About Blue-crowned Parakeets

The blue-crowned parakeet, also called blue-crowned conure or sharp-tailed conure, is known for its striking blue-feathered head and vivid green body. These birds were uncommon in American households until after the 1998 release of the movie "Paulie," which featured a talking blue-crowned parakeet as main character. Though blue-crowned parakeets can only mimic human language, unlike Paulie, they make excellent pets.

  1. Appearance

    • The blue-crowned parakeet is a medium-sized green bird with blue feathers atop its head. It has a white ring of skin around its eye and a bi-colored beak; the upper mandible is a pale pinkish color while the bottom mandible typically is black. The legs and feet of the blue-crowned parakeet are pink; it has reddish-orange feathers highlighting its long tail. Males and females of the species share similar coloring.

    Habitat and Reproduction

    • Blue-crowned parakeets are native to South America. Their natural habitat ranges from Colombia to Argentina. In the wild, these birds tend to inhabit grasslands, the edges of forests and semi-arid regions. They do not migrate. These parakeets are monogamous in nature. The breeding season of blue-crowned parakeets occurs approximately from March to July. Females lay two or three white eggs at a time, typically in tree cavities. The female blue-crowned parakeet incubates the eggs while the male forages and brings food to the female.

    Diet

    • In the wild, blue-crowned parakeets forage for their food. They typically eat sorghum and bambusa seeds, berries, cacti fruit, crops, mangoes and insects. Domesticated blue-crowned parakeets can be fed a varied diet, including cooked beans, boiled corn, fruits like oranges and bananas, vegetables like green beans and carrots, spray millet and bird feed pellets.

    Suitability As Pets

    • Blue-crowned parakeets are considered an easy bird to raise. They are intelligent birds with a high drive for socialization with their owners. This bird can be very affectionate. Blue-crowned parakeets should be kept in an aviary or bird cage at least 10 ft long. They are active and energetic birds; they should be taken out of their cages and played with daily. Parakeets have a life span of about 30 years when tended properly.