Most of the time, we get stuck and confused about choosing between two different species of aviary birds. We have different opinions and suggestions. We wander with different questions that delay our decision-making. For example, when we have to choose between Lovebird or Conure, which one is to choose?
Lovebirds and conures are different species. Conures are friendlier than lovebirds. They are easy to tame and need less attention. As a beginner, you can choose green cheek and sun conure both. Lovebirds are a little bit aggressive and need a companion too.
We might get misled by just names as lovebird by its name sounds more appealing to us. We probably think that these birds will give us the satisfaction we want. But make sure your decisions must be based on research and solid know-how of birds’ personality traits and behavior.
Today, we will discuss two important species, Lovebirds (Agapornis) and Conures (Aratinga solstitialis). You might have confusion and considerations to take before making your choice.
Lovebird vs Budgies You can read here
Here’s a brief comparison of two species lovebirds vs conures.
Origin of lovebirds and conure
Lovebirds belong to Genus Agapornis (“agape” for love and “ornis” for bird). They have 9 species, out of which we can pet only 3 species. All the species are of African origin; one grey-headed mainly belongs to Madagascar island. They date back to almost 1.9 million years ago. Lovebirds were first imported to Europe in the 19th century; some colored mutations are selectively bred in aviculture.
Most conures are found in the Amazon basin, with few species from the Caribbean islands. Green cheeked conures (Pyrrhura molinae) are mainly found in South America. They are native to South America and can also be found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Although their population is presumed to be quite stable, this may change in the future due to increased exploitation of timber for commercial use. Now they are also found in South Florida.
Difference between Behavior of lovebirds and conures
Lovebirds are very active, social, playful, and aggressive. They are named so because they form strong bonds with their owners, especially their mates. Lovebirds can be aggressive, territorial, and jealous if they are not tamed properly. Females are more prone to jealousy than males, but they have outstanding personalities.
They need lots of attention and care, and you probably will not have a good experience if your schedule is busy. It’s better to buy a pair instead of one. They are not included in the list of endangered species in the wild, but their decreasing numbers are a cause of concern.
Conures are very curious and playful birds. They come in varied varieties and love hanging out spending time with their owners. You have to provide them with plenty of time daily to engage them. Especially green cheeked conures are very affectionate. Proper time and care have a very positive effect on their pet quality.
Occasionally conures are a bit loud, and you can hear their screams from miles away. They like to live where household activities are going on and like engagement with their favoured people.
Lovebirds vs Cockatiels You can read here
Life Expectancy: Lovebirds vs conures
The lifespan of lovebirds directly relates to their living conditions. Lovebirds in the wild have short lifespans compared to their captive counterparts. In the wild, they face harsh conditions and predatory effects. Longevity depends on the abundance of food, clean water, and living conditions. Some baby birds don’t even make up for adulthood. In captivity, they live longer up to the care of their owner.
They can live up to 20 years, but mostly they live for 15 years. In rare cases, a life of more than 25 is also observed. To make them live longer, do provide them healthy and engaging environment.
Conures have a lifespan relatively more than lovebirds. Their lifespan also varies with living conditions, just like lovebirds. In the wild, it is comparatively short than when bred in captivity. Bad living conditions on the keeper’s side can lead them to pass away even before 10. Lack of food, falling prey to other animals, and unfavorable environmental conditions are big reasons for their short life in the wild.
Conures have a lifespan of 20-30 years. So be sure to own one because you have to commit yourself for a long time. Both physical and mental health is equally important for a bird’s longevity. If conditions are good, a bird lives up to 10-12 years in the wild. It may be less than 5 years for an unlucky bird.
The appearance of conures vs lovebirds
Overall there are 9 species of lovebirds but only 3 are available for home keeping. These three are
- Rosy-faced lovebirds
- Fischer’s lovebird
- Black masked lovebirds
Rosy-faced lovebirds belong to Agapornis roseicollis. Their size equals 7-8 inches from head to tail and weighs about 2 ounces. Fischer Agapornis fischeri are among the smallest birds. They grow up to 5 inches and weigh about 1.5-2 ounces. They have vibrant green-blue plumage on their bodies. Different color combinations are present around the neck up to the top of the head. While the Black masked lovebirds have a black mask on their faces as indicated by their name and a light yellow collar underneath. They are even smallest than rosy-faced at 2.13 inches and weigh up to 1.75 ounces.
