In my life I have had doves, budgies, and cockatiels. My boyfriend has had an African Grey parrot for the past 13 or 14 years. I know a lot about cockatiels and African Greys, but as for other parrots I'm not sure.
I'll tell you this; I have 2 female tiels and 2 male tiels. The girls live together and the boys live together. The girls are great well mannered and quiet. I have one that is very young and one that is almost 8 years old. The 8 year old has egg laying problems, so egg binding is an issue and I’m waiting to see how the young girl does. My boys are loud and messy, but I don't worry about their health like I worry about the girls. (I'm constantly worried about calcium with the girls)
As you can see, you really can't win either way. My boyfriend's male African Grey is really smart. He can talk and he can say most things even if he only hears them once. (I always know when his parents have been fighting) He can be VERY loud, but I think it's worth it. Most birds, in my experience are very temperamental and touchy. The African Grey picks his feathers if his cage is moved or the family gets a new piece of furniture. Even my tiels are stubborn. It seems the more intelligent the bird the more touchy they are.
That being said, I love my birds. They are very affectionate and I love caring for them. Hope that helps a little.
I would suggest a female tiel or two. They do great in pairs.
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