Fun Blue-crowned Parakeet Facts For Kids
Gallery
The species of a blue-crowned parakeet (Thectocercus acuticaudatus), also popularly known as the blue-crowned conure, blue-capped conure, sharp-tailed conure, or blue-hooded conure, is a revered pet that has even made an appearance on the big screen! This species has bagged a role in the movie, 'Pauly', as well as the documentary film, 'The Parrots Of Telegraph Hill'.
The five subspecies in which the blue-crowned conure has been divided are Thectocercus acuticaudatus haemorrhous, Thectocercus acuticaudatus neoxenus, Thectocercus acuticaudatus acuticaudatus, Thectocercus acuticaudatus neumanni, and Thectocercus acuticaudatus koenigi.
The blue crown has popularized the bird by giving a distinct look to the neotropical parrot of South America. These birds don't migrate.
Did you know that the blue-crowned conure hatchling possesses a reddish shade around its tiny little head after birth? The color of the head and areas around the forehead change to blue as they grow into adults. If you reside somewhere in northern Argentina, you might come across a beautiful blue-crowned conure if you are lucky.
Continue reading for some more awe-inspiring facts about the blue-crowned conure and if you want to explore some more bird species, then don't forget to check out these fascinating facts about the forest falcon and saker falcon.
Blue-Crowned Parakeet Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a blue-crowned parakeet?
The blue-crowned conure (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) is a type of bird.
What class of animal does a blue-crowned parakeet belong to?
Classified under the genus Thectocercus, the blue-crowned conure belongs to the class Aves.
How many blue-crowned parakeets are there in the world?
The number of birds in current existence lacks quantification, and hence, cannot be highlighted with accuracy. However, the populations of this species have been severely impacted due to uncontrolled aviculture.
Where does a blue-crowned parakeet live?
A native of the South American continent, these birds can be located in Uruguay, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Brazil, eastern Columbia, and Venezuela. This species is solely available in America.
What is a blue-crowned parakeet's habitat?
The grasslands of savanna, forests, woodlands, and shrublands fall within the preferred habitat range of this species.
Who do blue-crowned parakeets live with?
These birds are popular for their sociable and highly adaptive nature. They can even dwell in flocks of hundreds.
How long does a blue-crowned parakeet live?
These birds have a long life span if they are provided with proper care and nourishment. On average, these birds can live for 25-30 years or more when reared as pets. They generally have a shorter lifespan in the wild due to threats of predation.
How do they reproduce?
The breeding season commences in September and continues to February. The breeding age of both the male and female blue-crowned conure is between two to three years. Detailed information about the courtship process or behavior during reproduction is unavailable.
However, after completion of the mating process, the female lays its eggs mostly in hollows or cavities of trees where they engage in incubation for about 22-25 days. The clutch size generally consists of three to four eggs.
Fledging occurs around eight weeks. The hatchlings are fed and nurtured by the male until they can fend for themselves. Two clutches a year is common.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of blue-crowned parakeets as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is currently of Least Concern. However, the population trend shows a steady decline and one of the major reasons for the drastically decreasing numbers has been attributed to aviculture.
Parrot and parakeet trading is very popular as they make good pets for a family. As per computations, heavy trading of the species since 1981 has contributed to their population decline as 193,299 birds have been captured from the wild.
Blue-Crowned Parakeet Fun Facts
What do blue-crowned parakeets look like?
The sharp-tailed conure comes in the primary shade of yellow-green or green. The wings are predominantly green in color while the bird possesses a dull blue crown and slightly blue-hued breast feathers. The green tail feathers are golden at their tips whereas the underparts of the tail are red.
The feathers covering the underparts are in dark shades of yellow-green with brownish-red outer feathers. The mandible or beak is horn-colored and this horn-colored beak, common to the northern and eastern subspecies, is retained through adulthood.
This horn-colored mandible is also common to several other parrot species. The bird also possesses a white ring around its eyes. The tail is long and spiked.
