Maximilian's Pionus

• ExerciseModerate

  Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceSome experience helps

  A little know-how makes life smoother.

• Commitment25–40 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Respiratory issues · Obesity · Feather plucking

Maximilian's Pionus (Pionus maximiliani), also called the Scaly-headed Parrot, is the largest of the genus at 230 to 290 grams and comes from the woodlands of central and eastern South America. Its colouring is deliberately understated, olive and bronze with dark feather edging and a violet throat, and it has a reputation among keepers as one of the most emotionally stable medium parrots available. That stability is the point of the species. A Maximilian's is quiet by parrot standards, tolerates being left for a working day better than a cockatoo or caique, and rarely develops the screaming or biting patterns that plague more intense species. It is affectionate with its family and typically bonds to the household rather than obsessively to one person. It is a modest talker. Its calm can read as aloofness, and it needs gentle patient handling rather than the boisterous play a caique demands. Provide a roomy cage, a few hours out daily, chewable wood and foraging puzzles. Feed a pellet base with vegetables and dark leafy greens, and keep seed, nuts and fruit modest, because Pionus put weight on quietly. Like all Pionus, this species wheezes and open-mouth breathes when stressed, which is normal, but the genus is genuinely prone to fungal respiratory disease such as aspergillosis, so keep the environment dry, clean and free of mouldy seed, avoid non-stick fumes and aerosols, and get any persistent breathing change checked by an avian vet rather than assumed to be stress.

• How much activity does a Maximilian's Pionus need?

  Moderate. Daily out-of-cage time and foraging toys keep them busy.

• How much feather care does a Maximilian's Pionus need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Maximilian's Pionus need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Maximilian's Pionus a good fit for first-time owners?

  Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.

• How long do Maximilian's Pionus live?

  25–40 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Maximilian's Pionus?

  Keep an eye out for Respiratory issues, Obesity, Feather plucking. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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