Last updated: October 2026
Written by the Birdsville team.
The Crimson Bellied Conure is a small, colourful South American parrot with a green body, a deep crimson belly, bright blue on the wings and cheeks, and a scalloped grey brown chest. Crimson Bellies are close relatives of the Green Cheek Conure, with the same playful, affectionate nature, and they’re quieter than most larger conures. Caring for a Crimson Bellied Conure means a roomy cage with plenty of toys, seed and pellets in separate bowls, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, a calcium and vitamin D source instead of shell grit, regular worming and daily attention. This page covers where they come from, diet, cages, medication, breeding and sexing. Birdsville in Alexandria rehomes Crimson Bellied Conures from time to time and only rarely sells them. As seasonal breeders, babies are generally not available in the coldest months. We stock everything they need.
Crimson Bellied Conure Key Takeaways
Crimson Bellied Conures are small, playful conures from the Amazon basin in Brazil and Bolivia.
They grow to about 24 to 25cm long and weigh around 76 to 94 grams.
They’re close cousins of the Green Cheek Conure and need very similar care.
Wild Crimson Bellies eat mostly fruit and flowers, so give plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Feed seed and pellets in separate bowls, and never give shell grit.
Males and females look alike, so DNA testing is the reliable way to sex them.
Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot is our recommended seed for Crimson Bellied Conures.
Birdsville rehomes Crimson Bellied Conures from time to time and rarely sells them, and babies aren’t usually available in the coldest months.
Crimson Bellied Conure Quick Facts
Scientific name: Pyrrhura perlata
Other names: Crimson Bellied Parakeet
Size: about 24 to 25cm long
Weight: about 76 to 94 grams
Lifespan: around 15 years or more with good care
Native range: the southern Amazon basin, from north eastern Bolivia into Brazil
Habitat: humid lowland rainforest, forest edges and clearings
Temperament: playful, affectionate and curious
Noise level: moderate, quieter than larger conures
Clutch: 4 to 6 eggs
Incubation: about 25 days
Fledging: about 7 to 8 weeks
Sexing: males and females look alike, so DNA testing is needed
Where Do Crimson Bellied Conures Come From?
Crimson Bellied Conures come from the southern Amazon basin, from north eastern Bolivia east into the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Amazonas and Pará.
They live in the canopy and edges of humid lowland rainforest, as well as forest clearings and regrowth. In the wild they feed mainly on fruit, figs and flowers, including blossoms from Brazil nut trees. Their numbers are thought to be falling as the Amazon is cleared. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson-bellied_parakeet) and the World Parrot Trust (https://parrots.org/encyclopedia/crimson-bellied-conure/) have more on Crimson Bellies in the wild.
Are Crimson Bellied Conures Good Pets?
Yes, Crimson Bellied Conures make lovely pets, as they’re playful, affectionate, easy to tame and quieter than most larger conures.
They’re small, curious birds that love attention, toys and time with their family. Like their cousin the Green Cheek Conure, they can learn tricks and a few words, and they bond closely with the people who handle them. Their flight call can be shrill, but they’re far less noisy than a Sun or Jenday Conure. They do need daily time out of the cage and plenty to chew, as a bored conure can become nippy. Our Parrot Biting page (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-biting/) has tips if that happens.
What Do Crimson Bellied Conures Eat?
Crimson Bellied Conures eat a varied diet of a quality seed mix and pellets in separate bowls, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seed, millet sprays as treats, a vitamin boost and a calcium source.
In the wild they eat mostly fruit and flowers, so fresh food is especially important for this species.
Seed
Feed a good quality seed mix. Our top pick is Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-tropical-small-parrot-500g), made fresh in store, and Birdsville Blends Cockatiel and Lovebird (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-cockatiel-lovebird-500g) also suits them well. Birdsville Blends and all the seed we stock are very high quality. Many chain store mixes are full of low quality grains and filler seed, which affect the health and vitality of your birds, so they’re best avoided. Our Small Parrot Seed page (https://birdsville.net.au/seeds-grains/small-parrot-seed/) has more.
Pellets
Serve pellets in their own bowl. We recommend Vetafarm South American Pellets (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-south-american-mix-350g) and Vetafarm Nutriblend Pellets Small (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-nutriblend-pellets-sml-350g). Only refill the seed once your bird has eaten some pellets too, or it will pick out the sunflower seeds and leave the rest.
Sprouted Seed
Crimson Bellies love sprouted seed. Rinse it well and wash it with Vetafarm Aviclens (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-aviclens-water-cleanser-100ml) before feeding to remove bacteria. Our Best Bird Treats page (https://birdsville.net.au/bird-treats-tips-and-sprouted-mix/) explains how to sprout seed.
