How to Get a Free Conure Safely in the United States
To get a free conure safely in the United States, answer only local offers where you can meet the owner and the bird, ask which species it is, how old it is and what vet care it has had, and pay nothing up front. A free conure that must be shipped, or that comes with a deposit, crate or insurance fee, is almost always a scam.
Genuine free conures do exist. Most are adult pets whose owners' lives have changed, and many are louder or nippier than the new owner expects, so find out the species before you say yes.
Key points
- Genuine free conures usually follow a life change, such as a move or an owner's illness, or noise the household cannot live with.
- Find out the species: Merck says larger Aratinga conures such as the sun have a piercing scream, while Pyrrhura conures such as the green-cheeked are relatively quiet.
- Meet in person and never pay a delivery, crate or insurance fee to a distant stranger.
- Budget for an avian vet check, typically $50 to $200 before tests, and a cage at $70 to $1,000 (The Vet Desk).
- Keep a new conure away from your other birds until an avian vet clears it.
Why would someone give away a conure for free?
Conures live a long time. VCA Animal Hospitals gives an average lifespan of 20 to 35 years, and the World Parrot Trust lists 35 to 45 years for the nanday conure, so many birds outlive their owner's plans. Free offers usually follow a move, a new baby or job, an owner's illness or death, or a conure that screams or nips more than the household can manage.
VCA notes that conures may nip or screech if they do not get what they want, and a bird that has learned this needs patience, not punishment. Because conures typically sell for $200 to $3,000 or more from breeders (The Vet Desk), a free one is worth real money, so a free offer from a stranger far away deserves suspicion.
Is a free conure a scam?
Often, when the bird is far away. The Better Business Bureau describes bird scams in which a seller offers parrots cheaply, takes a first payment and then asks for more for shipping, crates or health problems, and the bird never arrives. A free conure that needs only a delivery fee follows the same script.
| Sign | Usually genuine | Usually a scam |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Local; you can visit | Far away; shipping only |
| Bird details | Knows the species, hatch year or band, diet and vet | Says only "conure"; photos also appear elsewhere online |
| Contact | Will talk by phone and live video | Text or email only; the story changes |
| Money | No fee, or a modest fee paid in person | Shipping, crate, insurance or vet fee up front |
| Pressure | Wants to meet you first | Pushes you to pay today |
The FTC advises walking away from anyone who insists on a wire transfer, gift cards, a payment app or cryptocurrency. Use the Report Scam button on any listing that follows this pattern.
Which conure is it? How to check the species of a free bird
Free ads often say only "conure" or give a color name. Ask for photos of the back, wings and tail and compare them with World Parrot Trust descriptions:
- Sun or jenday: an adult sun conure is yellow across the back and wing coverts; a jenday has a yellow-orange head on a green back and wings.
- Green-cheeked or maroon-bellied: both small Pyrrhura conures with a brown-red belly patch; the green-cheeked has a brownish crown, the maroon-bellied a green one.
- Nanday: a black head and face and orange-red thighs; the Trust lists a longevity of 35 to 45 years.
- Patagonian: the longest pet conure, at about 17.5 inches, with calls the Trust describes as very noisy and shrieking.
- Pineapple or yellow-sided: color mutations of the green-cheeked conure, not separate species.
The species tells you how loud the bird will be and how long it may live. In an apartment, a Pyrrhura is the likelier fit: PetMD says green-cheeked conures are known to be quieter than other conures, though they are still vocal.
What does a free conure really cost?
- Avian vet check: typically $50 to $200 before tests (The Vet Desk, January 2026). VCA advises an exam within the first 7 days and yearly after that.
- Cage: typically $70 to $1,000. VCA's minimum is 2 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 3 feet long, so a cage that comes free may be too small or worn.
- Set-up: The Vet Desk puts first supplies at $260 to $1,600 or more.
- Food: PetMD advises pellets as at least 60 to 70 percent of the diet. Many rehomed conures have eaten mostly seed, and Merck notes that all-seed diets are deficient in vitamin A and unbalanced in calcium, so ask your vet how to switch.
- Toys: VCA describes conures as bold, inquisitive and playful, and PetMD warns that bored conures can start plucking, so budget for chew toys you replace often.
What should you ask before taking a free conure?
- Which species is it, and how do you know? Is there a closed leg band or paperwork?
