Quaker Parrots vs Sun Conures
by Heike Ewing Ott
Quaker Parrots and Sun Conures are two of the most popular parrot species kept as pets today. If you are considering which would make the best companion for you, you are sure to find the following comparison and stories helpful in making your decision.
In what ways do Quakers seem to differ from (Aratinga) conures? It would be much more helpful to hear from someone who has experienced them both.
I have not bred either, but I have fed out and sold both, and have had both as “rescues” that were with me for a while being socialized and readied for resale or adoption. In my personal experience:
Quakers talk better than suns. Sunny (the 11-year-old named him!!) was exposed to a talking TAG most of his youth and was an accomplished talker for a Sun, but he never spoke as clearly or as appropriately as the Quaker. Misty, on the other hand, was not worked with and knew very few phrases, but what she did know she said very clearly and used intelligently, like saying “Step UP!” whenever you held your hand out to her. Two of my baby quakers started saying “Hi, baby!, Good Stuff!, and Pretty Bird” before they were weaned. None of my Suns talked before about 6 months or so.
Quakers are “feistier” than Suns. Quakers seem to have a built-in “‘tude” (which I adore) that Suns and other conures don’t. Also, when Quakers bite they tend to nip, where conures chomp and hang on, kind of like a bulldog. My Suns got along well with other birds and seemed pretty sociable, but the Quakers were always teasing the other birds, even Peggy Sue the Patagonian who was much larger than they. My baby Suns, like several stories I have read here, would run to you and try to climb up on you; the Quakers were friendly, but waited for you to approach them.
One of my baby Quakers started a “game” at about 11 weeks where he would run away from me and pretend to be scared in front of potential buyers, and then laugh like crazy (with the mini-macaw’s laugh) when I finally caught him. But, he NEVER did that if there was no one else around to witness it!
Quakers are cute, and pretty, but (IMO) adult Sun Conures are gorgeously beautiful. When I had (in my store) 2 Patis, 1 Noble, 1 Citron Cockatoo, 3 baby quakers, 1 baby CAG, 2 dozen cockatiels in 5 or 6 mutations, assorted lovebirds, a B&G, and one Umbrella, people were always attracted to the B&G first, and then to the Suns, which they oohed and aahed over for minutes before they looked any of the other birds.
Conures are fussier eaters than Quakers. My baby Quakers would eat ANYTHING they saw me eat, but the Suns were cautious about new foods.
Quakers learn faster than conures. I’m not saying that a conure can’t learn anything that a Quaker can, but the Quakers start earlier and pick things up quicker.
Quakers are much more “clever” in certain ways, more curious, and more prone to escape or take things apart. 3 baby quakers at one time had a cage with doors that slide up and down. Most birds learned to open the doors, but couldn’t step out of the cage while holding the door up. Those darn Quakers learned to hold the door for each other, and one of the first two out would actually go back and hold the door up for the third!!
They also thought it was great fun to take their toys apart without damaging them, especially if I then re-assembled them. I’m not sure, but I -think- they thought they were training me to put them back together so they could have the fun of taking them apart again. My baby Suns, on the other hand, never learned to get out of any cage, and tended to destroy their toys by chewing them up.
My Suns have been sweet, friendly, good-natured babies that anyone could enjoy, and they do talk. The Quakers, on the other hand, were playful little rascals with many quirks and a tendency for mischief that I think it takes a certain kind of person to really appreciate. I got the biggest kicks and some of my best birdie laughs out of baby Quakers, but not everyone likes having a pet that very much has a mind of its own.
To sum it up and exaggerate the difference a bit, it’s kind of like Shirley Temple and McAulay Culkin. They’re both cute, and funny, but if you were going to adopt one of them, which would you pick? Faced with that decision, probably most folks, no matter how much they laughed at “Home Alone”, would pick sweet little Shirley to live in their home. Then there are those of us who think Shirley is just a little TOO sweet and would take Culkin and love it – and we’re the ones that dearly love those little green chickens all the time we’re shaking our heads and rolling our eyes over their latest antics.
hi,
i am wondering if you can help me, from all the websites i have looked at yours seems to be most related to what i want tro know. i am trying to find out if quakers and sun conures can be kept together safely, as well as if they can still be person friendly pets if they can. right now i have a sun conure who lives inside in a cage but also has an aviary for when the weather is fine, and i am thinking about getting him some company for the times when i am not home, but i still want him to be as tame as he is now, (he is very person friendly and loves cuddling with everyone he sees).
please email if you can help me.
Thanks
Amy.
