All About Conures

Spunky, comical and fun-loving! These characteristics all describe one species of bird. You guessed it! Conures. Because of their loving personalities, these bold and beautiful birds are popular pet companions. A diverse group, conures come in a wide range of eye-catching colors, and they usually have colorful personalities to match!

Fast Facts

Lifespan: 20 years; up to 30 with care.
Size: Smallest – Green-cheeked and black-capped conures at around eight inches.
Largest – Patagonian conure at 18 to 20 inches.
Native to South America.

General Appearance

Conures are recognized for their slender build and long, pointed tail. They are small to medium parrots that range in size according to species. Because of their smaller size (and many other reasons), they make great family pets. These vibrant beauties greatly range in color, with their feathers an assortment of blue, red, green, orange and yellow. Their coloring is often compared to that of a macaw. One distinctive characteristic of most conures is their lack of feathers around the eyes, which is called an "eye ring."

Behavior and Personality

Conures are the life of the party! The typical conure is social, inquisitive, bold and vocal. And they love to have fun! They are active, playful and outgoing, and they love to cuddle. These snuggly babies are all about spending quality time with their families, and they are notorious for wanting to be where the action is. You may just find your conure dancing back and forth, mimicking your movements or climbing in your shirt!

Another factor that makes conures a good family pet is their patience with children. While many bigger birds only want to be touched on the head and neck, conures often tolerate being petted all over the body. With the right amount of socialization and training they will quickly become a treasured part of the family.

These smart cookies are capable of learning tricks and speaking a few words but their vocabularies aren't as extensive as other parrot species. With training and positive reinforcement, these intelligent birds can learn to step up, shake hands, wave and so much more.

Challenges

It's no secret that conures are often very loud birds. However, the noise level can vary from bird to bird and between species. A conure's signature call is a high-pitched screech. Owners frequently make the mistake of reinforcing a conure's loud screech by running over to the bird or answering the screeches. Providing these beautiful babies with plenty of toys and spending quality time with them often results in less screeching.

These birds can be prone to feather picking, especially if they become bored. Because they are so outgoing and playful, they need an enriched environment with opportunities to chew, play and exercise. Daily interaction is necessary for the mental and physical health of conures, and all other pet birds!

Fun Facts

• There are around 100 different species and subspecies of conures, making them one of the more varied groups of parrots. Popular species include the sun conure, jenday conure, green-cheeked conure, blue-crowned conure and nanday conure.
• Aratinga, one genus of conures, is Latin for "little macaw." The conures in the Aratinga genus share many traits with macaws!
• Conures have less tendency than their larger parrot cousins to form a strong bond with just one person. If well-socialized, they often get along with multiple family members.
• Aratinga and Patagonians are the best conure choices for families with children because they tend to be the most affectionate and gentle.

Conures are popular pet companions for a reason! These colorful beauties have big personalities, they are very intelligent and they are all about having a good time. If you're ready to add a long-term, cuddly companion to your family, then a conure may be for you!

Resources:
"Conure" - Lafeber
"Conure Birds" - Bird Channel
"Conures, The Family-Friendly Pet Birds" - Bird Channel
"Conures" - Pet University

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