The Jenday Conure bird (also known as a Jandaya parakeet) is a beautiful, affectionate parrot!
And in our Jenday Conure bird profile, you will learn a ton of fun and interesting facts about this loveable character!
All About the Jenday Conure Bird
This South American parrot is small, colorful, affectionate and inquisitive.
They may be little but the Jenday Conure is packed full of personality. Their lovable nature makes them popular pet choices and they crave the attention of their owners.
They’re a special bird with a big character. Read on to find out lots of amazing facts about this adorable bird.
See Also: Facts About Parrots: 16 Fun Facts That’ll Make Everyone You Know Say “I Never Knew That!”
What is a Jenday Conure Bird?
They’re a neotropical parrot that’s native to northeastern Brazil.
As well as the Jenday Conure they’re also known as the Jandaya Conure.
Their scientific name is Aratinga Jandaya and they’re closely related to the Sun Parakeet.
They’re known for their colorful appearance and loud screeching call.
These curious birds always want to know what’s going on, they don’t like to stay still for long and they like lots of attention.
Classification
They were first discovered in 1638 by the naturalist Georg Markgraf. They weren’t classified until 1788, when Johann Gmelin wrote about them in his renowned nature book.
The meaning behind their scientific name translates as “bright macaw.”
They are members of the Aratinga genus which is part of the Psittacidae family.
They’re also apart of the Aves class, as they are bipedal, (which means they walk on two legs) they’re winged and feathered, lay eggs and are warm-blooded.
Appearance
These parrots are known for their colorful plumage. They have a red-orange body, a green back and green wings with iridescent blue rims. They have a blue tail and a yellow head with orange patches.
Their beaks are black and their feet and legs are gray.
They’re often mistaken for their cousins, the Sun Conure.
The simplest way to distinguish them from each other is by looking at their wings. The Jenday Conure has green wings while the Sun Conure’s wings are mainly yellow.
See Also: 25 Stunning And Beautiful Birds You Should Know About!
Place of Origin
They originate from the wooded habitats in Northeastern Brazil.
These colorful, intelligent birds caught the eye of humans, who imported them out of the country, even though it was illegal to do so.
Luckily most of these imported birds were bought by aviculturists, which is one of the reasons why they’re now a popular choice of pets in many different countries.
Jenday Conure Bird Behavior
These friendly and inquitic birds don’t like to feel left out.
They demand “cuddles” from their owners, like plenty of attention and can resort to “screaming” if they feel like they’re being neglected.
Behavior of the Birds as Wild
In the wild Jenday Conures live in flocks of between 10-20 birds. They’re very sociable birds who don’t like being alone for long. Staying in flocks also protects them from predators.
If there’s a group of them about then chances are you’ll hear them, as they like to call out to each other which can be very noisy.
They inhabit lowland deciduous woodland areas, edges of rainforests and forest clearings.
Behavior of the Birds as Pets
They are small, cheeky birds with big personalities.
They demand plenty of attention, exercise, and things to mentally stimulate them, such as toys and games.
They love to chew toys, watch what’s going on from their perch and interact with every member of their human family.
Although they’re capable of learning a few words and phrases they aren’t big talkers.
They’re the cheeky, lovable tricksters of the parrot world.
They’re capable of singling out their main owner and can become very protective of them…no one messes with a Jenday Conure’s best friend!
Vocalization
These social birds like to make themselves noticed. They have a loud, shrill call that works well for communicating with their flock in the wild, but isn’t so great when they’re kept as a pet.
The more attention a Jenday Conure receives, the less likely it is the “scream.”
With plenty of attention and training this bird can be calmed down, although they’re still prone to loud outbursts (think of them as a tantruming toddler).
They are capable of mimicking their owners and learning a few words and phrases but overall they aren’t big talkers.
Breeding Patterns
It’s usual for them to breed between 2-4 white eggs, which have an incubation period of around 26 days.
Before thinking about breeding your Jenday Conure you should check that it’s legal to do so in your country, as some require you to have a permit.
They can be bred any time of the year, although avoiding the months with high temperatures is advisable as the babies struggle to survive in extreme heat.
Effects of Food Consumption
Jenday Conures need to have a varied diet full of fruits, vegetables and seeds to keep them healthy.
They love to try yummy fruits and veg, the more colorful the better.
It’s best to wean your conure onto pelleted supplements as these are full of the nutrients they need to help keep them healthy and to manage common diseases.
Never feed them avocado, fruit seeds, chocolate or caffeine as these are poisonous to them.
The Effects People Have on the Jenday Conure’s Behavior
These birds love humans and they can interact well with them.
Like us, they each have their own individual personalities and characteristics.
The popularity of keeping them as pets has led them to become tame, friendly birds who can learn tricks, love treats and seek regular attention from their human family.
Companionship Between Each Other
Socializing is important to these birds, as they don’t enjoy being lonely for prolonged periods of time. If you have one as a pet, you may want to consider getting them a companion.