I agree with Amy’s summation of the differences between Quakers and Suns. We have one of each and they are very different personalities. We had Jack, the Quaker, a little over a year before we got Rio, the Sun. Rio is now 18 months. In that time, we have never let them be together unattended. Jack is definitely more aggressive. Rio wants desperately to play with Jack and will fly to greet him when they are both out of their cages. They will “play fight” for a while, but I’m afraid Jack will get too rough, so I break it up. My birds each have their own cage, and they do like to visit each other, and I believe, enjoy having the other one around. If they are kept in separate cages, I don’t think they will bond to each other and will want your attention as much as ever. Good luck with making your decision!
hi guys,
i think a quaker would be much better cos they are cheeper and make GREAT companions and i have a little guy and well.. he is the best.. but its up to you!
How long Quicker lives?
I purchase a blue Quaker this week-end. She has bitten me twice. She even has tries to bite me when a put my hand in her cage when i need to change her food/water.
What I’m I doing wrong, someone please help.
quakers are territorialbirds especially over there cages. it is normal for them to try to bite you when near their cage because that is their safe haven. try taking the bird out and maybe putting him another room while you tend to his cage. give it time and build a relationship. don’t rush it and let the bird know he can trust you. quakers usually just don’t bite for no reason, maybe he is trying to tell you something. it is jusrt figuring out what it is that may be a little difficult. wwhen i brought my bird home he would bite me all the time. now i know that if he bites me i am doing something he doesn’t like or that scares him. it took a little time but we are best of friends now. good luck and give it time.
Hi. I am a huge parrot fan and a bird activist and have wanted a parrot for years. I would really love to obtain a Congo Grey but being a first time parrot owner and doing the research I’ve done, I know it may be best suited for me to start with a smaller species. And besides that, they ARE easier for me to afford right now.
I’ve had lovebirds on the brain for a while but now after reading this, I’d love a sun conure. Would a sun conure be a better pet for someone who’s new to parrot parenting or should I stick to a lovie?
Is there any way to determine the sex of a sun conure by looking at it? And what’s a better and sweeter companion, a male sun conure or female?
I know everything else about suns but would appreciate it if anyone can give me a list of some local breeders. I live in Panama City Fl. So if you know any local breeders let me know.
And could anyone give me the pros and cons of a sun conure and a lovebird A.K.A Sun Conure vs Lovebird as a companion?
Thanks so very much!
Sun Conures and Lovebirds are two completely different birds. Lovebirds, in my experience are less intrested in human companions and really just want another feathered friend. If you do pick a lovebird definitely get it from a breeder and make sure it was hand-fed. Parent-raised lovebirds are kind of evil. Also, you do not want to get 2 lovebirds, they will attach themselves to each other and ignore you. They are both pretty noisy and like to cry for attention. Lovebirds will not learn to talk but they are very talented whistlers! Conures are, in my experience, much more friendly and they love their human companions. They just have a better personality for a pet. But with enough loving and patience they could both be great pets
I had a conure before he was my best friend. He ate everything I did and slept w/ me under the covers and took baths w/ me . My lil buddy passed away and I’m wondering if I should get another one are a quacker .I’m not sure what to do I also would like to know whats better to bond to a male are a female. Please help me out I’m going to take a look at 3 quackers and 3 sun conures the Quackers are 150 and the sun conures are 250 also the conures are females and the quackers are males please help!! Thanks everyone =)
I WAS GIVEN A SUNCONURE AS A WEDDING GIFT AND AS HE CAME AT THE PRICE OF $750 AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS I AM LOOKING FOR A MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE COMPANION BIRD THAT NOT NECESSARILY BEING ANOTHER SUNCONURE, BUT WAS INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE COMPATABLE WITH AS FAR AS SHARING A CAGE, AND COMPATABILITY
Im going to be 14 in June and I was debating which bird would be better for me a Sun or a Quaker (if my dad says its okay)..I love the Suns color but the Quaker is more in my price range. My mom says that a Quaker is not a good first time bird/parrot owner but that is the kind I want most. She says a love bird is better but i want a bigger more affectionate bird.. Please help! (if u can help Thanks, or if u know of another bird,
_my price range is kind of in the smaller range) Thank you!
Need some feed back please- I’m really concerned my bird is loosing her feathers ‘only’in the back of her neck.
Thanks!
Sandra
ur doing nothing at all wrong. I got my sun conure jebi a year ago and man i have about 4 or 5 scars, becouse well when i first got him he dint know me and dint trust me yet. If i were you i would take some time of day, open the cage door for your bird, talk to him for about a minute or two and then sit down with your laptop or computer and just hang out in the room. Give him company. Try to give him some apple or something. This helped me becouse not only does my conure now trust me, he’s in LOVE with me. Just give it a month or two to let him warm up to his surroundings. Plus Quakers are known to talk. Well at least mine does so sit down with him infront of his cage a few times a day and just repeat his name or something short for him to mimic. This might confort him when u put your hand in the cage while your saying the “special” word.
