Cherry head conure

Cherry head conures, informally known as the Christmas conures, are great companion birds because of their entertaining and buoyant nature. To enjoy their company at home make sure you have understanding neighbors, as these birds are extremely noisy.

They are endemic to South America with a feral population in countries like Puerto Rico, Spain and U.S. states like California and Florida.

Other names Cherry-headed conure, red-headed conure, red-masked parakeet, red-masked conure

Color Green body with prominent red patches on the face and wings, white eye rings, horn shaded bill, gray feet

Size 11-13 in (28-33 cm)

Weight 5.7-6.5 oz (162-184 g)

Distribution North-western Peru and South-western Ecuador

Habitat Broad-leaf and open forests, arid and semi- arid areas; sometimes in suburban or outskirts.

Diet Fruits, vegetables, and seeds

Breeding age1-3 years

Clutch size3-4 eggs

Incubation period 23-25 days

Fledging Around 50 days

Lifespan 15-30 years; in some rare cases up to 50 years

IUCN conservation status Near Threatened

Temperament as pets Friendly, attention loving, and playful

Maintenance requirements Needs constant association and communication

Noise level Very loud

Talking ability Good

Housing

An ideal cage for cherry head conures must have horizontal bars with minimum 1” gap. These bars will help them climb easily. The dimensions of the cage should be 30X24X30” if not more. Put some rope or wooden or concrete perches inside to keep their nail trimmed and feet strong. Remember, thicker the perches, better the balance for cherry head conures.

Temperature

Average room temperatures are comforting for these birds. If the temperature drops down below 65°F, it will affect your pet’s immune system. Also, make sure to keep it in a draft free area as this is detrimental for your bird.
Behavior and personality

These jaunty birds rather enjoy interacting with their owner than being idle for an extended period. They are extrovert and do not shy away from mingling with new people around them. Their endearing nature is characterized by a clown like personality as they don’t leave a single opportunity to amuse the owner with their tricks and intelligence. Chewing is another favorite activity for which they need chewable wooden toys. However, they become destructive and grouchy when bored.

If you keep a mating pair, give it some alone time during the breeding period, or else the male can turn out to be aggressive.

Feeding

Give commercially available pellet mixes, fresh fruits, and vegetables to your cherry head conure daily. This bird is attracted towards fatty seeds, which you should not provide in large amounts.

Care

Keeping a conure healthy and happy is easy if you make it feel good by letting it stay outside the cage for around 2 hours each day. Provide a safe zone (outside the cage) for your pet where it can stretch its wings, move the way it wants and do some exercises on its own. Let it sleep for around 10-14 hours in a quiet room daily.

As far as bathing is concerned, provide a shallow water dish or mist spray your pet every day. Do not keep it under low temperatures right after the bath.

Also, clean the cage and other paraphernalia with warm soapy water. Dry them well.

Health problems

Usually cherry head conures are extremely sturdy, but if you observe coughing, beak swelling, nasal discharge and loss of appetite in your pet, consult a vet.

Interesting facts

Their name “red -headed conure” is often referred to the Miltred conure, the Wagner’s conure, and the Finsch’s conure.
These birds are featured in the famous documentary film, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill” by director Judy Irving.