Although prone to the odd squabble, these birds are generally affectionate towards each other.
Jenday Conure Bird Lifestyle and Health
These birds like to keep active and are always sticking their beaks into something and longing to know what you’re doing?
Their inquisitive nature and the fact that they’re always on the go means that obesity is almost unheard of amongst their species.
A balanced diet is important to help keep your bird healthy.
Pellet supplements can also help manage common diseases.
Lifespan
In the wild they have a lifespan of around 10-15 years.
Environmental factors play a part in this, as there are far more challenges and threats to them in the wild than there are to being a pet.
Jenday Conures that are kept as pets can live for over a whopping 20 years!!!
Because of their long lifespan It’s important that the decision to purchase one isn’t taken lightly, as you’d be purchasing a long-standing member of the family.
Daytime Physical Activity
While you’re out it’s important that you leave your conure with plenty of activities to keep them entertained.
Invest in at least one perch, although ones of varying heights are much loved by these birds.
They’re notorious chewers, so leaving them with a wooden chew toy is a good idea.
You could also add a swing into their cage to help keep them busy.
Letting them out of their enclosure at the same time everyday to stretch their wings and fly will help them get into a routine.
Major Disease Problems
Common health issues for Jenday Conures is chlamydiosis, which is a bacteria disease. They can also develop the polyoma virus which is a DNA virus.
Beak and feather disease is also common amongst conures, some of the early symptoms to spot are lethargic behavior, loss of appetite and vomiting.
One of the first signs that your conure is ill or in discomfort is if they pluck out their feathers. This can signify that they’re feeling neglected and it can also be the start of something more serious.
If you believe that your conure is ill then it’s important to seek advice from a vet as soon as possible.
Jenday Conure Bird Physical Characteristics
Are you wondering how you can tell a Jenday Conure apart from other species of parrots?
Read on to discover what makes this colorful bird so unique.
Color
It’s one of the smaller members of the parrot family. It can be recognized by its primary green plumage, red-orange body, blue tipped wings and bright yellow and orange head.
Juvenile Jenday Conures don’t have the same yellow and orange colored heads as their parents. In fact, they don’t develop these until they’re around 2 years old.
Size and Weight
They typically grow to be about 11.7 inches and weight between 4.3 to 4.9 ounces.
The females are a little heavier than the males, this is the only distinguishing factor in the difference in their appearance.
Speech
Jenday Conures are particularly noisy birds, so if you want a peaceful life then they’re probably not the correct pet choice for you.
They have a loud, shrill call which they use in the wild to communicate with their flocks.
As pets, they’re able to mimic sounds around them. They aren’t big talkers though, and they’re only capable of learning 6 or 7 different words and a few short phrases.
Jenday Conure Bird Habitat
Where wild conures live compared to ones kept as pets is very different but there are still some similarities.
Wherever these feathered-friends live they like to socialise, have lots of attention and keep themselves entertained.
In the Wild Home
In the wild they are usually found in vast woodland areas.
They enjoy flying up high amongst the canopy and communicating with each other.
They nest in tree hollows around 50 feet off the ground.
These hollows not only provide them with shelter but also provide easy access to many food sources.
Enclosure
The enclosure for one Jenday Conure should measure around 24”W x 24”D x D”30H. They also need a flight cage so they can spread their wings and exercise.
Make sure they have at least one perch in their enclosure, this needs to measure around 9 inches long. Don’t expose them to drafts or high temperatures as this can distress them.
Make sure that you have a metal grate covering their dropping tray so they can’t poke their beak in it and cause the spread of bacteria.
Provide your conure with daily fresh water and make sure that this is kept away from their perch. It’s best to clean out the enclosure about once a week.
FAQs – The Short Answers
Do you still have loads of questions about the Jenday Conure? Don’t worry, as below I answer some of the most frequently asked questions on these inquisitive birds.
Question 1 – What is the Lifespan of a Jenday Conure?
When kept as pets, these birds can live for around 20 years and in some cases 30 years.
Question 2 – Do Jenday Conures Talk?
Although this bird is known for being loud, it isn’t a big talker. They’re capable of learning a few words but this doesn’t mean they’ll say them all that often.
They may not say a lot of words but they’re at times noisy birds who are highly intelligent, attention seekers and love companies.
Question 3 – How Much Does a Jenday Conure Cost?
They’re around $600.
Before buying one, it’s also important to take enclosure, food and care costs into consideration.
Question 4 – What do Jenday Conures Like to Eat?
They love pecking at seeds and enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas, mangoes, carrots, and broccoli.
Pellet supplements should make up the majority of their diet, as these will provide the right nutrients to keep them fit and healthy.
An Overview to the Jenday Conure
I hope that you now know everything you need to know about this cheeky, inquisitive, colorful bird.
They may demand lots of attention and at times be noisy but they truly are lovable creatures with a big personality.
There certainly won’t be a dull moment with one of these feathered-friends about, although you may need to invest in some earmuffs.