Conure Parrot Facts, Behavior and Health Care Info

If your looking for an outgoing little parrot that is playful and active, then you might want to consider a conure. These birds are small enough to fit in most spaces and big enough to satisfy people looking for a real parrot. Conures can be quite noisy or relatively quiet and come in a variety of colors.

History and Appearance
Although some types of conures are now found in California and Florida, they are originally natives of South America. In addition to the many color variations, conures also can be found in a wide range of sizes, from eight and one half inches (21cm) to eighteen inches (46cm) long. Out of over forty species of conures, in the United States only a handful of those are available as pets.

One of the most affordable types of conures is the Nanday. This bird is green with a black head and falls in the middle of the size range. Nandays are among the loudest conures, but they are quite good talkers if you can handle the noise. You may want to look elsewhere, though, if you live in an apartment or townhouse.

Two more conures on the lower end of the price range are Maroon Bellies and Green Cheeks. Both are among the quietest and smallest of the conure family. The Maroon Belly is a bit more rare and not as friendly as the Green Cheek.

Green Cheeks and Maroon Bellies resemble each other so much that experienced bird handlers sometimes have trouble telling them apart. In addition to having maroon tails, the Green Cheek has more green on it’s chest than the Maroon Belly. These birds can be taught to talk, but only a few words or phrases. The fact that they are not overly vocal makes them a good choice for those who live in apartments.

Sun and Jenday are two more popular types of conures, as well as the Sunday, which is a cross between the two. The bright orange and yellow coloring of these birds has led them to be compared to a sunset. Sun conures are just about entirely yellow and orange whereas the Jenday has a green body with an orange chest and yellow head.

Behavior and Characteristics
As attractive as these birds are, they are not suited for just anyone. Many people find it difficult to deal with the loud shrieking call they can produce. Start teaching them to talk immediately after you get them home. This will give them an outlet for their vocalization other than screeching.

The Blue Crown and the White Eye are two of the most talkative conures, as well as being two of the largest. They are not as colorful as some other varieties, but are quick studies when it comes to learning words and phrases. These birds are not recommended for apartment living since they are quite loud. The Blue Crown is mostly green with a blue head and, of course, the White Eye has white rings around it’s eyes.

Conures Care Info
Conures, for the most part, love to be handled and are very playful and active. Playing dead and picking up rings are tricks that can easily be taught to handfed birds of this kind. Due to their abundance of energy, these parrots require a roomy cage and plenty of toys.

Some of the smaller varieties of conures will have no problem slipping out of a cage that has bars more than one half inch (1.2cm) apart. Make sure the cage is appropriate for your specific bird to ensure safety and security.

If a smaller, energetic and freindly bird is what you’re looking for, you may have found it in the conure.

         

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