Animal-World > Birds > Conures > Red-masked Conure

Red-masked Conure

Cherry-headed Conure, Red-headed Conure

Family: Psittacidae"Lola"Aratinga erythrogenysPhoto Courtesy: Diane at Exotic Birds Unlimited

   "Lola is such a happy little bird! She is a DNA sexed female Cherry-headed Conure and she eats Zupreem Pellets. She doesn't talk but is very playful!"..Diane

   Besides being very intelligent and loveable, the Red-masked Conure or Cherry-headed Conure is a real clown and loves to show off. They are easy to tame and are good talkers. They do however have a grating call and can get quite loud. They also love to play and chew, so be sure to provide them with lots of wooden toys to keep them well occupied.

   The Red-masked Conure is the bird most often referred to when describing the Cherry Headed Conure, however it is one of four conures that are sometimes called the Cherry-headed Conure. This group of red-headed conures includes the Wagner's Conure, the Mitred Conure, the Finsch's Conure, and of course the Red-masked Conure.

   This confusion usually happens because these conures can look very similar when they are juveniles. Though generally beyond six months they can be distinguished, It does takes several years for them to get their full coloration, and then they are much easier to identify. The Red-masked Conure is the smallest and is the most colorful of these four red-headed conures.

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

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

Scientific name: Aratinga erythrogenys

Distribution:    The Red-masked Conure or Cherry-headed Conure is found in the arid zones of western Ecuador and northwestern parts of Peru. They inhabit open forests or the forest edge and are sometimes found near towns.

Description:   This conure has a beautiful green plumage that is paler and more yellowish on the underside. Except for the back half of the cheeks the whole head is red, completely encircling the eyes and often on the throat and neck as well. There is also red on the shoulders, underside of the wings and the thighs. The eye is yellow surrounded by a naked, creamy white eye ring. The beak is horn colored and the legs are gray.
   Young Red-masked Conure's have gray eyes and lack the red on the head.

Size - Weight:    The Red-masked Conure will reach up to 13 inches (33 cm) and weigh 5.8 - 6.5 ozs (164 - 184 g).

Care and feeding:   A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of seeds, nuts, fruits, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.
   See About Conures: Housing and About Conures: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:    These birds make a very warm and friendly pet.

Breeding/Reproduction:    The Red-Masked Conure breeds readily in captivity, though generally in the hotter part of the year. The female will lay between 3 to 4 eggs which will incubate for about 23 to 25 days. The young will fledge at about 6 weeks and be fully weaned by 11 or 12 weeks. The breeding box should be about 10" (25 cm) by 11" (28 cm) and 21" (53 cm) deep, with a 4 1/2" (11 cm) entrance.

Potential Problems:    As with many Aratinga species, Red-masked Conures or Cherry-headed Conures can be quite noisy.
   See About Conures: Potential Problems for more information.

Availability:   This bird is fairly available. Your best bet is to find one at a pet store or reputable breeder.

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

Author: Clarice Brough, CAS

Lastest Comments on Red-masked Conure View all 24 comments on Red-masked Conure Add Your Comment

Ana - 2011-08-22 Hello! I'm writing you from Indiana. I take care of 13 tropical parrots at the local Parrot Rescue Santuary. There I met Peter a cherry head conure. He is so much fun to be around; the owner of the foster aviary told me that Peter only liked men, but I tell you that's not the case here. He gets really happy when he sees me come into the aviary, kisses me and laughs out loud. When I open his cage he flyes toward me and sits on my shoulder always content and playful with me. He likes me so much that the lady offered for me to have it some day. I'm extremely happy that I was able to meet such a beautiful little creature. He is definately a pleasure to be around. Regards. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-08-23 A conure - and I love the red masked - are great birds to have. Velcro, cuddly, silly, comical, lovable, smart etc. No negatives there. Maybe the man thought that as the bird maybe didn't like his girlfriend or girl child. Many birds do have a preference for male vs female (my opinion) but conures (my opinion) will enjoy whatever human they are around that gives them attention, love and stimulation. You are lucky enjoy Reply

caren - 2011-08-16 My redheaded conure was abused before I got it. It's plucking it's plucking it's feathers out. How do I get it to stop plucking. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-08-16 WOW that is not fun and real rough to deal with. So much information and so many articles have been written - it can make a person nuts. In summary, most agree that birds pluck because they get stressed or bored. How to get out of the circle is the problem. First, try bathing with an aloe bird rinse - as the aloe seems to soothe the itching. Second, there are things like foragining toys or straw toys that they can easily tear apart and that seems to help. Letting them tear down paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, seems to help. Those toys where you put a roll of paper (cash register roll) and they pull it off and chew it up seems to help. Leaving them with movies like surfs up, cartoons with music seems to help. Giving them lots of attention, cuddle, talking any sort of stimulation seems to help. There is also those plastic collars which prevent them from chewing but conures really don't like them. I would try the toys, attention, bathing, aloe and even pieces of paper for them to chew up before I would try the collar and I don't know that I would try a collar on a conure. It isn't your fault. It isn't something you do. It is something where in the wild they would be busy 100% of the time just getting enough to eat. In captivity without stimulation, flocks and just attmpting to survive, some have a tendency to pluck. You have abuse and it is hard to turn around so just be patient and remember it looks like YUK to you but he thinks he is pretty. Now is a good time to start with toys, paper, bathing etc cuz molting. Some also just pluck during molting cuz the new feathers coming in itch them or prickle them. Conures usually love bathing and I pout mine in the kitchen sink with the sprinkerl on - he loves it. Makes a mess but he loves it. Reply

