Patagonian Conure

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; the largest conure, with a long tail

A large olive-brown and green conure with a white ring around the eye and a pale whitish band across the chest. The lower back and rump are yellow, and the middle of the belly and thighs is bright orange-red. Males tend to have a larger red belly patch, and under UV light the sexes differ in feather sheen. Young birds have a pale beak that darkens to black within about six months.13

Personality what they are like

Patagonian conures have a reputation for being gentle, playful and affectionate, and hand-reared birds are usually easy to handle. They can learn some words. They are loud flock birds by nature, and company, stimulation and attention help keep their calling in check.312

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs lots of space and regular chances to fly, along with puzzle toys, foraging toys and wood to chew.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Offer baths regularly and provide plenty of bird-safe wood and foraging toys.2

Home where they are happiest

Needs a lot of room. The World Parrot Trust suggests a walk-in aviary around 4.5-7 m long; pet birds kept indoors need a very large cage and daily flight time.21

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Wild birds eat seeds, berries and fruit, with fruit making up most of the diet in summer. At home offer pellets and small seeds with sprouted seeds, boiled maize, cooked beans or rice, and fresh fruit and vegetables.12

Company who they like around

Extremely social; in the wild it lives in large flocks and nests in huge colonies. Pets need plenty of company and affection.23

The story where it all began

Louis Vieillot described the species in 1818 as Psittacus patagonus, and Charles Lucien Bonaparte gave it its own genus, Cyanoliseus, in 1854. Genetic studies suggest the species first arose in Chile and later spread across the Andes into Argentina. Most birds sold today are captive-bred.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern.2

CITES

Appendix II.2

Taxonomy

The only species in the genus Cyanoliseus, with four subspecies: patagonus, andinus, conlara and bloxami. The nominate patagonus is the one most often kept.1