The Pionus Parrot

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Pionus parrots are friendly family pets

The Pionus Parrot is often overlooked because it seems drab-looking, but these parrots are great family pets.

Pionus look like small Amazons and they both have similar traits. Pionus tend to be quieter and not as agressive as Amazons. However, male Pionus still tend to be more aggressive than females, especially during breeding season. Pionus also tend to bond to a whole family rather than just one person like the Amazon.

Pionus are also capable of talking, though they don’t usually have a wide vocabulary. Their voices are soft and a bit raspy, but if you listen closely, they can be enjoyable communicators. Pionus are also rather quiet, so they make a good pet if you are living in an apartment but wish to have a larger pet bird.

Pionus also don’t crave attention. They do need daily interaction, but they are independent enough to be happy playing on their own as well. These are great companion parrots that should not be overlooked!

Types of Pionus Parrots

Blue-Headed Pionus

Blue-Headed Pionus

Bronze-Winged Pionus

Bronze-Winged Pionus

Dusky Pionus

Dusky Pionus

Maximilian’s Pionus

Maximilian’s Pionus

White-Capped Pionus

White-Capped Pionus

Fast Facts

Name Pionus (Pionus), Blue-Headed Pionus (P. menstruus), Bronze-Winged Pionus (P. chalcopterus), Dusky Pionus (P. fuscus), Maximilian’s Pionus (P. maximiliani), White-Capped Pionus (P. senilis)
Origin Central and South America
Size 9-13″, 200-280 grams
Color Differences Most Pionus are predominantly dark green with a range of brighter colors on their head and wings. Some subspecies are dark blue and bronze in color.
Owner Pionus are good for first-time owners.
Average Cost $200-900
Lifespan 35+ years
Noise Pionus are quieter than Amazons and therefore make a good pet for someone living in an apartment that wants a larger bird.
Qualities Quieter and less aggressive than Amazons, males tend to be more aggressive than females (especially during breeding season), good family pet, tend to bond with the whole family, capable of learning a small vocabulary, have soft, raspy voices, friendly, outgoing, some are shy and nippy, not overly demanding, make a wheezing sound when frightened, may make a growling sound when they feel threatened, love to bathe daily, can be high strung and a bit nervous, good pet for a home with children.
Abilities Good – Pionus are capable of talking, but their vocabulary isn’t as good as the Amazons.
Interaction/Time Requirements Pionus need daily interaction, but are also independent enough to play on their own.
Diet They need a diet for medium birds and are prone to obesity, so a proper diet is a must.
Supplies Needed They need supplies for medium birds.
See How Pionus Parrots Compare to Other Types of Pet Birds!

Pionus Videos

“Spencer’s World Premiere”


Pionus are capable of talking and they have soft, raspy voices. This video is a great example of a talking Pionus (White-Capped).

“Flying to her boing. Sachi my White capped Pionus parrot”


Pionus can also be very affectionate birds. This video is a great example of the level of cuddliness of a Pionus.

“Bronze wing & Blue head Pionus Parrots”


This is a funny video of a Bronze-Winged Pionus playing and a Blue-Headed Pionus wanting to get in on the action. It’s just fun to watch!

Pionus Training

Pionus parrots, like most medium-sized parrots, can be very nippy. You definitely need to know how to train your Pionus if you want him to be hand tamed and enjoy spending time with you and your friends/family. However, if you don’t know how to train a Pionus, you may have difficulty even getting your bird out of his cage.

For this reason, we highly recommend that you find an effective training program. Whether your parrot is new to your home or you’ve had him for years, a training program will always come in handy. We personally recommend the Bird Tricks Parrot Training Course by Dave and Jamieleigh Womach. You can see many of their videos for free to get an idea of how much they know about parrots and how they can help you train yours.

Below is one of Dave’s videos about stopping your parrot’s biting. This technique is perfect for Pionus parrots. This video is a great example of how effective the training courses can be and how they are filled with a wealth of useful information for any bird owner.

This video is only the first step in getting your bird hand tamed. We highly recommend checking out the BirdTricks Training Course for taming your parrot even further.

For more information about Dave and Jamieleigh’s courses, you can visit the Bird Tricks website HERE.

Pionus Education

To learn more about your pet Pionus, we recommend these books:

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Pionus Gifts

Have a friend of family member who loves Pionus parrots? Gift them something that will truly spark joy!

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Have A Great Story About Your Pionus?

Share your experience with others! There’s no better way to learn about a pet bird than from an owner.

Some helpful information for potential owners can be: What is the species of your bird? Is he/she friendly? Loving? Cuddly? Talented? Messy? Loud? You get the idea!

Your comment may just help someone decide whether or not this pet bird is for them.

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