Cherry-headed Conure

• ExerciseVery high

  A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• 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 Cherry-headed Conure (Psittacara erythrogenys) comes from western Ecuador and northwestern Peru, and is best known outside its range through the feral flock of San Francisco documented in The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. Those escaped pets thrived precisely because this is a hardy, adaptable, fearless bird. Adults weigh 150 to 200 grams and live twenty to thirty years. The temperament is warm and outgoing. Cherry-heads bond hard, love physical contact, learn tricks fast and pick up a modest vocabulary. The problem is volume: this is one of the loudest medium parrots kept in homes, with a piercing flock call it uses at dawn, at dusk, and whenever anyone leaves the room. No training removes it, because it is normal species behaviour, not misbehaviour. Anyone in an apartment with shared walls should choose a Pyrrhura conure instead and be honest about it before, not after. Given space, they are straightforward to care for. Provide a large flight cage, several hours out daily, and heavy rotation of destructible foraging toys, since idle Cherry-heads pluck. Feed a pellet base with daily vegetables and greens and only small amounts of fruit; all-seed diets cause the obesity, fatty liver and vitamin A deficiency that fill avian clinics. Keep the air clean, as overheated non-stick cookware, aerosols and smoke kill parrots quickly, and book an annual avian vet check with bloodwork.

• How much activity does a Cherry-headed Conure need?

  Very high. A high-energy flyer — serious daily flight time and enrichment are essential.

• How much feather care does a Cherry-headed Conure need?

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

• What cage does a Cherry-headed Conure need?

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

• Is a Cherry-headed Conure a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Cherry-headed Conure live?

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

• What health issues affect the Cherry-headed Conure?

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

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