Featheredfriendsaviary.net - 2011-08-12 I have had a female Cherry Head Conure for 5 months she lost her mate from the other owner, anyway I have had her 5 months with my male Cherry Head and they dont seem to bond? How do I get them to bond? Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-08-13 They will bond on their time timetable - not ours. True story. I had a female Hyacinth about 1 year old (Baby Blue) and I wanted her to have a mate. I purchased a male Hyacinth (Troy) and he was about 8 weeks. I hand fed him and Baby Blue would not look at him, would have nothing to do with him etc. Troy was a lover and even by the time he was a year old - Baby Blue would not look at him. If he went on her perch - she would actually somehow get on top of him and hit him in the chest with her beak. He would holler and run. After about two years, I sorta gave up and went and bought Troy a female because he seemed to want the closeness and companionship where Baby Blue just wanted us humans. I brought Midnight (female Hyacinth into the home at about 8 weeks again) and Baby Blue was all over Troy. Baby Blue was on his perch, in his cage, playing coy, would preen him and act silly. I don't even know how Baby Blue knew there was another female in the home as I had her in quarantine. Go figure. After a bunch of years, I have learned that I am not as smart as my birds. They have their behaviors, routines, rules etc and we jus don't necessarily know them. Reply

irma reyeros - 2011-06-01 I found a cherry head conure, he fell from his moms nest. I nursed it back to a healthy parrot. However, I never wanted to trim her wings because I always thought if he flew away hell find many of his brothers and sisters in the area where I found him. But... I have been so sad because I kept him for a year and he was such an amazing bird. Very lovable, affectionate and good companion. I just did not think it was fare for me to keep him in captivity. Click For Replies (1) Charlie Roche - 2011-06-01 All a person can do is make the best decisions they can on the days they make them. I am glad you got to enjoy her for awhile and saved her life. Reply

Sally - 2011-03-29 I have a wonderful red-headed whom we guesstimate at around 20-22 years. He is playful, healthy, eats & drinks well and in all regards seems well. With in the last 24 hours his bill appears to be changing colors - or developing 'blotches' of dark color. A musky color, mostly on his upper mandibill. Does anyone know if thier beaks change color as they grow older? I have spoken to our vet and done research, but know one seems to know the answer. Please comment if you can shed some light on this. I am concerned that it signifies some otherwise hidden issue in health. Thank you ! Click For Replies (3) Clarice Brough - 2011-03-29 That is very strange, especially because its changed in such a short period of time. I would definitely keep an eye on him; watch his behaviors, appetite, and droppings for anything unusual. Birds can go downhill very fast, so if something is wrong... you should see abnormalities quickly, and be able to get him to a vet. But maybe he just got a hold of something that stained his beak... All the best! Stuart - 2011-03-30 Sally I've never heard of a fungus infection on a pet bird but the musky odor seems too fit. We have a cherry head named Peedy who came to us 4 years ago at age 13 (we were told they can live too be 80 years old). Peedy was being given to the nursing home/rehab center my wife is the Activities Director of. He was so vicious that we took him immediately as the residents tend too put their fingers in the cage. He has since bonded with my wife Judi who got him too come out of his cage. Judi got Peedy to learn to fly and eat fruit and drink juice out of her glass. He told me in the beginning SHUT UP,BE QUIET,GO AWAY NOW! and attacked me at every chance. Obviously, he was abused by a male. Now when the phone rings he says hello how are you? and will talk to anyone on the phone saying hello big boy,hello Peedy, I'm a bad boy. He has since gotten used to me and sits on my leg. He quacks like a duck and laughs when we laugh. Peedy is Judi's favorite along with Tweedy, a Cinnamon Green Cheek Conure. I have the 11 Cockatiels of whom I'm the head of the flock. Hope you solve the problem and let me know if it is a fungus infection. God Bless. Charlie Roche - 2011-03-30 I have had a couple of birds who did have a fungal infection. They were babies and acquired a bacterial infection. I took them to the vet and the birds were given an antibiotic and it did throw them into a fungal infection. I took them back to the vet and a gram stain was done and they did have a fungal infection and the vet gave me a perscription for Nystatin (an anti-fungal). I was also told that food can get embedded in the upper mandible and cleaning with a Q-tip and water would help. Watch the droppings and try cleaning with a Q-tip if possible. You might wish to recheck with your vet regarding an anti fungal. Reply

Rosanna Palma - 2010-05-05 My lovely red-masked sweetheart just passed away. We have no idea how old was my baby when he died. We only know he had like 17 years with us. We actually saved him from a man who was selling him and was mistreating him and feeding him badly. He was my dad's best friend I used to call him my lover cause he always love to receive kisses and hugs. It seems it was a heart problem. There is not a part of me that is not thankful for every year he spent with us and all the funny things he used to do.. give kisses.. imitate my laugh my crying my coughing my dogs barking my singing and my whistling.. specially that.. he loved to do that. My heart is sad when he remembers I'm not gonna see him anymore but totally thankful to have had such a beautiful animal for such long time. I'm also proud cause these animals originate from Tumbes Peru my country hehe.. and are so beautiful. Love your parrot very much while you can. My beautiful "Loro" now rests in peace. Click For Replies (1) fred - 2011-02-28 Sorry Rosanna about your "loro". I own several conures and one day my Hahns Macaw escaped last year 6/2010. I felt very bad and my Half-Moon conure also was his buddy. They were both 5-6 yrs old. Then I heard about 400 birds confiscated from hoarder and brought to humane society. I decided to do something good and adopt one. I ended up adopting my "Cherry" who was abused but was in good health when I got him or her. He is a lovely Cherry head who is afraid of my fingers most of the time BUT will show affection to my ear or nose. He is a buddy to my Half-Moon conure, also. Don't know how old he is BUT I will love my parrots very much.----- Reply

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