- How old is it, and how many homes has it had?
- Why are you giving it away?
- How loud is it, and when? Can I hear it on a live video call?
- Does it nip, pluck its feathers or fear anything?
- What does it eat, and when did it last see an avian vet? Were tests done, such as PBFD, avian bornavirus or psittacosis?
- Has it been DNA sexed, and has it ever laid eggs?
For a bird whose history a rescue has already checked, see how to adopt a conure. If you would rather start with a young bird, how to buy a conure covers breeders and prices.
How do you meet the owner and check a free conure's health?
- Meet at the owner's home in daylight, with another adult present.
- Watch the bird: it should be alert, with clear eyes and nostrils, smooth feathers and a clean vent.
- Fluffed-up sleepiness, tail bobbing while breathing, discharge or bald patches need a vet's opinion before you agree.
- Bring a secure carrier. A conure loose outdoors can fly off in seconds, and the World Parrot Trust reports feral populations of nanday, mitred and blue-crowned conures in Florida and California.
- Take its records, band number, current food and a note of its routine, and sign a short transfer note with both names and the date.
Keep the conure apart from your other birds until your avian vet clears it; the Association of Avian Veterinarians has a Find-a-Vet search. The Merck Veterinary Manual says avian bornavirus, which causes PDD, primarily affects macaws, conures and African greys, and the CDC warns that birds can carry psittacosis without looking sick.
Where can you find a free conure near you?
On PetzLover you can browse free conures near you, filter by location and save a search to get alerts about new listings. Owners giving a conure away may follow how to give away a conure for free without risk, so expect questions about your experience, home and avian vet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would someone give away a conure for free?
Usually because of a life change, such as a move, illness, a new baby or an owner's death, or because the bird is too loud or nippy for the household. Ask the reason directly and check that it fits the bird you meet.
Is a free conure that needs shipping a scam?
Almost certainly. The BBB warns that fake bird sellers take a first payment and then demand more for shipping, crates or other fees. Only take a conure you can collect in person.
Is a free conure really free?
No. Expect an avian vet check at typically $50 to $200, a cage at $70 to $1,000 if the one offered is unsuitable, pellets, and toys, for a bird VCA says lives 20 to 35 years on average.
Is a free conure a good choice for an apartment?
It depends on the species. Merck calls Pyrrhura conures such as the green-cheeked relatively quiet, but describes the larger Aratinga conures, such as the sun, as having a piercing scream. Hear the bird before you agree and check your lease.
What if the free conure bites?
PetMD says conures bite more when excited, confused or threatened. Stay calm, do not yell, and give a brief time-out; an avian vet can check for pain or illness if biting starts suddenly.
Can a free conure live with my other birds?
Only after quarantine and a vet check. Birds can carry infections such as psittacosis and avian bornavirus without looking sick, so keep the conure in a separate room until your avian vet clears it.
Helpful guides
Pet for FreeHow to Give Away a Conure for Free Without Risk in the United StatesGiving a conure away free works best with an honest description of its species and noise, careful screening, a written rehoming agreement and an in-person handover.
Pet for SaleHow to Buy a Conure in the United StatesBefore you buy a conure in the US, choose the species, from a small, quieter green-cheeked to a loud sun or Patagonian conure, confirm what a listing really offers and get the species, band and hatch date in writing.
Pet for SaleHow to Sell Conures in the United StatesSelling a conure in the US starts with the exact species: it decides the USDA and CITES rules, the price buyers expect and which homes can live with its voice.
Pet for AdoptionHow to Adopt a Conure in the United StatesAdopting a conure in the US means a regional bird rescue, an application, class, home visit and often a foster period, and choosing a species whose voice suits your home.
Pet for AdoptionHow to List a Conure for Adoption in the United StatesTo list a conure for adoption, describe its species, voice and habits honestly, set criteria that fit the species, charge a modest fee and use a contract with a return clause.
Pet WantedHow to Respond to a "Conure Wanted" Ad in the United StatesBefore you answer a conure wanted ad, check that your bird's species and voice fit the request, give honest details, verify the poster and hand over in person.
Pet WantedHow to Post a "Conure Wanted" Ad and Get Replies in the United StatesA good conure wanted ad names the species or kind you want, a realistic budget and your area, describes your home, and screens replies for deposit and shipping scams.