The attributes listed in this thread are the experiences of each individual and your experiences may differ with your individual bird.
TMS asked me to pop in and post this. I thought on it a while since I'm taking a much needed AA vacation. I decided that, since suns are such a commonly rehomed species, I would put in my 2 cents and then bow back out of the AA loop.
THE GOOD:
Kiwi is a go with the flow, up for anything, take it all in stride kind of bird. He has moved 3 times, been in the cabin of an airplane, was harness trained in days, never feared a toy, will stand up to even the biggest "adversary" out there, and basically adjusts in no time. Once he is in a new environment, he immediately acts as if he's been there for years. Even the day I bought him, I opened his little cardboard carrier, stuck some food on his playstand, plopped him down, and he ate as if he had been living with me forever.
Kiwi is the epitome of a loveable, cuddly, baby bird. He is always up for a snuggle. Any time, anywhere, he's in the mood. He will sleep in the cutest positions and loves to be close to his person (me). Are you sad? In a bad mood? Snuggle a sunnie and you will have a smile on your face. He gives kisses, wiggles up under your chin or down your shirt, and you just melt.
Kiwi is absolutely hysterical. Some of the stuff he does just cracks me up. He will dance to music. He stomps his foot when you pat your hand on something. He will fly around and get into the funniest predicaments. It really is hard to be sad when you are in the presence of a sun. Their loveable nature and funny antics are sure to make you smile.
All of these "good" things are relatively constant. It isn't "on his terms" because he's like this literally ALL OF THE TIME.
THE BAD:
Kiwi is basically a one person bird. He doesn't seem to love other people like he loves me. He will tolerate some people, but those people are few and far between. If he doesn't tolerate you, look out. He will dive bomb and lunge and draw blood. I'm sure there is some sort of training to get them to be more social, but I'm his chosen person and I see no need to force him to love someone else. He's been through the whole "flooding" to make him love someone (NOT BY ME!) and I just don't agree with it. I'm his person and that's that.
The noise. Now, it doesn't really bother me. I've gotten used to it. Kiwi is loud 1) first thing in the morning 2)when you first come home (whether you've been gone 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days) 3)if he hears someone at the door 4)when he sees something "invading" his space (i.e. if he is outside and he sees a hawk or a butterfly). It's not constant. However, a lot of people will say that's the deal breaker. But, it isn't that hard to determine how it will effect you if you are considering getting a sun. Go meet some. Meet more than one. And don't rely on YouTube videos to give you an indicator because my speakers don't go loud enough. He is loud. With Kiwi, however, I can quiet him down pretty easily.....which leads to.....
Clingy. To me, this is a good and a bad. It's good because I love having a constant sidekick but some people want a more independent bird. If I were home 24/7/365, I am certain I wouldn't need to buy a single toy for Kiwi because he would be content to just be with me. Some people don't want that in a bird. Some like the more aloof, independent species. Me? I kind of find it endearing to be the center of this little guy's world.
THE UGLY:
Jealousy. Kiwi is a jealous little man. If he sees me with someone he doesn't like, he attacks. If he sees me using something he doesn't like, he attacks. We went through a several month stint where he would literally attack my face if he saw me using a straw or drinking out of a wine glass (I'm Italian....we bleed wine. It was hard drinking it out of a coffee cup!). The straws I kind of justified because Kiwi plays with straws, so maybe he thought I was stealing his toys?? The wine glass, though, I can't explain. He's kind of chilled out with it, though.
Dive bombing. Kiwi doesn't care how big and bad you are: if he doesn't like you, you will be attacked in the form of a dive bomb to the head. He will probably draw blood. He will probably laugh (literally) at your screams of panic. Don't like it? Don't come to HIS house.
Picky! Kiwi is very picky when it comes to food. He doesn't like what he doesn't like and you cannot make him eat it. I have had blueberries, beans, peppers, etc thrown on the floor, at me, against the wall, against the sliding glass door, etc. His diet is a constant thorn in my side and I wish he was like some of the little piggies I've seen on AA.
So, there you have it - the good, the bad, and the ugly on sun conures. They really are an amazing species to interact with. If you can stand the noise, they will bring so much light (literally and figuratively!) into your life, you will wonder how you lived so long without one. I will be the first to say, if you are considering one, please please please go meet some adults. Spend some time with them and make sure the contact calls are something you can handle.
