black capped conures (Pyrrhura rupicola)

[HulaHoop]

I was wondering if anyone here keeps black capped conures
(Pyrrhura rupicola). Theres not a lot of information ive been able to
find about them on the net. So ive read a lot of the information on
other Pyrrhura species assuming they have similar traits.
If anyone keeps them on here would you like me know how you
rate them as pets..noise level, playfulness etc etc.

I have been told they make excellent pets and can be rather
affectionate with big parrot personalities in little bodies.
Also reletively quiet. Would really appriciate other peoples experiances.
Any extra information would be excellent thanks :)

I plan on getting a new bird in about july aug time and seemed
to have worked my way down to black capped conure or
senegal. Would adore a grey but I live near fussy neighbours
and think anything too noisy would tip them over the edge lol.

[stepht25]

Hello - and welcome to the board! My Cosmo is a yellow sided black capped conure. I've had him about 8 months now. I adore him! He is a big cuddle bug, loves to play, loves to eat and just fun to be around! I don't consider him to be very loud. Every once in awhile he'll get going - but it's pretty seldom and he's easily distracted onto something else. (and even when he does get going - I still don't consider it that loud - but I suppose someone else might.)

He was pretty nippy when we first brought him home. But I don't really find him to be that way now. Every morning when I let him out of his cage (or I've left the house for a bit and come back) he has to have a few scritches and kisses. The he's ready to eat or play. I also have a GCC - and they get along really well. They have their separate cages but I allow them lots of play time together. I love them both and can't imagine our family without either one!

[MrRick]

Black Capped conures and green cheek conures are very similar in many ways (I have both). Everything you've been told so far is true! They do make excellant pets and aren't very noisey (of course, like any parrot, they can get noisey if they want to!). If you still have problems finding a baby black capped or green cheek let me know. My green cheek pair are sitting on eggs right now!

[HulaHoop]

Thanks for your replies stephanie and rick.
The black capped will definately be the one i go for
they sound like lovely birds.
Thanks Rick for your offer if I cant find any black caps but
i think being in england would make it slightly impossible getting to you lol.
But you didnt know that, it was my fault not filling in my profile.

Im really looking forward to owning one, at the moment Ive got 3 budgies so a black cap will be something completely different :)

[Ginger]

Rick,
I'm also looking for a black capped. Female. How much are yours? Do you ship? I'm in Tennessee.
Thanks,
Ginger

[Oscars Mom]

Hi .I was surprised that you thought a grey would be too noisy for an apt compared to a conure .I live in an apt and am getting a parrot soon(I cant wait) Because of the noise and neighbors I have pretty much narrowed it down to a tag(My first choice,I think)or a pionus. I really like green cheek conuresand their available where i live but ruled them out cause of noise.Could anyone that has these breeds comment?One bird store I talked with did recomend the senegal which Im trying to find out more about. They had adorable babies nowbut I know nothing about them.anyway goodluck with your neighbors!!!!I havent gotten a parrot cause I was afraid of complaits(The building crank lives directly above me ) But I want one SOOObadly that im going for it.Im hoping to find the right baby soon

[Ginger]

Conures are VERY noisy, but to a conure lover, it's happy noise. LOL.
For anyone looking for a quiet parrot, I'd suggest a Congo African Grey. I own one, and except for the fact that she talks from the minute she gets up in the morning till she goes to bed at night, she's very quiet and great company. She doesn't screech, scream, nothing. Justs talks, in several different voices and 2 different languages (English & Spanish) I have 5 parrots, but my CAG really is the most interesting and she says the funniest things!

[Eliza]

Originally Posted by oscers mom

Hi .I was surprised that you thought a grey would be too noisy for an apt compared to a conure .I live in an apt and am getting a parrot soon(I cant wait) Because of the noise and neighbors I have pretty much narrowed it down to a tag(My first choice,I think)or a pionus. I really like green cheek conuresand their available where i live but ruled them out cause of noise.

Green cheek conures and their cousins (black capped conures, maroon bellied conures, painted conures, etc.) are pyrrhura conures. They are often considered to be the "quiet" conures when compared to aratinga conures (sun conures, jenday conures, gold capped conures, etc.). A green cheek would probably be fine for an apartment... or so I've been led to believe by over a dozen apartment-dwelling GCC slaves That's not to say that they are not capable of being noisy, of course. But they are NOTHING like a sun conure. Don't misunderstand me: I LOVE sun conures. I think that they are fantastic companions. However, the pet shop (a nice one) that I visit every other week for rabbit food often has them for sale. I can hear those birds from across the parking lot, often with the door closed.

If I were to get a conure now, living in an apartment, I would choose a green cheek or one of the other pyrrhura species (my favorite being black capped conures... hint hint MrRick ). If you like greenies, I really think that you should research and try to interact with them. They have a ton of personality and are darling little things.

I've often heard people say that pionus parrots and poicephalus parrots are suitable for apartment life, too. Both are interesting species and ones that you should consider. However, I have read accounts indicating that both species are not as quiet as one would think. Compared to a cockatoo or macaw, however? I'm sure that they are MUCH quieter.

I'm not sure about African grey parrots. From my EXTREMELY limited experience, I do not find them to be loud. The few that I've had the pleasure of interacting with were not prone to screeching, yelling, etc. I don't know for sure if that is the norm or not. You might want to post over in the African grey forum for advise in that regard.

It's hard to say what would make a great apartment bird. A lot depends on the construction of the building, the locations of the various rooms, your neighbors, etc. For example: if you know that your living room is right next to your neighbor's bedroom, don't keep your bird there if s/he is prone to announcing the sunrise.

Best of luck -- take your time in selecting a bird. Chancse are the right one will pick you :)

-e-

[MrRick]

Ginger - My Black Cap is a pet. Only my Green Cheeks are breeders. I would love to start breeding Black Caps but I haven't yet found a pair.

UPDATE on the 5 eggs - The first baby hatched on 4/22 and the last one on 5/1. I've been handfeeding the 3 oldest ones since last friday. I'll start handfeeding the 2 youngest ones Sunday or Monday.

[Ginger]

Thanks Rick. I'll continue on with my search then. Your babies are adorable. I've never tried the breeding thing, but I do have a pair of Parrotlets that may be about to change that. LOL
Ginger