Blue-crowned Conure

• ExerciseHigh

  Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• GroomingEasy upkeep

  Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• Living spaceStandard cage

  A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment20–30 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Feather plucking · Respiratory issues · Obesity

The Blue-crowned Conure (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) ranges across the dry woodlands of central and southern South America, and is the conure most people have seen without knowing it: the bird in the 1998 film Paulie was this species. It weighs 140 to 190 grams, lives twenty to thirty years, and stands apart from the flashy Aratinga conures in two ways that matter to a household. It is a genuinely capable talker, and it is markedly quieter. Quieter is relative. A Blue-crowned still greets the day and calls to its flock, but the tone is lower and the frequency lower than a Sun or Jenday, and many owners keep them in flats successfully. The personality is affectionate and even, with less of the shrieking excitability of its cousins; they enjoy shoulder time, tolerate handling well and are less prone to sudden nipping than most conures. They still need company, and a bird left alone all day will find its voice. House in the widest cage you can manage, with daily out-of-cage flight or climbing, and rotate foraging toys and shreddable wood. Feed a formulated pellet base with fresh vegetables, leafy greens and a little fruit, avoiding an all-seed diet, which drives the obesity and fatty liver disease that shorten conure lives. Hens on rich food and long daylight can become chronic layers, risking calcium depletion and egg binding, so control the light cycle and remove nesting cues. Annual avian vet checks catch the rest.

• How much activity does a Blue-crowned Conure need?

  High. Needs hours of out-of-cage activity and mental challenges every day.

• How much feather care does a Blue-crowned Conure need?

  Easy upkeep. Fresh bath water and an occasional mist are all they ask.

• What cage does a Blue-crowned Conure need?

  Standard cage. A proper cage and daily out-of-cage time fit fine in an apartment.

• Is a Blue-crowned Conure a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Blue-crowned Conure live?

  20–30 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Blue-crowned Conure?

  Keep an eye out for Feather plucking, Respiratory issues, Obesity. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

Be the first to join this community!