Conures as Pets: Green-Cheek vs Sun Conure, and the Noise Gap
Why "Conure" Isn't One Noise Level
"Conure" is a group of related small parrots, not one bird with one set of traits. Someone who has met a calm green-cheek and someone who has lived beside a screeching sun conure have, in effect, owned two different pets.
Assuming all conures sound alike is one of the most common, and most avoidable, mistakes first-time buyers make. Nanday and cherry-headed conures are also kept as pets, and their volume shouldn't be assumed to match either bird on this page.
Green-Cheek: The Quieter Choice
The green-cheek conure sits at the quieter end of the group. Its chirps and contact calls are manageable for most households and many neighbors, and its playful, easygoing nature makes it the conure most often suggested for a first parrot.
"Quieter" is relative. A green-cheek is still a parrot and will call loudly when excited or startled; it just lacks the sustained, piercing screech of some relatives.
Sun Conure: Beautiful and Loud
A sun conure's brilliant orange and yellow sells the bird before anyone hears it. The screech is loud enough to carry through walls, floors and closed doors, and it is normal communication for the species, not a training failure.
Many sun conures that end up rehomed were bought from photographs, with the sound only entering the picture once the bird was home. Neighbors complain, a shared wall becomes a daily strain, and the bird pays for a mismatch it didn't cause. Before you decide, spend an hour with the species at a breeder, rescue or bird show. A short video badly undersells daily life with that voice.
Setting Up for an Active, Vocal Bird
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A bored conure is a louder conure. A roomy cage, a play stand for time outside it, and a steady rotation of shreddable and foraging toys give that energy somewhere to go. A small-parrot pellet is the base of the diet, with vegetables added daily. Bird cages and stands covers sizing, and bird toys and enrichment explains the toy rotation.
The First Month at Home
- Before arrival: set up the cage, find a vet who sees parrots, and bird-proof the room the conure will explore.
- Diet: pellets as the base, washed vegetables every day, seeds and nuts as small treats. Never avocado.
- Time out: several hours a day of supervised time out of the cage. The RSPCA suggests at least six hours of free flight for pet birds.
- Hazards: conures investigate everything. Read household dangers for birds before the first flight, especially around kitchens, candles and scented products.
- Check-up: book a first visit with your avian vet, then plan on yearly checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
The noise question comes first for almost everyone.
Are all conures equally loud?
No. A green-cheek conure is moderate, while a sun conure's screech is loud and piercing, much closer to what people imagine when they picture a screaming parrot.
Is a green-cheek conure a good apartment bird?
It copes with close living better than most conures, but it is not silent. A green-cheek's calls are usually manageable where a sun conure's would likely bring complaints.
Why do sun conures scream so much?
Screaming is how this social species keeps in touch. Boredom can make it worse, but even a busy, well-kept sun conure will call loudly every day.
How long do conures live?
Vet-written care sheets put green-cheek and sun conures at around 20 years or more with good care. That is a long commitment, so plan for the bird's whole life.
Are conures affectionate?
Generally yes. Conures tend to be curious and playful and often bond closely with people who give them real time every day.
When should a conure see a vet?
Soon after it comes home, then once a year. Call your avian vet the same day if a normally chatty conure goes quiet or stops eating, because birds hide illness well.
Related Reading
- Choosing a pet bird: noise, lifespan and space compared.
- Foraging and feather plucking: keeping clever birds busy.
- Large parrots: why the bigger species are a bigger step.
In a chatty species, a sudden quiet spell can matter more than noise. Line up a vet who sees parrots before your conure comes home.