Millet Sprays
Millet sprays are a favourite treat and great for training or settling a new bird. Hang Millet Sprays (https://petsville.com.au/products/millet-sprays-mixed-100g) in a Millet Spray Holder (https://petsville.com.au/products/jw-insight-feeder-millet-spray-holder).
Greens and Vegetables
Offer fresh vegetables every day, chopped into small pieces your bird can hold, such as carrot, sweet potato, corn, capsicum, broccoli, bok choy, green beans, snow peas and silverbeet.
Fruit
Because wild Crimson Bellies eat mostly fruit, offer fresh fruit every day, such as apple, pear, orange, pawpaw, mango, grapes, figs, rockmelon and pomegranate. Never feed avocado, chocolate or caffeine.
Vitamin Supplements
Every bird benefits from a regular vitamin boost. Add Vetafarm Multivet (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-multivet-50ml) to the drinking water regularly.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Don’t give conures shell grit. Offer a mineral bell, cuttlebone or calcium perch instead, such as the Trimming Calcium Perch (https://petsville.com.au/products/avian-care-trimming-calcium-perch-140mm-small). Conures need vitamin D to absorb calcium, and the sunlight they need for it doesn’t pass through window glass, so indoor birds should get a calcium supplement with vitamin D such as Vetafarm Soluvite D (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-soluvite-d-25g).
What Cage Does a Crimson Bellied Conure Need?
A Crimson Bellied Conure needs a cage no smaller than about 45 x 45cm, and the bigger the cage, the happier your bird will be.
Leave room for at least 4 toys, a swing, a ladder, food and water bowls and perches of different thicknesses. Rotate the toys every week to stop boredom. Conures love to chew, shred and forage, so try the Natural Chew Toy (https://petsville.com.au/products/nat-island-natural-chew-toy-birds), the Shred and Find Foraging Toy (https://petsville.com.au/products/shred-find-foraging-toy-small) and Natural Swings (https://petsville.com.au/products/cpa-swings-10cm). Many Pyrrhura conures love a hide or sleeping tent to snuggle into at night. Our small parrot checklist ([ADD SMALL PARROT CHECKLIST LINK]) lists everything you need.
What Medication Does a Crimson Bellied Conure Need?
A Crimson Bellied Conure needs regular worming and mite and lice treatment, plus an electrolyte supplement for its first days in a new home.
Worming
Worm a new bird about 10 days after you bring it home. After that, worm every 6 months for indoor birds and every 3 months for outdoor birds, with a bird wormer such as Vetafarm Wormout Gel (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-wormout-gel-50ml).
Mites and Lice
Treat for mites and lice every 3 months, whether your bird lives inside or outside, with Avitrol Mite and Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml). Remove food and water first, and avoid the eyes and mouth.
Settling In
Moving home is stressful, and stress can lead to diarrhoea and dehydration. Add Vetafarm Spark Liquid (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-spark-liquid-50ml) to the drinking water for the first 10 days to help your bird stay hydrated while it settles in. A bird that sits fluffed up and quiet may be unwell, so see an avian vet. Our Common Bird Illnesses page (https://birdsville.net.au/common-bird-illnesses/) lists the warning signs.
A Tip From Our Staff
Many of the Crimson Bellied Conures that come to us are rehomed adults, and a new home is a big change for them. For the first couple of weeks, put extra seed, pellets and a little fruit on the cage floor as well as in the bowls, and keep things calm and quiet. Once your bird is eating well and exploring its cage, start short, gentle handling sessions and build up from there.
How Do Crimson Bellied Conures Breed?
Crimson Bellied Conures nest in tree hollows, and in captivity they breed in a tall vertical nest box, laying 4 to 6 eggs per clutch.
The World Parrot Trust suggests a nest box of about 20 x 20 x 70cm. The eggs hatch after about 25 days, and the chicks fledge at around 7 to 8 weeks. Young birds look like adults but have a mostly green belly, and they develop their crimson colouring as they mature. Crimson Bellied Conures are seasonal breeders and don’t breed in the coldest months, so give breeding pairs plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, sprouted seed and a calcium and vitamin D supplement.
How Do You Tell a Male Crimson Bellied Conure From a Female?
Male and female Crimson Bellied Conures look the same, so DNA testing is the reliable way to sex them.
Neither sex has any colour difference, and young birds of both sexes have a mostly green belly. DNA testing is simple and affordable, and both males and females make great pets.
How Does Sydney’s Weather Affect Crimson Bellied Conures?
