Crimson-bellied Conure

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; small, colourful Pyrrhura conure with a long tail

A small, richly coloured conure. The head is dark greyish-brown with fine pale flecks, the cheeks shade from green into turquoise blue, and a narrow blue band crosses the nape. The throat and upper chest are grey-blue and scaled, the belly is bright crimson, and the wings are green with blue flight feathers and red under the wing. Young birds have a mostly green belly.1

Personality what they are like

Crimson-bellied conures are lively and playful but have a gentle side, and they tend to trust their people quickly. They are among the quieter conures and mostly get loud only when excited. They can learn a few words, and they love to chew, so they need plenty to keep their beaks busy.32

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active, busy bird that needs daily out-of-cage time and lots of wooden toys and branches to chew and climb.23

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Loves to bathe, so offer a bowl or gentle misting often, even daily. Keep plenty of bird-safe chewables available.23

Home where they are happiest

A roomy cage or aviary with plenty of perches and chew toys; the World Parrot Trust suggests a flight at least 2 m long for aviary birds. Keep it somewhere that stays above about 10 C (50 F).23

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Wild birds eat fruit such as figs and Cecropia, catkins and flowers. At home offer pellets, about 30% fruit, vegetables, fresh corn, greens, spray millet and a seed mix.12

Company who they like around

Found in small flocks in the wild, sometimes with other conure species. It is peaceful and can often live alongside other small, calm birds.23

The story where it all began

Johann Baptist von Spix described a bird named Pyrrhura perlata in 1824, but its identity stayed unclear for over a century. In 1983 researchers showed that Spix's specimen was a young crimson-bellied conure, so the species took the older name perlata in place of rhodogaster.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Least Concern (2021 assessment); described as fairly common.1

CITES

Appendix II.2