How cute are they?
The cuteness of this bird depends largely upon perspectives. However, theese blue crowns are very graceful birds and bird lovers might go head-over-heels for this exquisite parrot.
How do they communicate?
The sharp-tailed conure communicates with flock members through vocalizations and body language. Eight specific vocalizations have been identified which include alarm calls, begging calls, and flight calls. Screeching, braying, squawking, and other vocalizations are common among the blue-crowned conure.
How big is a blue-crowned parakeet?
The average length of a moderate-sized blue-crowned conure is in the range of around 14.5 in (37 cm). These parakeets are smaller than the Alexandrine parakeet which has an average length of 22-24 in (56-62 cm).
How fast can a blue-crowned parakeet fly?
The maximum flight speed of parakeets has been recorded at 22 mph (36 kph), but specific details about the speed range of the blue-crowned conure are yet to be recorded.
How much does a blue-crowned parakeet weigh?
The average weight of blue-crowned parakeets is about 5-7 oz (140-190 g).
What are the male and female names of the species?
Adult males are commonly regarded as cocks, while adult females are called hens.
What would you call a baby blue-crowned parakeet?
Similar to any baby bird, a blue-crowned conure baby is called a hatchling, nestling, or even a chick.
What do they eat?
The species is known to enjoy a diet comprising grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables, fruits, and berries. Apart from vegetables and fruits, pellets constitute a major part of their diet in captivity.
Are they dangerous?
These birds do not portray an aggressive or violent nature. Another reason for their high demand as pets is that they do not have biting tendencies and can easily adapt to situations. However, people prone to allergies and skin problems might want to maintain a safe distance from these birds to avoid the possibility of developing allergic reactions.
Would they make a good pet?
These beautiful blue-crowned conures of America are known to make excellent household pets due to their cheerful and social nature. These highly intelligent birds can play with children.
However, like a pet dog, these pet birds require mental stimulation in the form of exercise and training to prevent them from becoming too restless or bored. Proper care for these blue crowns is necessary when reared in home surroundings.
The cost of a blue-crowned conure ranges somewhere between $1,000-2,000. In the Psittacidae family, blue-crowned conures are considered to be one of the most affectionate parrots who love to cuddle with their owners.
These birds are extremely lovable. All being said, the fact also remains that unchecked trading for this bird species and keeping them caged is an act of immorality as birds of the wild must not be estranged from their natural habitat.
Did you know...
Did you know that this bird species is adept at talking? Unlike other parrot species, blue-crowned conures are not talkative but they are popular because they are better talkers. They are skilled and intelligent enough to pick up words or even a few phrases pretty quickly.
This species of blue-crowned conures suffer from certain diseases common to the Psittacidae family like the psittacine beak and feather disease, aspergillosis, proventricular dilatation disease, and psittacosis.
What sound does a blue-crowned parakeet make?
Sounds like high-pitched shrieks and screams of this otherwise gentle-natured, soft-spoken bird can be ear-piercing. Although these pet birds are known to be quieter compared to other parrots or conures, they might prove to be a nuisance in the neighborhood if not provided with proper training.
How did the blue-crowned parakeet get its name?
The official name of this native species of South America is a parakeet, but in the trading industry, the bird is commonly called a conure. The species has derived its name mainly from its appearance. The unique bluish-green tinge on its crown justifies the name of blue-crowned conures.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our forest spotted owlet facts and white gyrfalcon facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable blue-crowned parakeet coloring pages.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management
A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.
Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR
Pradhanya RaoBachelor of Commerce specializing in Marketing and HR
With a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Christ University, Bangalore, Pradhanya's passion for the English language and literature led her to explore the field of content writing, where she has gained extensive experience in writing, reviewing, editing, and fact-checking. She has also earned certifications in Google Ads Search, Google Ads Display, and Social Media Marketing, showcasing her proficiency in digital marketing.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