Hope this helps if u have anymore questions i have 1 sun conure and 1 quaker so i can prob answer them
(: good luck
Well i have both and i would recommend a Sun Conure. They are more active than Quakers and i think more loving. Jebi cuddles with me more than stiches (quaker) And quakers are so much more louder. If u find out about maybe a bird mart or something like that they sell the birds cheaper too. I got my sun conure there for $110. I think both birds are good though i recomend Sun conures…
(:
I have a male sun conure. He is very friendly and affectionate, a really loving bird. The down side is how loud they are. They have a very high pitched call that can be heard down the street. Owning a sun conure is not for the faint hearted.
I have a sun conure and a quaker. My sun conure is much louder. I agree that the sun is a more cuddly bird than the quaker though.
I have a quaker and sun living in the same cage they are fine together. They’re not really friendly with eachother but they don’t fight.
I have a male quaker and a female sun conure in the same cage. Conures are more lovable and the quakers talks. The sun is much louder than the quaker!! As long as you get the bird young and spend time with it, both are great. The quaker is definitely territorial and will bite when anyone nears the cage….. even me! The sun does not care and wants everyone to come to the cage and play! I would vote for the sun if it is a first pet…..
I have the exact same instance at home (male Quaker and female Sun Conure in same cage)and my two are the total opposite from the two above. My Quaker is a complete sweet heart who never bites for any reason and just wants attention. My Sun conure is more territorial and not very affectionate to anyone other than myself and only when she is in the mood to want attention. The thing with conures and parrots is that they are all individual and therefore all have their own unique personalities. The experience of the owner is also a major element in the birds behavioural growth. I would not recommend taking advise from anyone who is a simple hobbyist or owns a bird with behavioural problems. I recommend talking to a well schooled professional or long standing hobbyist who is skilled in conure/parrot behaviour and training. These birds live a very long time and deciding to bring one into your home should be a very well thought out decision in order to ensure the happiness, health, and well being of the bird as well as the family. I rescue far too many birds from people who “think they are cute” or just “thought it would be nicer because all the others I have seen/read about were so well behaved” and don’t focus on the reality of the long term commitment they are making and decide to get rid of the bird once bad behaviour develops or the responsibility becomes too much of a burden in their eyes. I can’t even count how many parrots have been dropped off at my clinic and then abandoned by the owners. I would not recommend either species above for a first time bird owner and especially not for a first time pet owner. These animals live a very long time(20yr average between the two), are highly intelligent, need a lot of attention and care, and require someone who understands their behaviour and how to work with them. Problems such as screaming, biting and other bad behaviours occur in homes where the owners are not familiar with bevaiour and how to work with them. On the other hand, if you have done the research and decided to make one of these little guys a permanent member of your family then you will not be disappointed in either species. However, you must remember that these are not dogs, they think for themselves and have their own ideas about what they do or dont want and they are not cookied cu
tter copies of another you saw/heard or read about elsewhere so do not expect them to be anything other than thir own unique selves.
i got a hand raised blue quaker whos 3 1/2 months old.i dont know the sex yet but will find out soon.skye has growling comps with my partner to see who can growl the loudest,its pretty funny.skye is still a little scared and runs away from us when its on the top of its cage.i can put my hands in its cage and dosnt make a fuss at all.we have showers together and that so far its been such a good bird and we are still getting to know each other.how can i stop skye from freaken out and trying to go back to its cage?
Sun conures are so much fun. My baby Fidget (R.I.P) was the best bird I ever had. One day when my boyfriend was over he started using weights and do flys with them. Fidget was watching him and then started moving his wings up and down just like my boyfriend. I think he thought my boyfriend was teaching him how to fly. We started laughing so loud.
Whenever I sat on the couch with Fidget he would force himself under my hand so I would scratch his tummy. If I didn’t then there would be hell to pay for ignoring him. The screams would not stop. Such a spoiled little brat he was.
I miss that little bird so much. I recently bought a baby blue quacker, and I am afraid he might be as affectionate as Fidget. But I can’t wait to this little guy home either.
Hi everyone I’m Nick and I know its off topic but can someone please help me. I’m 14 and plan on getting a bird soon and i can either get an un hand raised quaker or a hand raised lovebird. Could somebody really help me this will be my first bird and i NEED to know which of the two is less quite due to my mom hates birds and does not want to hear it at all. It would also be nice to know which is more trainable. Thankyou