Genus Aratinga This is by far one of the most popular genus of conures. There is some disagreement regarding the actual number of species, but the number seems to be between 15 and 21. The scientific name Aratinga derives from the fact that these birds are similar to macaws (genus Ara): "tinga" is a diminutive, so that "aratinga" means "little macaw." Some of the birds that fall under this genus include the Sharp-tailed Conure, the Blue-crowned Conure, the Mexican Green Conure, the Red-throated Conure, the Brown-throated Conure, the Sun Conure, the Jenday Conure, The Finsch's Conure, the Mitred Conure, the Dusky Conure and the Queen of Bavaria Conure.

 

Genus Nandayus nenday This species is a very close relative to the Aratinga. In fact, it is listed as Aratinga or Nandayus nenday. The Nanday Conure is native to southeastern Bolivia, northern Argentina, and Paraguay. The birds live in large flocks, often together with Monk Parakeets. Nanday conures are considered to be sociable birds, even with other species. Their coloring consists of a blue-black head, cheeks and throats.
Genus Brotogeris These green colored parakeets have narrow tails and long, pointed wings that cover the tail. Some species are imported regularly every year and make ideal aviary birds. Some of the species that fall under this genus are the Tirica Parakeet, the Canary-winged Parakeet, the Orange-chinned Parakeet, the golden-winged Parakeet and the Grey Cheeked Parakeet.

Genus Enicognathus This genus includes two currently quite popular species, the Slender-billed Conure and Austral Conure. Both come from southern South America. The Austral conure is mainly green, with most of the feathers darkly edged. The forehead and eye stripe are red. These birds are native to southern Argentina and Chile. The slender- billed conure is green, with an olive-colored belly. The flight feathers are bluish. They can be found in central Chili in noisy groups of 50-300 birds. In spring they move to the mountains.

 

Genus Cyanoliseus The Patagonian conure and its three subspecies belong to the genus Cyanoliseus. The Lesser Patagonian conure's upper side is olive-brown with an olive green sheen. This bird ranges from southern to central Argentina, occasionally into Uruguay. These birds have become increasing popular in aviculture, although their voices are loud and piercing. The Greater Patagonian is somewhat larger than the Patagonian conure and has a more robust beak. These birds are very hardy and need a daily supply of fruit tree and willow twigs, as well as thick branches, to satisfy their desire to chew.

 

Genus Pyrrhura Many members of this interesting genus are not often seen on the market, which is a shame because they are very beautiful birds and it is said they are not nearly as noisy as the Aratinga species. They are also said to be minimally destructive if regularly supplied with fresh twigs to occupy their attention. This genus includes the    Green-Cheeked Conure, Blue-Throated Conure, the Painted Conure, the White-Eared Conure, the Crimson-bellied Conure, the Black-Capped Conure and the Maroon-bellied Conure. 

                                          

Cages: I believe the general consensus regarding cages is "the larger the better". One word of caution however, the bars must be close enough together so that there is no possibility of the bird getting his head caught between the bars. Recommended minimum measurements for the smaller birds are 24 inches long, 16 inches wide and 20 inches high. Larger species should have a cage at least 44 x 26 x 40.The cage should be square or rectangular with horizontal bars, so the birds can climb.

 

Perches: In addition, perches supplied with cages are often too thin. Make sure the perch is about 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter so that the bird's claws cannot quite reach around them. The bird will then have a better grip and their toenails are less likely to become overgrown. Concrete perches are not recommended. These are very irritating to the bird's feet which you can imagine.
Natural perches are extremely useful. A least one perch should be placed high in the cage since conures love roosting as high as possible. Be careful not to fill the cage with too many perches however. There should be plenty of space for them to move about. If using natural branches, be sure they have not been sprayed with insecticides. Elder, willow, eucalyptus, and small fruit tree branches have been recommended.
While on the subject of plants, please make note of the various plants you have in the surrounding area. Birds LOVE plants, and many plants are poisonous.. Check out the Healthy Plants page for more information on this.

 

Bedding: There are several types of bedding available for birds, however, the most commonly recommended seems to be plain butcher paper or newsprint (not the glossy inserts). This allows the owners to easily monitor changes in the droppings which could indicate illness.
The other types of bedding include: corn cob, crushed walnut shell, and pine shavings. However, all three of these can be potentially harmful to the birds. Apparently, the corn cob and walnut shell can cause crop impaction if ingested by the birds and the pine shavings can cause respiratory problems. In addition, another draw back is the fact that bacteria tends to grow quickly on these types of bedding.
In any case, the bedding should be changed daily.

 

Lighting / Temperature: It is very important not place your bird's cage where there are drafts. They too, can catch colds if they get chilled. Generally, whatever temperature is comfortable for you will be fine for your bird.
Lighting is also important. The experts recommend that birds receive some indirect sun light. Just like humans, they too need sunshine to stay healthy. Some owners place full-spectrum lighting near their birds cages. If you do choose to use this type of lighting be sure to only use only those which are made especially for birds.

