Pionus parrots have been described as the "!!!!!! perfect!!!!!!" apartment birds. They are small, pretty quiet, don’t chew things, and they are very even tempered. They are not brightly colored but look much prettier in the sunlight where their true brilliance shines.

Pionus parrots have little traits that are peculiarly Pionus. They tend to breath heavily when they get excited. Extremely good feelings or bad ones are both believed to result in a short spell of wheezing or huffing and puffing. This is normal and will only last for a few minutes. If breathless, it may be a sign of breathing difficulties and a vet should be contacted.
Only five varieties of Pionus are available as pets. The three that are unavailable, white crowned, plum crowned, and coral (or red) billed, seem to be plentiful in the wild (all of the Pionus come from areas ranging from the Southern tip of Central America to the Northern part of South America), but they do not reproduce readily in captivity and thus are best kept in a breeding/aviary situation.

Maximillians are the largest of the Pionus by about a half an inch. They also look at first glance to be the least attractive, with olive green bodies and a patch of blue under the chin. Like the other pi's, their "true colors" are revealed only in natural sunlight, and a hidden tint of bronze, green and teal will show in the sunlight. They make up for this lack of visual appeal by having a reputation as the most affectionate of the Pionus bunch, but also have a tendency to be "perch potatoes" and may wait to be invited to interact with their owners.

Because Pionus have only been common as pets for a relatively short time, it's not certain how long they live. Recent improvements in the diet of captive birds have also contributed to the probable longevity of these birds as pets. It is believed that a healthy, well-cared for Pionus may live up to 40 years in captivity.