Sun Conure vs. Ringneck Parakeet

Question
Hi I'm looking for a very playful bird. A smart bird who will over time be able to understand me and I them. For a long time i was very interested in the Sun Conure but the breeder near my house showed me the Ringneck Parakeets. I feel in love with them but they did not come across to be as fun or as playful as the conures. Basically i was wondering if they had the same personalities? becasuse the sun conures seem more like dogs and the ringneck more like cats... and i'm a dog person. I was wondering since your not trying to sell me a bird which one do you think would be the most playful and loving? if you know could you give pros and cons of each?

Answer
Hi Cliff,

I think it is great that you are trying to find a species that will fit your own personality. This will certainly help you and your bird live in harmony. Keep in mind that you will also need to continuously educate yourself on the natural behaviors and training of your parrot in order to have a positive trusting relationship with your parrot for life.

I find that all parrots are highly intelligent by human standards and playful. Although each species has their own personality tendancies, there are always expections. You may end up with an unexpected personality, especially when adopting a baby. In my experience ringnecks do tend to be more reserved. I do believe that conures tend to show their personalities more easily. They are usually more charismatic, charming, and love to clown around. That being said, keep in mind with those characteristics they also tend to be more confident, push their boundaries, and test their owners. An owner that would be suited for this type of parrot is one that will learn from day one how to set bird rules for the house, train their bird, and provide an environment that allows their high energy bird to freely use that energy every day.

If you are still unsure I would recommend fostering the species you are interested in for a local parrot rescue. Then you can learn more about each species without making a lifetime commitment.

My website has links to some excellent parrot resources. I encourage you to take a look.

Good luck!

Jennifer
www.feathersandscales.com