The Conure is a small species of parrot that is every bit as friendly, adorable, and sweet as any other parrot. The conure is highly intelligent and they can become very animated. Many conures learn to talk very well and some conures only learn a few words. The average lifespan of a wild conure is fifteen years but many have been known to live as long as thirty-five years in captivity. I think with proper care, cleanliness and nutrition your bird can live well past the average lifespan.

The conure loves your attention! They are highly social birds, and socially complex birds, and need quality time with you. They love to play and can easily learn to do tricks.

I spent hours one day watching two hand-fed baby sun conures playing together. It was delightful. They also got very jealous when I paid attention to each of them, both attempting to get more attention than the other did.

They do enjoy the company of other conures. Unless you want fertile eggs it is best to keep the genders separate.

The downside of the conure is that they can be very noisy. They can screech rather loud so they may not make a very good pet if you live in an apartment or are close to neighbors. The nanday conure is one of the noisier conures.

There are many varieties of conures coming from many areas such as South and Central America, parts of Mexico and even the West Indies. They range in price according to popularity and rarity.

Photo courtesy of Cedar Hill Birds; Crimson Belly Conure and Hoffmann's Conure, (Sulphur-winged or Sulfur-winged Parakeets)

Conure are available in a wide range of colors from the brilliant, sweet sun conure to red-headed, green mitred conure. Most exotic birds have fascinating color combinations.

Purchasing a Conure
A conure should be purchased from a reputable breeder, supplier, or pet store. Never buy a bird that has been wild caught. Some varieties of conures are extinct or are endangered. Exploitation and habitat loss are the reasons for their extinction and endangerment.


The conure should appear to be healthy with smooth bright feathers, bright shiny eyes, and no discharge from the nose. The vent should be clean and free from soil. Look on the bottom of the cage to make sure the droppings are firm and well-formed. The bird should be active and aware of his surroundings.

Before you buy and bring home your bird, have him tested by an avian veterinarian. These tests should include a complete blood count, (CBC) Chlamydia Screen and a culture of the throat and vent. Make sure a signed veterinarian certificate accompanies the bird.

The best pet birds are the ones that are hand-fed babies. Hand-fed babies grow up to be outstanding pets. It is usually wise to choose a bird that has been weaned and is eating on this own. Some of us have been taught to hand feed, but unless you are experienced, this could lead to torn or burned crops, infections and other problems.

Before introducing your new bird to your other pets they should be quarantined for at least eight weeks.

Continues with the Complete Care Guide for the Conure


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The Conure Handbook (Barron's Pet Handbooks)