Conure

Is a conure right for you?

"Conure" is the common name for long-tailed, small to medium-sized parrots native to Central and South America. The most commonly kept are the green-cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae) and the sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis). They are playful, cuddly and very intelligent, but two facts must be accepted up front: they can be extremely noisy and they live for decades.

Before getting a conure, try to listen to an adult bird at least once in the morning and evening. If the noise will be a problem for you or your neighbours, it is far better for everyone to find out before the bird comes home.

Before you adopt

Important: avian vets are not available everywhere. Check in advance whether there is an exotic-animal clinic near you that treats parrots.

Legal status and sourcing: Conures, like almost all parrots (the exceptions being the budgerigar, cockatiel, peach-faced lovebird and rose-ringed parakeet), are listed in CITES Appendix II. Rules on keeping CITES-listed birds vary by country; in Turkey, for example, regulations require proof of legal origin such as an invoice, a breeder's document and CITES paperwork. Buy from a breeder who can document captive breeding, or through a documented transfer.

Sun conures in particular: In the wild this species is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. The wild population was estimated at fewer than 2,500 birds as of 2021, and capture for the pet trade is the main threat. Birds of unclear origin sold as "imported" may feed that trade. Choose only documented, captive-bred birds.

Other checks:

• Have a vet examine the bird, with PBFD and chlamydia tests if appropriate, before it meets other birds in your home.
• Hand-raised, young, well-socialised birds adapt to home life more easily.
• In most species males and females look alike; sex is determined by DNA testing.
• Think about where the bird would go if you could no longer care for it; it may outlive you.

Character and social needs

Conures are cuddly, curious and a little mischievous. They treat their human family as their flock and want to spend most of the day with you; they love riding on shoulders, burrowing into jumper collars and playing with hair. A well-socialised conure is very affectionate.

Noise: Conures usually have a limited vocabulary but are known for loud screaming. Calling at dawn and dusk is natural and cannot be stopped completely. Responding to attention screams by shouting back or rushing over reinforces the behaviour.

Biting and chewing: A conure may nip when it doesn't get what it wants. It has a strong urge to chew; cables, furniture edges and books can become targets.

Other birds: As flock birds they usually get on with other birds, but should not be left unsupervised with small birds such as budgies or canaries.

Cage and living space

• Size: Veterinary sources recommend at least about 60x60x90 cm; larger species such as the sun conure should have more.
• Bars: Spaced so the bird cannot trap its head, sturdy and free of zinc and lead.
• Perches: Natural wood in different diameters.
• Toys: Chewable wood, leather, cardboard and newspaper toys; foraging puzzles. Rotate regularly.
• Sleeping hut or blanket: Many conures like to hide to sleep, but because huts can trigger egg laying in females, discuss their use with your vet.
• Time out: Several supervised hours outside the cage every day. Cables, open windows, hot hobs and ceiling fans are dangers.
• Position: In the room where the family spends time, draught-free and out of direct sun. Never leave it on a sunny balcony in summer.

Feeding

• Staple: A good-quality parrot pellet should form the basis of the diet.
• Fresh vegetables and fruit: Dark leafy greens, carrot, broccoli, bell pepper daily; fruit in smaller amounts.
• Seed: Limited to 1-2 teaspoons a day, as a treat and training reward.
• Calcium and vitamin K: Dark leafy greens provide both, which matters for the bleeding syndrome seen in conures.
• Water: Fresh daily; conures love dunking food, so check the water dish several times a day.

Toxic foods: avocado (can be fatal), chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, salt, onion, garlic, fruit pits.

Household hazards: non-stick cookware (PTFE fumes), cigarette smoke, aerosols and scent diffusers; because they chew, old paint, jewellery, curtain weights and metal parts containing lead or zinc.

Health and lifespan

Lifespan varies by species. Veterinary sources give ranges from 15-20 years to 20-35 years; sun conures can live 15-30 years in captivity. Green-cheeks are about 25 cm long and sun conures about 30 cm; Pyrrhura species weigh 55-70 grams and Aratinga species 100-200 grams. An annual vet check is recommended.

Problems that stand out in conures:

• Conure bleeding syndrome: Seen especially in Aratinga conures (sun, jenday). Sudden weakness, nosebleeds, vomiting blood or bloody droppings, prolonged bleeding from minor wounds. The cause is not fully understood but is linked to low blood calcium and vitamin K. An emergency.
• Proventricular dilatation disease (PDD, avian bornavirus): Conures are among the species most affected. Chronic weight loss, undigested seed in droppings, regurgitation; neurological signs in later stages.
• Pacheco's disease: A herpesvirus that affects conures; often causes sudden death without prior signs. Quarantining new birds is the best protection.
• PBFD and polyomavirus: Feather abnormalities, feather loss, beak deformities; sudden death in young birds.
• Feather plucking: Linked to boredom, loneliness and lack of sleep; medical causes should be ruled out first.
• Egg binding and reproductive disease in females: Sitting fluffed up, straining, swollen abdomen.
• Heavy metal poisoning: From chewing items containing lead or zinc; lethargy, vomiting, green diarrhoea, trembling.

Taming and training

Conures are intelligent and respond well to reward-based training.

1. Settling in (1-2 weeks). Spend calm time near the cage and offer a favourite treat through the bars.
2. Stepping up. Rest a finger against the lower chest and reward with a short cue ("up").
3. Target training. Rewarding the bird for touching the tip of a stick with its beak is the foundation for going into the cage or a carrier.
4. Managing screaming. Give attention and treats when the bird is quiet; don't react while it is screaming. Regular daily interaction and enough toys reduce screaming noticeably.
5. Responding to bites. Don't jerk your hand away or shout; briefly end the interaction.
6. Sleep. A dark, quiet night-time routine helps reduce grumpiness and screaming.

Wing clipping is controversial; keep the bird safe by managing the environment rather than clipping its wings.

History and life in the wild

Conures include dozens of parrot species across several genera, ranging from Mexico through Central and South America. In the wild they move in flocks and eat seeds, fruit and flowers.

The sun conure is native to north-eastern South America, particularly Guyana and the state of Roraima in Brazil. Its brilliant yellow-orange plumage made it one of the most sought-after species in the cage-bird trade; tens of thousands of birds were exported within a short period and the species disappeared from much of its range. Today conservation work is showing signs of recovery in Guyana. Making sure the conure in your home was bred in captivity is the most concrete contribution you can make to stop that story repeating.