Conures have more than 40 types, are bright in color, and belong to the parrot family. They are small to medium size with solid beaks and long tails. Their size varies between 10-20 inches. Aratinga species are green with red, brown, or blue markings.
Sun conure is yellow with orange markings and green wings. Jenday conure has a size of 12 inches and has a yellow head and breast. Pyrrhura species are green with red-brown tails, while the green-cheeked conures have a slightly reddish belly. Maroon-bellied conures are very much similar, with green-cheeked having heart-shaped shading. Single species genera also exist in conures.
Food and Care difference between lovebirds and conures
Lovebirds have very diverse food in the wild like fruits, grasses, seeds, and vegetables. Corn maize and figs also make their diet. Keeping this in mind, birds’ food in captivity should also be diverse and a mix of fresh vegetables and fruits. A portion of good pelleted food and cuttlebone for calcium deficiency should be provided in the cage. Provide a variety of food by carefully considering your lovebird’s adjustment time.
Caring and handling your lovebird make him feel good and energetic. Spending time daily for taming your lovebird indeed pays off in the end. A single lovebird can live a happy life if you provide the necessary attention. Lovebirds are social beings and usually live in flocks. If you don’t have time, then better buy a pair.
Conures’ diest must contain a mix of fruits and vegetables with special emphasis on vegetables. Vegetables provide energy and nutrients for healthy cell performance. Vegetables like chard, spinach, kale, watercress, turnip, greens, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage form an essential portion of the conures’ diet.
Although conures prefer fruits, they are not good for them. Simple carbohydrates present in them can lead to weight gain. Some available fruits are berries, apples, grapes, tomatoes, oranges, lemons, and limes. They begin to spoil after 2-3 hours. Remove and dispose of any uneaten fruits or vegetables.
Preferable cage size: Lovebirds vs Conures
Cage size for lovebirds should be no less than 2 feet long by 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall. Usually, larger cage sizes are better for lovebirds to provide more area. It not only makes them feel easy but also they can fly across. Always prefer length instead of height and spacing no more than ⅝ inches. It should be in a horizontal;l position for climbing.
Provide the different types of perches and toys in the cage. It is better to use perches of natural wood. Also, rotate toys after a couple of days because they get bored.
Conures are active and playful birds and need a large cage size of 36 inches long by 24 inches wide and 24 inches high. Spacing between bars should be ⅝ to ½ for containing your conure safely. Cage size relates to the type of species you’re going to put in. smaller species require smaller spacing between bars.
They love chewing and playing with different toys. So their cage size should be large enough to accommodate all the required toys and provide enough space for them to stretch their wings and move freely.
Related Questions
Can you keep lovebirds with conures?
Lovebirds are aggressive towards other birds. They are comfortable with their species only. Their large beaks make them deadly, and their bold nature leads them to attack anything up to the size of conure. Either they risk other birds or themselves when they are in the same cage. It is not a safe practice to house them with other birds. Instead, you can choose different lovebird species to keep them in the same cage.
Can a lovebird mate with a green cheek conure?
You might have questions like this, but answering this question straight forward. Lovebirds do not mate with conures. They only mate with other lovebirds and they can breed only with lovebirds in their taxonomical family irrespective of the same color and size. In short, you should not keep them in the same cage. In rare cases, if they mate the offspring produced might be infertile and may not have the ability to reproduce.
Final Thoughts
In short, you can choose conures as your beginners pets. They are easy to tame. Green cheek conures don’t make much noise. You can choose them your first pet. While lovebirds are noisy and can be aggressive. They need more attention and hardwork on them.
Conures and lovebirds are good when we talk about keeping them at home as pets. They usually have large sizes but can speak several words and form excellent pets due to their polite nature, especially green-cheeked conure. Lovebirds are energy packets and require lots of attention. They can be aggressive sometimes.
The choice of either bird solely depends upon your lifestyle, work schedule, and likeness. Mention your queries and concern and stay in touch for the latest information.
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