The blue-crowned parakeet, blue-crowned conure, or sharp-tailed conure is a small green Neotropical parrot with a blue head and pale beak native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia to Curacao in the southern Caribbean, and to the northern region of Argentina. They inhabit savanna-like habitats, woodland and forest margins, but avoid dense humid forest such as the Amazon.
Region
Northern and central South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Colombia and Venezuela south through Bolivia, Paraguay, and much of central Brazil to northern Argentina; also present on Curaçao. It favors open woodlands, thorn scrub, savanna and Cerrado edges, riparian gallery forests, and forest margins. It readily uses agricultural mosaics and semi-urban green spaces but avoids dense, humid Amazonian rainforest. Local movements follow food availability and seasonal flowering/fruiting.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
Also called the blue-crowned conure or sharp-tailed conure, it is the sole species in the genus Thectocercus. It is popular in aviculture for its engaging personality but remains a wild species, not domesticated. This parakeet adapts well to open, seasonally dry habitats and often travels in noisy flocks. Individuals can live for decades in human care and show moderate vocal mimicry.
Pet
Pet
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
strong flier with swift, direct flight and rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically seen in pairs or small to medium flocks, with larger gatherings at favored roosts and food sources. Forms long-term pair bonds and nests in natural tree cavities or similar hollows. Breeding season varies regionally, with clutches commonly of 3–5 eggs. Flock cohesion is maintained by frequent contact calls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are loud, harsh screeches and chatter, carrying over long distances in flight. Perched birds give a mix of buzzy squawks and conversational trills, softening when foraging or at the roost.
Plumage
Mostly green with a distinct blue head and crown; long, pointed tail with darker, maroon-brown underside. Underparts slightly paler green; wings show darker primaries. The bill is pale horn-colored and there is a bare whitish eye ring.
Diet
Feeds primarily on seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, buds, and flowers. It exploits seasonally abundant resources, including fruiting trees and seeding grasses. Birds may visit agricultural fields to take grain and cultivated fruits. It often manipulates food with the feet and cracks hard seeds with its strong bill.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the canopy and at forest edges, in savanna trees, and along riverine gallery forests. Also feeds in farmland mosaics and sometimes on the ground in open areas near seeding grasses.
