Editing Conure (section)

== Description ==
Conures are either large [[parakeet]]s or small [[parrot]]s found in the [[Western Hemisphere]]. They are analogous in size and way of life to [[Afro-Eurasia]]'s [[rose-ringed parakeet]]s or the [[Neophema|Australian parakeets]]. All living conure species live in [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]. The extinct ''Conuropsis carolinensis'', or [[Carolina parakeet]] was an exception.  Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant [[attention seeking]] behavior including hanging upside-down and swaying back and forth or "dancing".

Despite being large for parakeets, conures are lightly built with long tails and small (but strong) [[beak]]s. Conure beaks always have a small [[cere]] and are usually horn-colored (gray) or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, and so are treated as agricultural [[Pest (organism)|pests]] in some places.

Conures are as diverse a group as [[Psittacinae|African parrots]], so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category ''conure'' is loosely defined because they [[Paraphyly|do not currently constitute]] a natural, scientific grouping. The term ''conure'' is now used mostly in [[aviculture]]. Scientists tend to refer to these birds as "parrots" or "parakeets". The [[sun conure]] is one of the few species that is regularly called a conure even in scientific texts. (''See below under ''[[#Scientific classification|Scientific classification]]'' for more details.'')
<!-- not encyclopedic how-to for captive birds - replace with wild diet information
== Diet ==
The condition of the individual will dictate the dietary needs. For example, the following activities will cause the dietary needs to vary: activity level, physiological condition, growth, breeding, egg-laying, rearing youth, and molting. Other than pellet mixes and seed mixes there are fresh foods that are acceptable for Conures to consume.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Vriends, Matthew M., Ph.D. |title=Conures|publisher=Barron's|year= 1998|page=29| isbn= 978-0-7641-1038-2}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Category  !! Foods
|-
| Greens || chard, mustard, sorrel, cilantro, parsley, kale, collards, carrot tops, rapini, endive, arugula
|-
| Vegetables ||  pepper, squash, cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, beet, yam, pumpkin, snow pea, broccoli, kohlrabi, potato, cooked beans (e.g., garbanzo, kidney, peas, limas, black-eyed peas)
|-
| Fruits || apple, grape, berries, banana, pear, plum, mango, cantaloupe, melons, papaya, fig
|-
| Pasta || various shapes, whole grain (wheat, spelt, etc.)
|-
| Grains || brown rice, barley, millet, amaranth, quinoa, farina, oats, corn
|-
| Nuts || Brazil nut, almond, walnut, pine nut, filbert, cashew, nut butters
|-
| Protein || tofu, chicken, salmon
|-
| Dairy || yogurt, cheese (small amounts)
|}

Foods that must be avoided and are very harmful, possibly deadly, are alcohol, avocado, caffeine, chocolate, cured meats, fatty or oily foods, salty food (including salted nuts), garlic, onion, and sugared products.<ref>{{Cite book|author= Frischmann, Carol|title= Conures|publisher= T.F.H. Publications|year= 2007|pages= [https://archive.org/details/conuresfris00fris/page/51 51, 55]|isbn= 978-0-7938-3770-0|url-access= registration|url= https://archive.org/details/conuresfris00fris/page/51}}</ref> -->