Fun Dusky Conure Facts For Kids

Oluniyi Akande
Oct 20, 2022 By Oluniyi Akande
Originally Published on Aug 06, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
Fact-checked by Gowri Rao
Dusky conure facts about the parrot species native to South America.

A dusky-headed conure is a small bird that belongs to the Psittacidae family. They are popular pets and do well in captivity.

These birds are very affectionate, funny, and entertaining. They are adored by their cuddly and peaceful nature.

Dusky conures are social animals and are perfect companions who will always put a smile on the face of the owner. They are usually found in the western Amazon basin of South America. They can also be spotted in the coffee plantations in the wild and are excellent apartment dwellers in captivity.

Their other names include dusky-headed parakeet, Weddell’s conure, or dusky-headed conure. There are many characteristics of these dusky-headed conures that will make you curious such as friendly behavior and jovial temperament.

Here are some fun, engaging, and interesting facts on the dusky conure that you will certainly enjoy. Afterward, do have a look at our other articles on the blue jay and umbrellabird.

Dusky Conure Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a dusky conure?

The dusky conure (scientific name Aratinga weddellii) is a small bird that is usually entertaining in nature. Conures are big clowns that can always bring a smile to the face of the owners. These flock animals are neotropical parrots found in the western Amazon basin of South America.

They are social birds who are calm and funny in nature. They are intelligent and energetic birds who are excellent and popular among pets. This bird species is also called dusky-headed parakeets or dusky-headed conure.

What class of animal does a dusky conure belong to?

Dusky-headed conures are small parrots that belong to the Aves class. This popular pet bird species come under the Psittaciformes order of the Psittacidae family. The scientific name for dusky conures is Aratinga weddellii. They are neotropical parrots found in the wooden habitats of the western Amazon basin of South America.

How many dusky conures are there in the world?

There are no accurate and rough estimates of the total number of dusky conure bird species in the world. They have a healthy population and need no conservation at present.

Where does a dusky conure live?

Dusky conures live in the wooden habitats of the western Amazon basin of South America. This bird species can be found in the range of southwest Amazonian Brazil, eastern Peru, to central Bolivia, southeastern Colombia through eastern Ecuador, and Western Mato Grasso. These birds love living with humans in captivity in houses or apartments.

What is a dusky conure's habitat?

A dusky conure (Aratinga weddellii) lives in the wooden habitats, sparse forests, shrublands, and woodland edges and in homes. This bird species can also be seen in the coffee plantations as well as in the wooden habitats of the Amazon basin of South America.

They sometimes build nests in the woodpecker hollows of the trees or in termite nests. Dusky conures are perfect birds for captivity and get along well with humans. They are popular pets and are excellent apartment dwellers with a long lifespan.

Who do dusky conures live with?

Dusky conures are social birds and usually live in pairs or flocks. They travel together with around 100 members if they have plenty of food.

They are popular pets and love to live with humans and are excellent apartment dwellers. These birds are perfect entertainers in terms of their behavior and get along well with children easily, thanks to their friendly temperament.

How long does a dusky conure live?

A dusky conure bird has an average lifespan of around 20-50 years. The lifespan of this bird may slightly vary depending on its habitat and its diet.

How do they reproduce?

Dusky conure clutch size comprises three to four eggs and this bird species breeds early in the year. The eggs are incubated for about 23-24 days.

The young chicks will stay in the nest for about 55 days and till that time their diet is taken care of by the parents. These parrots are easy to breed if they are provided with a nest box.

What is their conservation status?

A dusky conure is listed under the category of Least Concern species in the IUCN Red List. The distribution of the species is widely seen across its habitat and the population is stable. Hence they do not face any extinction threats.

Dusky Conure Fun Facts

What do dusky conures look like?

A dusky conure is a small neotropical parrot that belongs to the Psittacidae family. It is green in color with a greyish head. A dusky conure is smaller than a sun conure.

The feathers of the tail are blue in color as well as the tip of the wings. They are long-tailed species and it is blue-tipped.

