Pet Wiki

Jenday Conure

Aratinga jandaya

Also called Jandaya parakeet, Jandaya conure, Yellow-headed conure, Flaming conure

SpeciesShort profile

From North-eastern Brazil, including Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Tocantins and neighbouring parts of Para, Goias and Bahia. It lives in lowland dry woodland, palm groves and farmland edges.123

At a glance the quick version

Length30 cm12
Lifespan20 to 30 years213
Sizesmall
Cuddly and playful, often happy to ride on a shoulder
Tends to bond with the whole family, not just one person
Intelligent and easy to train
31

Looks how to spot one

Feathered; medium conure with a long pointed tail

A vivid conure with a yellow head and neck, orange cheeks and a reddish-orange chest and belly, set against green wings and tail. The tail tips have a bluish tinge, the beak is black and there is a pale ring of bare skin around each dark eye. Young birds are mostly green with patchy yellow on the head and gain full colour by about two years of age.13

ColoursYellow headOrange face and underpartsGreen wings and tailBlue-tipped tail and flight feathers13

Personality what they are like

Jenday conures are known as warm, trusting and playful family birds that enjoy close contact and will often snuggle up against their person's neck. They are curious and bright, so they learn behaviours and tricks well, and some mimic sounds and a few words. Like most Aratinga conures they are vocal, with a loud, ringing call, so they suit lively households.312

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Needs several hours of out-of-cage time each day with a play stand or gym, plus chew toys, swings, ladders and foraging toys to keep it busy.32

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Offer frequent baths and a steady supply of wooden toys, branches and other bird-safe chewables.24

Home where they are happiest

A cage of at least 91 x 61 x 61 cm (36 x 24 x 24 in) as a minimum, larger if possible. For aviary keeping the World Parrot Trust suggests a flight at least 2-3 m long.32

Food basics what goes in the bowl

In the wild it feeds on fruit such as mango and cashew apple, palm nuts and seeds, including crops like rice and maize. Pet birds do well on pellets plus daily fresh fruit and vegetables, with some seeds, spray millet and cooked beans or corn.123

Company who they like around

A flock bird that usually travels in groups of about a dozen and needs a lot of daily attention in the home. It can share space with a compatible conure companion.23

The story where it all began

The naturalist Georg Marcgrave recorded the species during a Dutch expedition to Brazil in 1638, and several later authors described it from his account. Johann Friedrich Gmelin gave it a formal scientific name in 1788, and its name jandaya comes from an indigenous South American word for the bird.12

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    Chicks start out mostly green and only develop the full orange and yellow head over their first two years.3

  2. 2

    Wild pairs pick nest holes high in trees, often 15 m or more above the ground.2

  3. 3

    It is one of the conures most often named as a close relative of the extinct Carolina parakeet.3

  4. 4

    It was first written about by a European naturalist as early as 1638.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List
Least Concern; the World Parrot Trust lists the population trend as increasing.2
CITES
Appendix II.1
Taxonomy
Monotypic (no subspecies). Part of the sun conure group of Aratinga; some authors have treated it as a subspecies of a related conure.1

The care rhythm a typical week and year

A typical home-care rhythm for a Jenday Conure. A starting point, not a vet's advice.

Treats they will love homemade and simple

Parrot Salad

A quick, fresh mix of safe fruits and vegetables that provides essential vitamins and moisture. Perfect for a single serving to avoid spoilage.

You need

  • 4 types of safe vegetables (e.g., carrot, broccoli, peas, kale)
  • 2 types of safe fruit (e.g., apple, blueberry, pomegranate)
  • Handful of sprouted mustard or cress (or chopped dandelion leaves)
  • Handful of parrot seed mix

How

  1. Wash all fruit and vegetables thoroughly.
  2. Chop the vegetables and fruit into small, bird-safe pieces.
  3. Mix the chopped produce with the sprouted greens in a bowl.
  4. Stir in the seed mix until everything is lightly coated.
  5. Serve immediately and remove any uneaten salad after a few hours.

How much: One serving per parrot, offered as part of their fresh food allowance.

Recipe from Omlet UK

Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise. Terms of use

Owner questions the things everyone asks

How often should I feed my Jenday Conure?

Your Jenday Conure needs fresh food and water every day. Furry Diary's starting plan suggests offering pellets, fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, spray millet, and cooked beans or corn daily, with a portion that matches its size and appetite. Always follow the food label and check with your vet for exact amounts.312 Pet Wiki plan

What does a Jenday Conure eat, and what should it never eat?

A healthy diet includes pellets, daily fresh fruit and vegetables, seeds, spray millet, and cooked beans or corn. For foods to avoid, it varies by individual; please ask your vet for a list of unsafe items, as some common human foods can be harmful.312

How much space does a Jenday Conure need?

A cage of at least 91 x 61 x 61 cm (36 x 24 x 24 in) is the minimum, and bigger is always better. For an aviary, the World Parrot Trust recommends a flight at least 2, 3 m long so your conure can stretch its wings.32

What temperature, light or water does a Jenday Conure need?

These needs vary based on your home and climate. For specific temperature ranges, lighting, and water quality, please consult your exotic-pet vet or a good breeder for tailored advice.

How often should I clean a Jenday Conure's home?

Furry Diary's starting plan suggests changing the cage liner every 2 days and doing a full clean once a week. Offer a bath every 3 days to keep feathers fresh, and rotate toys weekly to keep things interesting. Pet Wiki plan

Can a Jenday Conure live with others?

Yes, Jenday Conures are flock birds and can share space with a compatible conure companion. They need a lot of daily attention from you, so a friend can help, but always introduce new birds slowly and supervise.32

How long does a Jenday Conure live?

With good care, your Jenday Conure can live between 20 and 30 years. That's a long, joyful commitment, so be ready for a lifelong friend.312

Can I handle a Jenday Conure?

Absolutely! Jenday Conures are warm, trusting, and playful, and they love close contact like snuggling against your neck. They need several hours of out-of-cage time each day with you, so handling is a wonderful part of their daily routine.312

Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Pet Wiki's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.

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Sun ConureNanday ConureGreen-cheeked Conure

Where this comes from

Every fact on this page has a numbered source. Spotted an error? support@petwiki.app.

  1. Jandaya parakeet - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for range, size, plumage, wild diet, history, status
  2. Jandaya Conure - World Parrot Trust parrots.orgused for range, weight, lifespan, care, diet, behaviour
  3. Jenday Conure - Lafeber lafeber.comused for temperament, cage size, juvenile colour, care
  4. Conure - Lafeber lafeber.comused for general conure bathing

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.