TMS asked me to pop in and post this. I thought on it a while since I'm taking a much needed AA vacation. I decided that, since suns are such a commonly rehomed species, I would put in my 2 cents and then bow back out of the AA loop.
THE GOOD:
Kiwi is a go with the flow, up for anything, take it all in stride kind of bird. He has moved 3 times, been in the cabin of an airplane, was harness trained in days, never feared a toy, will stand up to even the biggest "adversary" out there, and basically adjusts in no time. Once he is in a new environment, he immediately acts as if he's been there for years. Even the day I bought him, I opened his little cardboard carrier, stuck some food on his playstand, plopped him down, and he ate as if he had been living with me forever.
Kiwi is the epitome of a loveable, cuddly, baby bird. He is always up for a snuggle. Any time, anywhere, he's in the mood. He will sleep in the cutest positions and loves to be close to his person (me). Are you sad? In a bad mood? Snuggle a sunnie and you will have a smile on your face. He gives kisses, wiggles up under your chin or down your shirt, and you just melt.
Kiwi is absolutely hysterical. Some of the stuff he does just cracks me up. He will dance to music. He stomps his foot when you pat your hand on something. He will fly around and get into the funniest predicaments. It really is hard to be sad when you are in the presence of a sun. Their loveable nature and funny antics are sure to make you smile.
All of these "good" things are relatively constant. It isn't "on his terms" because he's like this literally ALL OF THE TIME.
THE BAD:
Kiwi is basically a one person bird. He doesn't seem to love other people like he loves me. He will tolerate some people, but those people are few and far between. If he doesn't tolerate you, look out. He will dive bomb and lunge and draw blood. I'm sure there is some sort of training to get them to be more social, but I'm his chosen person and I see no need to force him to love someone else. He's been through the whole "flooding" to make him love someone (NOT BY ME!) and I just don't agree with it. I'm his person and that's that.
The noise. Now, it doesn't really bother me. I've gotten used to it. Kiwi is loud 1) first thing in the morning 2)when you first come home (whether you've been gone 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days) 3)if he hears someone at the door 4)when he sees something "invading" his space (i.e. if he is outside and he sees a hawk or a butterfly). It's not constant. However, a lot of people will say that's the deal breaker. But, it isn't that hard to determine how it will effect you if you are considering getting a sun. Go meet some. Meet more than one. And don't rely on YouTube videos to give you an indicator because my speakers don't go loud enough. He is loud. With Kiwi, however, I can quiet him down pretty easily.....which leads to.....
Clingy. To me, this is a good and a bad. It's good because I love having a constant sidekick but some people want a more independent bird. If I were home 24/7/365, I am certain I wouldn't need to buy a single toy for Kiwi because he would be content to just be with me. Some people don't want that in a bird. Some like the more aloof, independent species. Me? I kind of find it endearing to be the center of this little guy's world.
THE UGLY:
Jealousy. Kiwi is a jealous little man. If he sees me with someone he doesn't like, he attacks. If he sees me using something he doesn't like, he attacks. We went through a several month stint where he would literally attack my face if he saw me using a straw or drinking out of a wine glass (I'm Italian....we bleed wine. It was hard drinking it out of a coffee cup!). The straws I kind of justified because Kiwi plays with straws, so maybe he thought I was stealing his toys?? The wine glass, though, I can't explain. He's kind of chilled out with it, though.
Dive bombing. Kiwi doesn't care how big and bad you are: if he doesn't like you, you will be attacked in the form of a dive bomb to the head. He will probably draw blood. He will probably laugh (literally) at your screams of panic. Don't like it? Don't come to HIS house.
Picky! Kiwi is very picky when it comes to food. He doesn't like what he doesn't like and you cannot make him eat it. I have had blueberries, beans, peppers, etc thrown on the floor, at me, against the wall, against the sliding glass door, etc. His diet is a constant thorn in my side and I wish he was like some of the little piggies I've seen on AA.
So, there you have it - the good, the bad, and the ugly on sun conures. They really are an amazing species to interact with. If you can stand the noise, they will bring so much light (literally and figuratively!) into your life, you will wonder how you lived so long without one. I will be the first to say, if you are considering one, please please please go meet some adults. Spend some time with them and make sure the contact calls are something you can handle.
Last edited by a moderator: