Jenday Conure

Jenday Conure Fact File

Aratinga jandaya

Credit: Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/), CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Weight

125g

(4oz)

Length

30cm

(12in)

Lifespan

Wild 20 years

Captive 25-30 years

Diet

Herbivore

Fruits, Nuts

Conservation Status

IUCN

Least Concern

The jenday conure of jendaya parakeet is a small parrot species which is found in areas of north-eastern Brazil.

These colorful parrots are herbivores which forage in the trees for seeds and nuts. Unfortunately their taste for crops such as maize has led farmers to view them as a pest.

They maintain their nest year round in a tree hollow and pairs are often sighted in them even outside of the breeding season.

While considered rare the population of these birds is considered stable. They are popular pets which has led to some collection of wild birds to fuel this.

Read on to learn more about these brilliant birds.

Appearance

What does the jenday conure look like?

These small birds have a narrow pointed tail at the end of their body. This species of parrot is very colorful with a yellow head and breast which turns orange-red towards the bottom. The back and wings are colored green. The underside of the wings is black.

A white ring of bare skin is visible around the eye.

They have a short curved beak which is colored black. This is strong enough to break through nuts. Their feet are colored black.

An adult jenday conure will measure 30cm (12in) long with a weight of 125g (4oz).

Diet

What does the jenday conure eat?

These birds are herbivores which feed on fruit and nuts. They may make use of human crops such as rice and maize to supplement their diet. As a result of this they can be considered a pest by farmers.

Credit: Public Domain

Range

Where can you find the jenday conure?

South America is the native home of the jenday conure. Here they are exclusively found in north eastern Brazil.

Habitat

What kind of environment does the jenday conure live in?

These birds make their home in forested habitats and woodlands along with palm groves.

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Reproduction

How does the jenday conure produce its young?

Males and females may groom one another prior to mating.

Their nest is formed a tree hollow some distance above the ground.

Females produce a clutch of three to six eggs. These are incubated by both parents for 26 days.

Both parents held to feed the chicks until they fledge at two months old.

These birds develop their adult coloration at two years old. Young are pale up until this point. Sexual maturity will occur between one and three years old.

Hybirds of the jenday and nanday conure have been produced in captivity.

Behavior

What does the jenday conure do with its day?

These birds live in large flocks which average around 15 members.

They are able to perch and move around with ease in the trees.

If disturbed they will loudly call as they fly off. Their vocalization is a loud, shrill shriek. In captivity these birds have developed the ability to mimic human speech but are not known for their ability to talk.

These birds are active during the day and will return to their roost to rest at night.

They maintain their nest year round and pairs are often seen there even when not nesting.

Credit: Frank, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the jenday conure?

Natural predators of the jenday conure include birds of prey, snakes and mammals.

The total population size of the jenday conure is yet to be determined. They are described as rare but no evidence for a decline exists meaning their current population is stable.

These birds are present in the wild and some numbers may be taken from the wild to fuel this.

Habitat loss may be impacting this species but some believe it is actually helping them.

Quick facts

These animals may also be known as the jandaya parakeet.

They are one of the 30 species of conure.

This species was described for western science in 1788 though the first records of the species date from 1638.

They are on occasion considered to a subspecies of the sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) and other authorities have occasionally listed them as subspecies of other conures.

The aratinga portion of the scientific name is taken from words meaning bright and macaw-like.

Credit: Ana_Cotta, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

References

BirdLife International. 2016. Aratinga jandaya. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22685707A93083946. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685707A93083946.en. Downloaded on 18 November 2021.

Cub Creek Science and Animal Camp. 2021. Jenday Conure – Cub Creek Science and Animal Camp. [online] Available at: <https://cubcreeksciencecamp.com/programs-activities/meet-our-animals/birds/jenday-conure/> [Accessed 18 November 2021].

Parrotquaker.com. 2021. All about Jenday Conure – Parrot World. [online] Available at: <https://parrotquaker.com/all-about-jenday-conure/> [Accessed 18 November 2021].

Seaworld.org. 2021. Jandaya Conure Facts and Information | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. [online] Available at: <https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/birds/jandaya-conure/> [Accessed 18 November 2021].

Wildlife Facts. 2021. Jenday Conure. [online] Available at: <https://wildlife-facts.weebly.com/jenday-conure.html> [Accessed 18 November 2021].

Bealepark.org.uk. 2021. Jenday Conure | Beale Wildlife Park and Gardens. [online] Available at: <https://bealepark.org.uk/jenday-conure/> [Accessed 18 November 2021].