They have a chubby look due to the structure of the body. It has a black bill and has a white eye ring with grey legs. Young dusky conures are dull in color at first and later become colorful.

How cute are they?

A dusky conure is a popular pet and is known for its calm, friendly and affectionate personality. They love to cuddle and are cute and innocent in appearance.

How do they communicate?

Dusky conures use sounds to communicate with each other. They are usually loud and noisy and sometimes make loud shrill calls. They are intelligent and have low talking ability. They can sing songs and learn basic words.

How big is a dusky conure?

Dusky conure has a size of around 10-11 in (25-28 cm) and is a small-sized parrot that feeds on seeds. Their wingspan range is 5-5.5 in (12.7-14 cm).

How fast can a dusky conure fly?

A dusky conure has an average flying speed of around 50 mph (80 kph).

How much does a dusky conure weigh?

An adult dusky conure weight range around 0.22 lb (0.09 kg). The weight may slightly vary depending on the environment and diet.

What are the male and female names of the species?

As a dusky conure is a parrot, its species is Aratinga weddellii. They are known as male dusky conures and female dusky conures.

What would you call a baby dusky conure?

A baby dusky conure is called a chick.

What do they eat?

Dusky conures are omnivores in terms of food habits. They feed on nuts, green beans, seeds, fruits and vegetables, and insect larvae from decayed wood. In case, they are kept in a cage, they also take mineral-rich soil for supplements.  In the wild, their main predators include large birds, monkeys, and jaguars

Are they dangerous?

Dusky conures are not dangerous but an excellent pet. They are calm and peaceful in nature. They are social birds and are very entertaining and playful.

Would they make a good pet?

Dusky conures are good pet birds and a perfect companion. They are entertaining parrots who love to play and can always bring a smile to the face of the owner with their friendly behavior.

They are loud and noisy but extremely intelligent birds. These pet birds have calm and fun-loving personalities.

They are apartment dwellers and get along with families and especially children. Their cuddle and calm nature are really adorable and are easy to be taken care of with a cage equipped with play stands and plenty of seeds.

Did you know...

Dusky conures are called mini macaws due to the presence of skin near the eyes and beak. However, they are smaller than a macaw.

The prices for a dusky conure ranges between $500 to $800.

Dusky conures are not sexually dimorphic. To definitively know about the sex of the bird, you can order a DNA test kit.

Do dusky conures talk?

Dusky conures do talk but not like the other species. They have low talking ability and can learn just the basics.

Why is a dusky conure also called Weddell's conure?

A dusky conure is also called a dusky-headed parakeet or dusky-headed conure or Weddell’s conure. They are called Weddell’s conure as they belong to the species A. weddellii of the Psittacidae family. They are called dusky conure as they have a grey head with a green body and black bill.

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 Amazon parrot facts and northern bobwhite facts pages.  

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable dusky conure coloring pages.

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Written by Oluniyi Akande

Doctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

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Oluniyi AkandeDoctorate specializing in Veterinary Medicine

With an accomplished background as a Veterinarian, SEO content writer, and public speaker, Oluniyi brings a wealth of skills and experience to his work. Holding a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Ibadan, he provides exceptional consulting services to pet owners, animal farms, and agricultural establishments. Oluniyi's impressive writing career spans over five years, during which he has produced over 5000 high-quality short- and long-form pieces of content. His versatility shines through as he tackles a diverse array of topics, including pets, real estate, sports, games, technology, landscaping, healthcare, cosmetics, personal loans, debt management, construction, and agriculture.

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Fact-checked by Gowri Rao

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

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Gowri RaoBachelor of Arts specializing in Economics

With a bachelor's degree in Economics from Krea University, Gowri is a highly skilled data analyst and an expert in regression and causation modeling. Her interests in economic trends, finance, and investment research complement her professional expertise. In addition to her professional pursuits, Gowri enjoys swimming, running, and playing the drums, and she is also a talented tutor.

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