Maroon-bellied 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 Maroon-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura frontalis) is a Pyrrhura from the Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina. Like its far better-known relative the Green-cheeked Conure, it belongs to the quiet half of the conure world: it chatters and mutters constantly but rarely produces the piercing flock scream that makes Aratingas difficult neighbours. At 70 to 90 grams it is one of the smallest true conures. Behaviourally it is a small clown. Maroon-bellies hang upside down by one foot, wrestle with toys, sleep in hammocks and burrow into clothing. They are affectionate with their people and playful with each other, and they can nip when overexcited or hormonal, which gentle consistent handling from a young age keeps in check. They are poor talkers and excellent companions, and they thrive noticeably better kept in pairs than alone. Provide a roomy cage, several hours out each day, and endless shreddable material: soft wood, palm leaf, cardboard and foraging puzzles. Feed a pellet base with daily vegetables, leafy greens and small amounts of fruit, and skip avocado, chocolate, caffeine and salty food, which are toxic. The realistic problems are the standard small-parrot three: obesity and fatty liver from seed-heavy feeding, feather plucking from boredom or loneliness, and chronic egg laying in hens, which drains calcium and can end in fatal egg binding. Control diet, enrichment and the light cycle, and expect twenty to thirty years.

• How much activity does a Maroon-bellied Conure need?

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

• How much feather care does a Maroon-bellied Conure need?

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

• What cage does a Maroon-bellied Conure need?

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

• Is a Maroon-bellied Conure a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Maroon-bellied Conure live?

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

• What health issues affect the Maroon-bellied 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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