Common Names:

Black Capped Conure, Rock Parakeet

Scientific Name:

Pyrrhura rupicola.

Origin:

South America.

Size:

Black Capped Conures are small conures, reaching a length of approximately 10 inches from the beak to the tips of the tailfeathers.

Average Lifespan:

Properly cared for, Black Capped Conures can live for up to 30 years in captivity.

Temperament:

Known as friendly, easy-going birds, Black Capped Conures are highly social and highly trainable pets.

They enjoy interacting with their owners, and they crave daily playtime and attention. Those who would like to own a Black Capped Conure should make sure that they have plenty of time to socialize and interact with their new pet. A lonely Black Capped Conure can become depressed and develop both medical and behavioral problems as a result.

Colors:

Black Capped Conures have a smattering of black feathers on their heads, faces, and chests. They also display various shades of green on their backs and tails, and a crimson blaze on their bellies.

Feeding:

Like all parrots, Black Capped Conures thrive on a varied diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, a high quality seed mix, and a quality commercial pelleted diet. Feeding your Black Capped Conure a varied diet ensures proper nutrition and better health.

Exercise:

All Conures are active birds, and especially the Black Capped Conures. Those who own a Black Capped Conure need to make sure that the bird has a minimum of 2 hours out-of-cage playtime per day in a safe, supervised area.

These birds need plenty of room to exercise their strong muscles, and plenty of toys for chewing and mental stimulation.

Black Capped Conures as Pets:

Black Capped Conures make beautiful, intelligent, and fun-loving pets for the right people. While they do require a great deal of attention from their owners, they always seem to reward human efforts with their hilarious antics. Known to be little clowns, Black Capped Conures can be mischievous and curious, and have a tendency to get into things that they shouldn't when not properly supervised. For this reason, it is important for those who are interested in owning a Black Capped Conure to be sure that they have plenty of free time to spend with their new pet.

Even hand-raised parrots can reject human interaction if neglected, and the same holds true for Black Capped Conures. Handling these birds every day is an important part of building a bond with them and having them accept you as a flock-mate. While they are not known to be especially good talkers, Black Capped Conures can learn a few words from time to time, and delight their owners with their chatter when they do. They can be very loud, noisy birds, and because of this, they are not recommended as good birds for apartments.

In a nutshell, Black Capped Conures make the best pets for those who are true bird lovers -- those who don't mind cleaning up a mess from time to time or waking up to screeches and screams every morning at sunrise. Black Capped Conures pack all of the personality of a larger parrot into a small package, and for this reason, they are best for experienced bird owners. For the right person, however, they make extraordinarily loving, affectionate pets, and will surely enjoy their place among the most popular pet bird species for years to come.