she decided my husband would make a wonderful mate and now she hates me.  She adores him and will do anything for him.  Even the tricks I taught her.  She is extremely playful and very active.  Very cuddly to him, if she ever gets the chance she will eat me.  But she will take baths with me she just loves water more than she hates me.  When she is happy she has a  funny smell and when she is mad she looks it!  I am not sure that I ever want another one.  Jammys has broken my heart and my husband who never wanted a bird now has one.  She says all these frases also:  Hello Jammys, what ya doin jammys, pretty girl, whats wrong, ha ha ha ha,

So as you can see if you are my husband these are wonderful parrots.

 

 

pjay