Conure is a board term used more often now in aviculture to describe these colorful small to medium sized, long tailed parrots. Native throughout Central and South America this is one of the largest grouping of psittacines. Some say there as many 90 different species but the grouping is still unclear. These companion parrots have a lifespan of about 20-30 years.
Their size range from small (just a bit bigger than a parakeet) up to a medium sized conure like the Golden conure that can weigh in as much as 180-200 grams. They are known for their striking brilliant colors and playfulness. So the cage requirements will vary depending on the size of your conure.
A small Green-cheeked conure can live comfortably in a cockatiel sized cage 18 x 18 but the medium sized conure will need 24 x 24 and larger. If you can go larger it’s always better depending on bar spacing and how much time they spend in the cage.
Family Rating: These companion parrots are generally good with the entire family. If there are small children in the house then a calm sit down interaction is preferred by these playful parrots to develop trust with the child. Remember kids have faster heart beats than adults so birds can sense this and become nervous around that child.
Talkability/Noise Level: Some conures talk better than others but of course it is how much time you spend teaching and then there is still no guarantee they will ever say a word. Some just mimic household noises, bells, chimes, beeps, and alarms. For the most part conures are one of the loudest smaller parrots.
Some have labeled the Green-cheeks as apartment birds, but a good rule of thumb is that these birds are going to be loud in the morning and at sunset so plan phone conversations accordingly.
Lots of new toys and mental stimulation can help with the noise level early on if they are taught independent play while juveniles.
Cuddle Score: The conure parrot is very cuddly. They love attention from their families and love the interaction and playtime with their flock. They love hide and seek, dancing, and can learn many tricks for the attention of their family. They have been known to fall asleep in your shirt or on their backs in odd places that can be quite alarming until you get to know your conure.
Hypoallergenic: All conures are dander free birds. They do not produce powder but still need regular bathes if they are kept in a dry environment. Remember these birds come from the rain forest and humid parts of South America so constant air conditioning can dry out their skin.
Diet: In the wild they feed mainly on grass seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, flowers, buds, insects and grains. If you can duplicate this super, if not, a two-thirds pelleted diet with one-third seed, phyto-nutrient food (a.k.a dark greens) along with fruit and veggie you’ll have a healthy companion conure.
