Merlin, my Bronze-Wing, is the only pionus I’ve spent much time with, so I don’t know what is general to the species or particular to him. I have talked with others who also have a pionus or two, and most of what I mention below I am confident is what you might expect from other pionuses (pionii?).

Coloration: If you have only seen pictures of the BWP, they don’t do the justice to his magnificent coloration. From a distance Merlin looks like a little brown hawk, but up close, in good light (especially sunlight), he is unbelievable. The brown is really a deep purple with green scallops overlying a brown base. He has deep purple ear coverts, midnight blue on his flight feathers and tail feathers - from the top anyway. Orange highlights his chest (over a pale beige patch) and under his rump, and bronze highlights his wings. But most spectacular is what he keeps hidden. Under his wings and tail is the most magnificent turquoise blue, and it takes my breath away every time he reveals it, when he bathes, or flies, or simply stretches his wings wide.

Personality: His breeder called BWP’s snobbish but I think "standoffish" is a little closer. Merlin is very independent. He loves his toys and plays roughly with them. When he was younger, he never let me touch him, but did want to be on my shoulder during his calmer perids. Now, in his maturity (he is almost three as I update this page), he loves to have his head scratched - he will fluff up his head feathers and lean down, extending his neck in invitation to my fingers, and his eyes close with bliss - but he wants contact on his own terms and only when he wants it. He lets me pet his back gently, briefly, but then he moves away. He wants to be near me but not necessarily on me. This works good for my flock because I am also owned by a Nanday conure who believes I am his personal perch and plaything and would fight to the finish any other who wants to take over.

Merlin is a very calm bird. Nothing seems to phase him, not new food, new toys, new cage. When Bandit shrieks his alarms, Merlin looks up interestedly but does not panic (unlike the cockatiels). Every new thing requires investigation. He loves walking around the coffee table mouthing everything. He loves the back of the couch if I am on it, the back of the armchair if I am there. He is also quiet (comparatively speaking). Even my budgies drown out his mumbling. He does get louder in the morning when I first get up, but it is nothing compared to the conure. Mimicking ability, so far he imitates the cockatiels, the red-rumps, and Bandit. He also renders a passable "Hello" but it is more of a song then a word. He is communicative and very attentive when I talk or sing to him. He loves music, especially songs by women and those with lots of drums.

Relations with others: Merlin chases away all the other members of my flock and is very protective of his cage. He has a particular fascination with Bandit's cage and will spend an incredible amount of energy trying to invade it despite my continually removing him and caging him in his own. He does not go out of his way to attack any of the smaller birds but does not like them too close. As far as human contact, he allows my son to pick him up, hold him, feed him, and even scratch his head, even though he is bonded to me. He does not like small children, but that could be because he very rarely sees them.

Merlin is a wonderful addition to my flock without being an burden on me. His independence is perfectly suited for our flock.

Modified March 22, 1999