 

Household Dangers: There are several common household items which are potentially harmful and possibly fatal to your bird. Please make a note of them and do further research if any of these issues affect you.
• Teflon - This product has been the killer of countless household birds. It is found not only in cooking utensils but also in many other common household appliances, including hairdryers and portable heaters.
• Air Fresheners & Scented Candles - Do not use these items around birds. The fumes are toxic.
• Carbon Monoxide - This could be an issue if you use natural gas heaters. Please have your furnace checked regularly.
• Other Pets - While some owners report that their birds and other animals get along fantastically, it should be noted that it only takes one bite or scratch from a cat or dog to kill your bird. The germs they carry in their saliva and on their claws are deadly to birds.
• Cleaning Products - Almost all cleaning products are toxic.
• Perfume / Hairspray - Birds have very sensitive respiratory systems and these items are toxic to them.
This section is meant to be a "heads up" regarding items we use fairly frequently around the home. If you have doubts about a product, don't use it until you are sure.

 

 

Apartment vs. House: Some folks have written me regarding whether it would be wise to have a conure if they live in an apartment. Personally, I'd think long and hard before having any parrot in an apartment. Of course, there are quieter species but all parrots screech at one time or another. Most apartment walls are incredibly thin and it is difficult to prepare a room in such a way to keep the noise level down. Please consider how difficult it would be on both you and your bird to have to suddenly give him away because your neighbors complained about the noise.

Main Course: Small amount of seed may be fed, but don't make it their only food sorce.  For the record, sunflower seeds are deficient in lysine, which is essential for plumage development. Some birds if given the chance, would eat only the sunflower seeds and ignore everything else. A dish of pellets are very good to have available on a regular basis..
Side Dishes: Fruits and vegetables are a very important part of a bird's diet. Just about anything that is good for you is good for your bird. Just be careful not to give them foods which contain a lot of salt, fat or sugar. Their bodies do not metabolize these items like we do and can actually be very harmful to them. One word of caution, there are some foods that should NEVER be given to birds - avocado, chocolate, caffeine and of course, alcohol. These items are highly toxic to the birds.

Loudness / Vocal Abilities
Conures are LOUD folks! Sorry, but that's the truth ;) Their screeching can be ear piercing. But their delightful personalities make up for any annoyances caused by the screeching.
Conures are also great "talkers". I have heard cases of just about every species of conure talking. Their "voices" certainly aren't as clear as some of the larger parrots but their owners can understand what they are saying
Please note that not all parrots talk and that includes conures - some do and some don't. Of course it helps to talk to them often and clearly but there is no guarantee your bird will talk. Be prepared to love them just for the adorable creatures that they are.

Temperament

 

Conures are known for their sweet dispositions and playfulness and I can vouch for that. I have even heard of a conure that successfully protected his owner from an intruder.
These little birds are characters! I really don't know how else to put it
Odd Behaviors or "What the HECK is he doing?"

 

Head Bobbing: I've read that this is mostly a baby gesture. They do this to tell show their parents that they are hungry. Apparently, they continue to do it in adulthood as an "attention getter."

 

Backing Up: When your bird backs up to your hand or whatever and rubs her behind on you, basically... hmmm...well.... she's in love :) Its a female sexual maneuver and you should feel flattered - she "wants" you :)

 

Pecking: I have no idea what this means, but apparently it is a normal behavior for birds.

 

Beak Grinding: Basically this means "I'm a happy camper."

 

UBEs: UBE stands for "Unidentified Bird Emergency" - Every now and then, birds will become startled "out of the blue" and will go into a panic. This usually consists of flying frantically or flapping their wings and screeching at the top of their lungs. There doesn't have to be a reason, they just do it. It doesn't seem to happen very often and there is usually NOTHING going on... I mean total silence. The "episode" only lasts a few seconds and then they act as if nothing ever happened :) Who knows?

 

Wing Flapping: When your bird gently flaps his wings close to his body, he wants to come to you. Usually this happens when I walk near or stand close to the cage. Of course, I can never resist picking him up!

 

French Kissing: For some reason, Conures will sometimes try to 'slip you the tongue' when you kiss them.

Play Time

Toys: Toys - Gotta Have 'Em! Conures are very playful birds and can become bored quickly if they don't have anything to amuse themselves. There are countless types of toys on the market and most are very inexpensive.
I am sure each bird is different is this regard, but it shouldn't be too hard to discover their favorites. Their beaks are incredibly strong, and because of this the toys should be chosen carefully. Do not bother buying toys made for parakeets - not only will they be turned into a heap the next day, but they can also be dangerous. In addition, just because the toy is made for birds, do not assume it is safe.

Fun & Games: Conures love to play games.

