I bought our first bird from a pet shop 6 months ago. Emma has since turned into an Emitt but as a hand reared bird has given us all the pleasure of a tiny feathured creature putting significant amounts of trust into our hands. He wolf whistles - says 'pretty girl' and whistles tunes we have taught him. In the mornings he lets us know he's ready for the day by tapping on the mirror in his cage and whistling a 'tune'. He then watches me make coffee and with great interest my breakfast - which he likes to have his share of

Emmit sits on my shoulder and spends hours in his cage outside listening to the other birds around. Our builder has seen us with our bird and recently offered us their IRN which their son had to have but has since not paid much attention too. The builder was concerned at the behaviour the IRN is starting to develop and asked us if we would like the bird. We accepted on the basis that we enjoyed our Weeero so much that we were keen to expand our exposure. But here's the thing - WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT PAROTS! actually we dont know much about bird period.
Our IRN is pale blue with a white head. Unknown gender apparently around 8 months old. Hand reared. Within a space of two weeks he hardly bites at all, and makes less fuss about being put in a cage (given that he sleeps on his perch (not the cage - and is taken out as soon as someone comes home. He loves a splash in a bowl of water (somethin Emitt has never done - he seems to prefer a shower of fine mist).
Question: how easily do birds of different species bond as 'friends'? Our IRN - named 'Boo" by previous owner is only 8 months old and already souble the size of our 11 month old weero.
Question: We think they might both be male birds but our IRN shows no sign of a ring around his neck at this stage - not sure when that would appear?