Crimson Bellied Conures come from the humid Amazon rainforest, so they enjoy Sydney’s warm months but need shade on hot days and shelter from cold winter draughts.
In summer, keep the cage out of direct afternoon sun and offer a shallow bath or a gentle mist of water. In winter, move the cage away from cold windows, doors and air conditioning vents, and cover it at night. A sleeping tent or hide helps keep small conures snug through Sydney’s colder nights. Because they’re seasonal breeders, babies are generally not available during the coldest months, so the warmer months are the best time to ask about one.
Crimson Bellied Conure Frequently Asked Questions
Are Crimson Bellied Conures loud?
Crimson Bellied Conures are moderately noisy. Their flight call can be shrill, but they’re much quieter than larger conures like Sun and Jenday Conures. Like their cousin the Green Cheek, they’re often a good choice for people who want a playful conure without constant loud calling.
How long do Crimson Bellied Conures live?
Crimson Bellied Conures can live around 15 years or more with good care. A varied diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, a roomy cage, enrichment, regular worming and mite treatment, and avian vet check ups all help them live a long, healthy life.
What is the difference between a Crimson Bellied and a Green Cheek Conure?
Crimson Bellied and Green Cheek Conures are close relatives of a similar size and personality. The Crimson Bellied has a deep crimson belly and bright blue on its wings and cheeks, while the Green Cheek has a smaller red brown belly patch and maroon tail. Both need the same care.
What do Crimson Bellied Conures eat?
Crimson Bellied Conures eat a quality seed mix and pellets in separate bowls, plus plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seed and millet sprays as treats. Add vitamins to their water and give a calcium source, but never shell grit. Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot is our recommended seed for them.
How do you tell male and female Crimson Bellied Conures apart?
You can’t tell by looking, because males and females have identical colouring. Young birds of both sexes also have a mostly green belly until they mature. DNA testing is the only reliable way to sex a Crimson Bellied Conure, and it’s simple and affordable.
Can I buy or adopt a Crimson Bellied Conure in Sydney?
Birdsville rehomes Crimson Bellied Conures from time to time and only rarely has babies for sale, generally not in the coldest months. Call (02) 9669 1766 to ask about birds needing a new home, or follow our social media to see rehoming birds as they come in. We stock everything you need to care for them.
Where Can I Find a Crimson Bellied Conure in Sydney?
Birdsville, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, rehomes Crimson Bellied Conures from time to time through Sydney Pet Bird Rescue (https://birdsville.net.au/re-homing-parrot-adoption/). We only rarely have them for sale, and as they’re seasonal breeders, babies are generally not available in the coldest months. We service the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney and stock everything you need to care for them. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766. We’re open 9:30am to 5:30pm weekdays, 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday, with parking out the front and directions on our Contact page (https://birdsville.net.au/contact-birdsville/). Live birds are collected in store only. Follow us on TikTok ([ADD TIKTOK LINK]), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) for live updates and rehoming birds.
Caring for another conure? See our How to Care for Green Cheek Conures ([ADD GREEN CHEEK CARE PAGE LINK]) and How to Care for Jenday Conures ([ADD JENDAY PAGE LINK]) pages.
Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/) ships conure food and supplies anywhere in Australia, including our Birdsville Blends. Seed can’t be sent to WA or Tasmania because of quarantine laws.
Popular Crimson Bellied Conure supplies on Petsville:
Birdsville Blends Tropical Small Parrot (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-tropical-small-parrot-500g)
Vetafarm South American Pellets (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-south-american-mix-350g)
Vetafarm Soluvite D (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-soluvite-d-25g)
Vetafarm Spark Liquid (https://petsville.com.au/products/vetafarm-spark-liquid-50ml)
Shred and Find Foraging Toy (https://petsville.com.au/products/shred-find-foraging-toy-small)
Avitrol Mite and Lice Spray (https://petsville.com.au/products/fidos-avitrol-bird-mite-and-lice-spray-125ml)
About Birdsville
Birdsville has been at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 since 1985, and we believe we’re now the oldest bricks and mortar bird shop still trading in Australia. Owner Ash brings experience from vet clinics and from the Rainforest Habitat in Port Douglas, now Wildlife Habitat. We’re a small business that does things in a big way. Nobody tells us how to run things, so we keep our products the best of the best.
Sources
Size, weight, range, habitat, wild diet, clutch, incubation, fledging, sexing and juvenile colouring: Wikipedia, Crimson-bellied Parakeet
Lifespan, nest box size, wild diet and calls: World Parrot Trust, Crimson-bellied Conure
Diet, cage, medication and settling in advice: the Birdsville team
Product details: Petsville product listings