 

Bath Time
Conures love to take baths, as do most birds. Most pet shops sell small bathing tubs made especially for birds. However, I use a glass pie plate which works quite well. I only put a little over a quarter of an inch of lukewarm water in it and it seems to work perfectly. After this bath I wrap them gently in a towel and hold them close to me until they are dry.

 

Bed Time
Conures, according to the experts, need 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
Training
One of the first things a new owner should do is to train their bird the "Up" command. This command will be very helpful to you in the future.
The "Up" Command: Basically, the idea is to teach the bird to "step up" onto your finger or hand held perch upon your command. The method I use is to put my finger against the body just above the feet and say "Step Up". When they step on my finger I praised them. We did this over and over again until they "got it". They are very eager to please their owners and if they can figure out what you want, they will generally do it for you.

Behavorial Problems
Several people have written me regarding behavioral problems and while I'm certainly no expert, I thought I would share with you some tactics that might help.

 

Overwhelming Screeching: There are several reasons why a bird may have screeching problems, namely being spoiled, lonely or stressed. If the screeching relates to being spoiled... (wants to be with you every waking moment of the day or else!), then I would suggest possibly covering his cage for a few moments when he starts to scream. After he becomes quiet, then remove the cover. You must be consistent with this method for it to work. These little guys are very smart and will quickly learn that if they scream they will get covered.
If that doesn't do the trick, you may have to resort to moving him to a quieter part of the house. Sometimes a new bird will become stressed easily if there is a lot of activity going on around him all the time.
As for loneliness, the best cure of course, is more time from his humans. If that is impossible, perhaps you can relieve it by giving him new toys, treats or possibly even leave the radio or tv on for him.

 

Biting: Let's face it guys, all birds bite at one time or another. But, biting all the time is a different story.
Chewing on Your Clothes: Conures love to chew and chewing on your clothes is no exception. I had one visitor who wrote that her t-shirts had "more holes than material"! This is quite normal.
Skittishness: Sometimes a newly acquired bird may exhibit a lack of trust and be skittish. This behavior is normal. It is quite traumatic for a bird to be moved to a new home. Birds that have had previous owners are especially affected, particularly if the bird was mistreated or neglected. The only advice I can give is to be patient, talk softly and often to the bird and offer him treats from your hand. Eventually, he will hopefully come to see you as a friend.

 

Training No No's: Never, ever, ever punish your bird by hitting him, spraying him with water or by screaming at him. These guys have very sensitive personalities, and you can warp him for life. They will not forgive and forget! It takes years sometimes, if ever, for abused birds to become trusting again.

 

Grooming
Like most pets, birds need to be groomed from time to time. There are basically two things you will need to do - trim their wings and clip their toenails. Of course, if you'd rather not do it yourself, I'm sure your Vet will be happy to do it for you.

 

Clipping the Wings: There is some controversy regarding wing clipping, but in my humble opinion, I'd rather be safe than sorry. These little guys can get into so much mischief even after being clipped, its scary to think of what all they could get into if they were fully-flighted. I've heard horror stories of birds flying into ceiling fans, flying into a pot of boiling water on the stove, and even drowning in a toilet. And let's not forget the many unfortunate owners that have lost their birds when a door or window was left open by mistake. Clipping the wings is not hard, but I recommend that you have someone who is experienced show you how. There are definitely issues you need to watch for and you need to know what you are doing. If you accidently cut a blood-feather, your bird could actually bleed to death if you don't have the necessary medicines available.

 

Trimming the Toenails: The same is true for trimming the toenails. Its not difficult, but you need to know how to do it properly.

Determining Sex
Sex determination on conures, for the most part, is difficult if not impossible. Actually, I haven't a clue if Louie is a male or female, but since I'm not breeding "him" it really does not make that much difference. An Avian Vet can determine sex using certain procedures such as DNA testing or surgical testing.
One visitor wrote me that breeders use a certain technique that can determine sex without such tests. You can lay your conure on its back and feel the pelvic bones. If they are close together (touching or almost touching), then its a male; if they are far apart then its a female. This is because the female requires extra room for the eggs. This makes sense but I don't know how accurate it is.

Disease

 

Birds will very often try to hide their symptoms in order to appear healthy because of survival instincts. In fact, they are so good at this that by the time we notice the symptoms it is often too late.
Conures kept under optimum conditions and given a balanced diet are remarkably resistant to disease and you should rarely have any problems. It is my belief the best prevention for these and other diseases is cleanliness and regular checkups from your vet. For the most part, these birds are very hardy.

 

Lifespan
According to a recent article in Bird Talk Magazine, the lifespan of Conures was shown to be a maximum of 25 years and the average lifespan was quoted as being 10 years. I have even heard of conures living as long as 35 years. It is not uncommon for exotic bird owners to include a clause in their wills providing for the care of their birds in the event the birds outlive the owners.

This page was last modified on Sunday, March 14, 2010 01:38:08 PM