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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 Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae

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.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Dusky Conure View all 26 comments on Dusky Conure Add Your Comment

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

Heidi Michelle Hellstern - 2012-03-22 I had a dusky that flew away. Her name was Grisi. I miss her (or him; s/he was never DNA sexed). I like to think she's still out there. Reply

Jacqueline - 2009-06-24 I just rescued a Dusky Conure, she is feisty especially with her mate. When I hand feed her she loves the one on one. I named her Ally, I am not certain as to her living condition or age prior to rescuing her and her mate which I call Noah. They love and fight like crazy.. But how they make up and kiss one another is priceless. I am learning more and more each day. And desperately trying to win there affection.. Any ideas please share. I feed them apples and millet and they seem to really enjoy those treats. I would like to know what other foods they eat, please feel free to post any suggestions. I am new to the world of conures. Tammy - 2010-04-30 My husband and I have a dusky, his name is Bubba he's a year old. These guys love to eat what we eat, pizza, bacon and eggs mashed potatoes and gravy, all nut, fruits veggies. NO avocado or chocolate this will kill him. NO avocado or chocolate. Go online or to a bird farm to learn more. TONY - 2010-09-03 Where did you rescue the bird, i would love to find a dusky to rescue. Tony Mica - 2010-10-02 Broccoli, carrots, zucchini, dandelion leaves, fresh spinach, rice, pasta, eggs, couscous, chicken, asparagus, green beans, corn, yellow/green/red peppers, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, grapes, almonds, sprouts, are what my Charli eats, on top of a small amount of yogurt in the morning with a piece of toast. And a good quality grain. Charli, 6 years old Dusky conure. Ella - 2011-11-09 The bird farm where I bought my Dusky conure at, suggests that some of the foods be; peas, pomegranate, yams, broccoli, greens, whole grain rice, pasta, a tiny bit of diary products, etc. Basically, they can eat almost any thing you eat, but never feed it avocado, as it is toxic to them. Hope that gives you some idea. Reply

billy - 2012-02-05 Hello I have had my Dusty for 24 yrs, and he is 25 yrs old, yesterday he I thought laid 2 eggs and they are on the bottom of the cage, I had no idea, Never has then happened before. I also have a Cockatoo that is 11 yrs old same room but across 10 feet apart and don't understand how and why this happend, she will let me touch and move them does not bother her at all she just sings to me and hugs me. Billy Charlie Roche - 2012-02-06 Well, guess Dusty isn't a he. Just put the eggs in a little dish with some sawdust or carefresh or torn up paper in it and put the eggs there. Doubtful she will sit them or do anything but they don't usually sit them until the third one is laid. She might sit them then for 20 days or so - let her. If you remove the eggs, you run the risk of her laying an additional 2 - 3 eggs and having a calcium shortage. Look at it this way - she decided to have eggs but does not want to have kids. It is just natural - happens infrequently but it happens. Reply

parie - 2006-09-04 I have had my dusky conure since december of 2005. All I have to say is that I love her more then any thing in the world. she is my best buddy. she is so so smart, loving and sensitive, and she loves me so much. about 3 months after I got her my father passed away. it was a very difficult time for me because his passing was very unexpected and I was devestated. but I can honestly say that through out that time my littile angel (coockie) was such a comforting friend. she always made me smile even in the worst times and she gave me reason to hold on and be strong and not give up. It might sound silly to hear that a littile bird can do all that but she did that for me, because her simple presence made me realize and see the good in life, and it gave me joy and hope. Ella - 2011-11-09 Parie, I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing. I too lost both of my parents. My Mom, in winter of 1999 and my Dad summer of 2005. But I wanted to tell you, that I don't think that a little bird helping you through your grieving process, is silly at all. There is a reason that God created all creatures great and small. In this case this little conure helped you through your father's death. I too have a little two month old little conure, that is very cute. Of course I'm just getting to know him, as he is in the training process, but it's a real character! I hope your little friend continues to be a constant joy to you. Bless it's little heart. Reply

Suzanne - 2011-06-25 I have a dusky conure named yogi. I have had him for 27 years and love him to pieces. All of a sudden he is laying eggs. He/she never did this before. What can I do? Yogi has laid 2 eggs so far and he pushes them down to the bottom of his cage and leaves them there. Any idea what I can do ? Charlie Roche - 2011-06-26 Leave the eggs there about 10 days or so. If you remove them right away - there is a chance she might double clutch and lay two more. No reason to do that but it happens. If she is totally ignoring them thenjust remove them. Females (all females) have eggs and when it comes to birds, sometimes out of no where for no apparent reason, she just lays them. It isn't something you do or don't do - it is just nature. Suzanne - 2011-06-27 Thank you for your answer. But when I bought the bird it was a Male at least that is what the breeder told me Yogi was? How come after having her/him for 27 years that now he/she is laying eggs? I have had him/her since Yogi was 6months old.. Thanks for the info. Suzanne Charlie Roche - 2011-06-27 The breeder could have believed that Yogi was a male. They actually could have had the little thing DNA sexed and been told it was a male but sometimes labs make mistakes. Some females birds will live 50 years or more and never lay an egg at all. Some will lay eggs fairly consistently every year. I don't know why your little he/she would decide to wait 27 years and lay an egg or why she laid an egg at all. I do know whether after two years or after 35 years, it is not abnormal. It just happens. Now there is one other thing, I did not think to ask, but by any chance did you happen to add a new bird into your family? Suzanne - 2011-07-01 No new birds at all. I just have Yogi and Kasper my cockatoo. They are in seperate cages and across the room from each other and have been for 8 years like this. I got Yogi 1985 (born) at 6 months of age. And Kasper born 1989 and got him 6 months of age. Yogi is 26 not 27..Yogi has layed 3 eggs now, but all on bottom of cage. He won't let me take any of them away but does not bother with them at all. They just sit there. Charlie Roche - 2011-07-02 I've had birds for years and this would definitely puzzle me also. Pickles is a Panama Amazon and ever since she turned around 15 years old, she has laid 1 or 2 eggs every spring. She doesn't sit them. They are not fertile. She gets totally bored with them afte a couple of weks and I just remove them. She is not pleasant around this time but when the eggs are removed, she returns back to her normal self. Good luck. Suzanne - 2011-07-03 Ok! thanks for the input. She does hug onto a toy that has beads on it. I have taken away 1 egg cause it got smashed, she did not like it but since I have left the other 2 there she is ok with it. Now she is biting her house that she sleeps in looks like an A frame but open at both ends, this is her second house, the other one she ripped apart also. I will just wait and see. Thanks so much for the information. Sue Reply

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