Pionus parrots make wonderful pets - they are generally easy going, pigeon sized and relatively quiet birds, who also have the advantage of a moderate price tag. Because they are relatively new to the pet market, reliable species specific information is hard to find. That's why I created this web site.
My name is Mary and for the last several years I've shared my home with a flock of 5 pionus parrots - one each of the 5 species commonly kept as pets. Based on my experiences, I've written pionus related articles for Bird Talk and Original Flying Machine magazines, as well as a book length owner's guide to pionus parrots (currently I the hands of a book publisher). What follows is a "crash course" in pionus parrots.
What is a Pionus?
Pionus (pronounced "pie-OWN-iss") parrots are natives of Central and South America. They are all very similar in size - the smallest species measure 9 ½ inches long while the largest is a mere two inches longer. Pionus parrots have a bare eye ring and a red patch covering the vent area. They occasionally emit a faint musky smell, particularly when they are excited. They may also pant or breathe heavily when alarmed or excited. This breathlessness generally only last as a few minutes and any prolonged period of apparent respiratory difficulty warrants an immediate visit to an avian vet.
Of the eight species of pionus parrots, only five are currently available as pets. The other three - the white headed pionus (not to be confused with the white capped), plum crowned, and red or coral billed - do not breed readily in captivity although the coral billed is making gains in this respect and may someday be available for sale as pets.
The blue headed pionus is the poster child for the genus. If a general book on parrots includes just one picture of a pionus, nine times out of ten, it will be a blue head. Blue heads are the flashiest looking bird in the genus with emerald green bodies, cobalt blue heads, and the ever present fire engine red vent. In contrast to their flashy appearance, blue heads have sweet, thoughtful personalities. Although they breed relatively easily in captivity, blue heads' colorful appearance keeps demand for them high, and they are generally the most expensive of the pionus, in the $750 - $1,000 range.
Dusky pionus tie with white caps for the distinction of being the smallest of their genus. They have dark ear coverts surrounded by a semi-circle of buff colored feathers that remind many people of a small hawk, such as a peregrine or a kestrel. Like most pionus, they do not show to their best advantage in artificial lighting and sunlight brings out the almost electric purple highlights in their breasts. Duskies are active, inquisitive birds` with a special charm. Because they do not breed as readily in captivity as some of the other pionus, they carry a relatively high price tag, generally in the $500 - $750 range.
Bronze wing pionus look rather drab at first glance - small brown birds with yellow bills and a red bottom. But the bronze wing has a secret - the feathers on the underside of the wings are a brilliant turquoise. Bronze wings have a sweet, almost bashful personality and may like to study a situation before getting involved in it. Like duskies, bronze wings are often reluctant to breed in captivity and so are not very common as pets. Consequently, they are on the higher end of the price scale, comparable to duskies in price.
Care and Feeding
It is believed that pionus parrots may live as long as 40 years with proper care and nutrition. This includes regular visits to an avian vet (ordinary vets may see birds, but lack to expertise to provide the best care for your pet.), adequate exercise and mental stimulation (from toys and interacting with their owners), and a healthy diet.
Pionus parrots do best on a varied diet. Mine get a diet that is made up of ¼ seed and vegetable mix, ¼ pellets, ¼ fresh or reheated vegetables and ¼ heat and eat food mix. The last two are only offered for a few hours every day, then removed so that they won't become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Foods containing alcohol or caffeine, or which are high in fat or contain avocado should be avoided.
Cages should be spacious - the bigger, the better. I would recommend a minimum of 2 feet x 2 feet x 3 feet. Bars should be no more than an inch apart. A variety of toys should be provided for the bird's entertainment. Many people keep two or three extra toys and rotate them every few weeks to help keep the birds from becoming bored.
Occasional baths are also important to maintain a healthy bird. If a pionus seems reluctant to bath in a shallow dish full of water, you can try misting the bird with a plant mister, letting the spray fall from above like a gentle rain. Many people also bring their bird into the shower with them, letting the spray bounce off of their bodies rather than holding the bird under the shower head directly. If a bird is still reluctant to bathe, they running the vacuum cleaner in the same room as the bird - for reasons that are not yet known, the sound of a running vacuum cleaner often puts the birds "in the mood" for bathing.
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Maximilian pionus or "maxi's" are probably the most frequently overlooked pet birds on the market, due in large part to their dull coloration. Natural lighting does bring out their bronze and green highlights, but the best part of the maxi is their personality. Like the bronze wing, maxi's like to study a situation before acting on it, but once they feel comfortable, they are active, affectionate, and playful. Maxi's drab appearance and stillness in strange situations coupled with their great willingness to breed in captivity make them one of the least expensive of the pionus parrots, costing in the $250 - $400 range.
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White capped pionus have an undeserved reputation as the feistiest of their genus, but my own experience and conversations with other white capped owners make me believe that this tendency is overstated. The worst word any of the white capped owners I talked to used to describe their birds was "curmudgeonly:, and his owner was quick to point out that he was curmudgeonly by choice, all posturing to hide a sweet nature. My own white cap has a stubborn side - if she know you have an almond and you offer her a peanut, nothing in the world will induce her to take the peanut. But she is also sweet and gentle and of all my pi's, she's the one I trust the most with my 9 year old daughter. Because they breed easily in captivity, white caps are comparable to maxi's in price.
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Care and Feeding
It is believed that pionus parrots may live as long as 40 years with proper care and nutrition. This includes regular visits to an avian vet (ordinary vets may see birds, but lack to expertise to provide the best care for your pet.), adequate exercise and mental stimulation (from toys and interacting with their owners), and a healthy diet.
Pionus parrots do best on a varied diet. Mine get a diet that is made up of ¼ seed and vegetable mix, ¼ pellets, ¼ fresh or reheated vegetables and ¼ heat and eat food mix. The last two are only offered for a few hours every day, then removed so that they won't become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Foods containing alcohol or caffeine, or which are high in fat or contain avocado should be avoided.
Cages should be spacious - the bigger, the better. I would recommend a minimum of 2 feet x 2 feet x 3 feet. Bars should be no more than an inch apart. A variety of toys should be provided for the bird's entertainment. Many people keep two or three extra toys and rotate them every few weeks to help keep the birds from becoming bored.
Occasional baths are also important to maintain a healthy bird. If a pionus seems reluctant to bath in a shallow dish full of water, you can try misting the bird with a plant mister, letting the spray fall from above like a gentle rain. Many people also bring their bird into the shower with them, letting the spray bounce off of their bodies rather than holding the bird under the shower head directly. If a bird is still reluctant to bathe, they running the vacuum cleaner in the same room as the bird - for reasons that are not yet known, the sound of a running vacuum cleaner often puts the birds "in the mood" for bathing.
Feel free to E-mail me if you have any questions or comments about pionus or the web page:mailto:mgorman@k12s.phast.umass.edu