Are You a Conure Expert?

An Overview of Conures

• Conures are a diverse group of small to medium-sized parrots found in the Western Hemisphere.

• They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World parrot subfamily Arinae.

• The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping, though it has appeared in some scientific journals.

• Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention-seeking behavior including hanging upside-down and swaying back and forth or "dancing".

• Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds and often eat grain, and so are treated as agricultural pests in some places.

• The category conure is loosely defined because they do not currently constitute a natural, scientific grouping.

• Conures are as diverse a group as African parrots.

• The diet of conures varies depending on the individual's activity level, physiological condition, growth, breeding, egg-laying, rearing youth, and molting.

• Conures are kept as pets and include only the genera Aratinga, Pyrrhura, Eupsittula and Psittacara as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus.

• Some of the popular conure species kept as pets include the colorful sun conure and jenday conure.

• Conures are highly adaptable to urban environments, and several non-native colonies have been observed globally.

• The Carolina parakeet was one of only two parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history and was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.Wild Parrot Colonies in the United States

• A colony of half-moon conures has been present in Long Beach, California since the late 1980s.

• At least one wild pair of nandays has been spotted in downtown Delray Beach, Florida.

• The total number of birds in the nanday colony is yet to be determined.

• The Quaker parrot can be found in many states, and they are illegal to own in many US states due to their large nests on powerlines.

• Flocks of up to 24 parrots can be found in Miami Beach, Florida.

• Wild parrot colonies can be found in other states as well, including Texas, Arizona, and New York.

• The parrots in the colonies are often escaped pets or descendants of escaped pets.

• The colonies can have a positive impact on the local ecosystem, as they help spread seeds and pollinate flowers.

• However, the colonies can also have negative effects, such as damaging crops and causing noise pollution.

• The parrots in the colonies have become a popular attraction for birdwatchers and tourists.

• The colonies have been the subject of documentaries and news articles.

• Efforts are being made to protect and manage the wild parrot populations in the US.