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Nanday Conure

Black-hooded Parakeet

Family: PsittacidaeNandayus nendayPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Dave Forsyth

   This juvenile Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet is about 5 months old. He is a super sweet bird by anybody's standards!

   Typical behavior of the Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet is demonstrated by the cute little youngster 'Nan', pictured above.

   "Nan" loves to come out of the cage. He comes to the front of the cage every time someone comes near. He likes to tumble and toss everything in his cage. He knocks his perches down, empties his water as soon as you put it in, and tips over everything that is not securely attached...all for FUN! He has proven to be a very good escape artist, too. His cage doors must be securely fastened with wire.

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

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

Scientific Name:Nandayus nenday
(Syn: Aratinga nenday)

Distribution:
   The Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet is native to southeastern Bolivia, southern Mato Grosso, northern Argentina, Chaco Formosa, and Paraguay. It is also been introduced in North America with colonies reported in the southern and eastern parts of the United States.

Description:
   The head is black, along with the cheeks and throat, which looks like a cap. The rest of the body is green, the throat and breast are blue, and the feet are red.

Size - Weight:
   Mature birds are about 11-12 inches long and weigh 5.2 ounces.

Care and feeding:
   The main diet of the Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet 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 large flocks, often with monk parakeets.

Activities: Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys
Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Rob Hast

Breeding/Reproduction:
   Nanday Conures are sexually mature at three years of age. The hen will lay two to six eggs which incubate for 24-26 days. The cock usually sits on or near the nesting box. The parents should be fed food that is enriched with calcium and mineral supplements.

Potential Problems:    Like the Aratinga conures, the Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet can be noisy, they have a high pitched screech that can be annoying.
   See About Conures: Potential Problems for more information.

Availability: The Nanday Conure or Black-hooded Parakeet is readily available.

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Nanday Conure View all 49 comments on Nanday Conure Add Your Comment

marie worthing - 2011-09-11 I'm looking for nanday conures parrots to buy. Can you help me? I live in Texas. In Henderson county but I will travel a long distance if the price is right. Thank you. Reply

marie worthing - 2011-09-11 I'm looking for nanday conures parrots to buy.Can you help me? I live in Texas. In Henderson county but i will travel a long distance if the price is right. Thank you. (903)432-3214 Reply

Janet - 2011-04-06 I got my conure from a friend of my sister. He came from a very abusive situation and the friend could no longer keep him because she had to move to a "no pets" house. We have never nor intend to ever mistreat him, but he has a very "high pitch scream" that is used usually when uncomfortable or scared. "Baby Bird" will take food from mine and my kids fingers but not from an open hand (he shys away, like scared). Does anyone know how I can help him calm down and feel safe? He is even around other birds to associate with. Any help is appreciated. Thank you! Click For Replies (2) Charlie Roche - 2011-04-06 Conures are known for that high picthed scream. They love to make noise. Sounds like yours is hand shy. That can be because no one ever picked him up, or taught him "UP", he fell down at one time or possibly abused (even by accident). I just pick them up, like I would a kitten and press them close to my heart. Sometimes the heart beat soothes them. Then you can gradually start petting the top of his head or the sides of his face. I have actaully gone back to hand feeding them formula with a spoon which seemed to work and I pet the bird when I was feeding with a spoon. Hey, ice creme and yogurt worked too - just not a lot. Try giving him the treat in the palm of your hand or holding the teat in one hand white your other hand is extended out. It just takes patience. They are afraid and I imagine you are too cuz no one wants to get bit. I don't like to do this but I have done it where I grab the bird with a sweater or shirt and hold him to my heart. They seem to find comfort in the hiding in the shirt and once I get them close to my heart beat they see to settle. I have even done this with a macaw. Birds are like people, they are all diferent. Just go slow and be patient. I would let them eat off my plate - anything where I can gradually reach out and pet them with my hand so they are not afraid. Richard Brand - 2011-09-01 I have had my Nanday for around 15 years, and he can be VERY noisy at times. That is the main drawback for them. They need a lot of attention or they will lose their trust of you. Mine was very tame untill my former girlfriend, her son, and cat moved in. I was never able to give him the attention he needed and deserved so he now acts just the way you described. Reply

b.m.l. - 2003-07-20 There should be more info on nandays on the web! Click For Replies (1) G. Williams - 2011-08-11 Did you find a way to contact Tim Anthony? I am also interested in purchasing a Waterslager from him. Thank you. Reply

Rosalie Huffington Means - 2011-05-01 I have a baby nanday conure about 6 weeks. When do they start talking and does one male or female talk more? Click For Replies (3) Charlie Roche - 2011-05-02 Although conures are quite vocal and extremely expressive, they sure don't start talking at 6 weeks. Not that I know of anyway. You should speak to your baby now and use all sorts of words, phrases, sounds "good baby" "I see mama" "I see you" in context. Hold up his wing and say "Peek" etc. He should be trying to talk around 6 months but will always learn but speech is more like above a year or so. In general females talk more than males. Ask any man. Rosalie Huffington Means - 2011-05-22 Thank you for your reply. I'm having my baby dna sexed next week. This baby is handfed and very sweet. Loves to sit on me. Jenifer - 2011-07-19 I have 2 Nanday Conures, a female and male. Finally, after almost 6 years of having them and about 3 dozen clutches of eggs, we had our first baby. The female doesn't speak at all, or at least not in anyone's presence. The male says about a dozen phrases. Our baby is also 6 weeks old and hasn't spoken but has found its voice and will shrill when its parents do. Reply

Beakman - 2011-03-01 Nandays are cool I had never seen one before until one day I heard one squawking in the trees. I talked to him and told him to come here and he flew down on my shoulder. I took him inside and gave him water and food he was obviously scared and lost. But he knew he had arrived in bird heaven as he saw our Quaker, Pionus, Patagonian and Bluejay that we found injured and can't fly also several Cockatiels. I suspect he flew the coop from a breeder and was attracted to our home by the constant screeching, since he came in off the street we call him Bo short for hobo if we find out he is a she we can use the first half of hobo for her name. He is very affectionate and has adopted me as his pet as all the other birds have adopted others in the family as their pets. I am glad he came to our home ( we looked and never found the original owner). Reply

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