Dusky Conure

Weddell's Conure

Family: Psittacidae"Duster Bug"Aratinga weddelliiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

"Duster bug" is a cute litte 5 months old Dusty Conure or Weddell's Conure... and a real character!

Dusky Conures are very popular pets because of their quiet, friendly, and easy going disposition. "Duster Bug" was handfed and likes the company of people very much. He loves to be held and played with. He has proven to be a very good escape artist. He climbs out of his own cage and climbs in other cages to visit his friends! Although "Duster Bug" doesn't talk yet, most Dusky Conures will learn to say a few words.

For more information about the care of Conures see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Conure

Geographic Distribution Aratinga weddellii See All Data at Google Maps Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Aratinga Species: weddellii

Scientific Name:Aratinga weddellii

Distribution:
   Originates from western South America. They populate water courses in the Amazon basin and the tropical woodlands on the eastern edge of the Andes mountains.

Description:
   Also known as the Weddell's Conure, the Dusky Conure belongs to the parrot family. It has a green body and a gray-brown head. The tips of the feathers on the top of the head have a bluish cast, the legs are gray. They grow to about 11 inches. Younger birds are duller in color and their belly is green turning more yellow as they age. The ends of the primaries and tail feathers are blue.

Size - Weight:
   Mature birds are about 11 inches long and weigh 4.1 ounces.

Care and feeding:
  The Dusky's main diet should primarily be nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. A commercially prepared pelleted diet can also be beneficial.

   See About Conures: Housing and About Conures: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:
   Wild conures are friendly and peaceful. They live together in groups of 20 or more birds and seldom fight with each other.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Dusky conures breed early in the year. They lay three to four eggs which are incubated for 24 days. Once hatched the young will stay in the nest for about 55 days. Many females will only take an egg food while they have young in the nest.

Potential Problems:
  This bird is not nearly as noisy as most Aratinga species.
   See About Conures: Potential Problems for information on illnesses.

Availability:  Readily available.

Activities:  Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys.

Lastest Animal Stories on Dusky Conure View all 29 Animal Stories on Dusky Conure Add Your Animal Story

birdluver99 - 2012-12-19 Hey peeps, just chillin with my Green Cheeked Conure, Menu! Reply

pat - 2003-08-09 I bought my dusky conure....Snoopies.........in May and he has brought such joy to our home!! He loves to cuddle and nap on me while I watch television..he also enjoys kisses and hanging around on my shoulder for hours.........Such a loveable bird.....truly a treasure...........If left alone in a room....Snoopies will chirp until someone comes to get him! These birds are so affectionate it is incredible and difficult to believe unless you see it for yourself... Reply

Jen and Mike - 2003-11-19 My husband and I have a 7 month old Dusky named Emma, short for Emerald Jade. She has been such a delight to our family. She is so loving and comical. If I am under a blanket, she loves to lay on my chest under it cuddling. She has started to say a few phrases already. I thank God everyday that we bought her. Reply

TJ - 2003-09-18 We have a boy Dusky, named Deui (Day-you). We bought him as a friend for our for our girl Gold Capped conure. Deui has proven to be a real fun bird. He is very sweet and loves to be on my shoulder. His favorite activity is chewing on my ear lobe... Deui is a great eater too. :-) Reply

tara - 2012-09-02 I have a dusky Conure Willy. he is such a joy, my kids spend all thier time with him. He gets alot of love and he loves it. I have a concern about him though just last night he started shivering and been bit lathargic. I am really worried about him and can't wait till Monday to take him to the vet. Any Idea what those symptoms might be?? Can't imagin that something bad would happen to beautiful Willy. Charlie Roche - 2012-09-02 I would get him to the vet as soon as possible - preferably before tues.  Till you can get him to the vet place a heating pad wrapped in a towel on low underneath or even inside his cage.  You can also shine a light onto his cage.  You need to keep him warm.  Reply

Mary - 2012-04-10 I had to go away on a trip (which is not the first time) and had my daughter caring for my two parrots a dusky conure and a quaker. They have both been together ever since I brought them home from the nursery 8 years ago. Now my quaker (Sierra) has throughout the years tried to mate with my conure (Duskie). I had been told they were both male...I do understand that sometimes mistakes happen and it doesn't matter because they are my family. But to get back to my question. When I came home there were two eggs at the bottom of the cage. I have to assume that Duskie laid them since it is always Sierra who tries to ride Duskie. I know nothing about breeding. Is it possible that the eggs were fertilized by my quaker? Charlie Roche - 2012-04-10 Well, it is pretty obvious that one of them isn't a male. Yes, it is possible that a quacker can/will mate with a conure. Speices do cross mate. The egss may not be fertile as it usually takes a pair a clutch or two to cath on to what it is they are supposed to be doing. However, if the eggs are fertile and hatch - just enjoy them and welcome to motherhood. Some folks are just tootally opposed to cross breeding anything. The way I look at it - most of us in the United States are cross bred. My dad was Norwegian and my mom Scottish. My cousins dog is a yorkie poo - part yorkie and part poodle. So if someone is against it - hey ask them their background. The babies from this match will be adorable and obviously great pets. You can see photos of the cross at Conure Quaker Hybrid Reply

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