Tag: conure

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Halfmoon Conures

Halfmoon conures are small conures from Mexico to Central America, ranging from 8.5 to 9 inches overall. While similar in size to Greencheek conures, they look quite different. In fact, they look very similar to Peach-fronted conures, but you will notice a variation in their beak color. Halfmoon conures will have a tan colored upper mandible (like a crescent moon!), and the Peach-fronted conures have all black beaks.

Although primarily green- they have a striking orange cap and shades of blue on the head, tail, and on the primary feathers of their wings. The males and females will look similar and a DNA test is recommended to determine gender.

In general, conures are not known for their talking ability, but these small conures can pick up a medium-sized vocabulary. They are also playful, curious, and interactive with their owners. When excited, they can make loud noises but they are not typically as loud as the larger Aratinga conures such as Sun conures, or Jenday conures.

The lifespan of a Halfmoon conure is approximately 24-30 years. They should be fed a pellet-based diet along with a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, and seeds as treats.

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Sun Conures

Visually, sun conures may be one of the most eye-catching and recognizable of the parrots. Although they are primarily yellow and orange, they have a bright red face, with green and dark blue feathers on the wings and tail. As babies, they may fool you! Their predominant color is green until they approach 4-5 months and the yellow starts to brighten up. It will usually take over a year to color out into their mature plumage. Sun conures can typically live 25 – 30 years.

In the wild they are found in areas of Northeast South America. Males and females will look very similar, and are often difficult to tell apart unless tested.

As pets, sun conures are curious, playful, and affectionate. What is most notable about sun conures may be their love for tents. You can usually find sun conures playing in them, on them, or putting themselves to bed at night. The best ones for conures are open at both ends to allow room for their long tail. When being handled or out of the cage, snuggly sun conures may find their way under their owner’s shirts, into sleeves, and even under the blankets. Like most other conures they are loud and have high pitched ‘screech’ vocalizations. While they are not known to be the best talkers, many can pick up a small vocabulary.

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Green-cheeked Conures

Conures- loveable, loud, and curious! There are 2 main genus of conures: Aratinga and Pyrrhura, plus a few types that are their own genus: Nandays, Patagonians, and Golden conures to name a few.

One of the most popular conures kept are the Green cheeked conures, which belong to the Pyrrhura genus. Their smaller size, and generally quieter vocalizations are what make many bird owners initially drawn to these companion parrots. It is their intelligence, charm, and mischievous nature that makes us fall in love with them. Their average life span can range between 18 – 25 years with proper nutrition and exercise. It is recommended that their diet should include vegetables rich in vitamin K, and be slightly higher fat and lower in protein.

A standard green cheek has a black crown, with a grayish-white collar around the neck. The body is mostly green with a maroon blush on its belly as well as the tail. The primary wing feathers are vibrant blue, which is especially noticeable on an unclipped bird. There are a number of beautiful color mutations as well, from the pronounced red and yellow of the pineapple conure (a cinnamon variety of the yellow-sided mutation), to the teal and silvery gray of the turquoise conures.

These highly interactive little parrots can obtain a small vocabulary, learn tricks like waving, kisses, laying on their backs, and more with proper time and dedication. Their in-cage antics will also leave you laughing as they scoot around on their sides, wrestle with bells and jingle balls, and hang upside-down.