Conure
Big personality. Small body. Variable volume. Very variable.
The Real Story
The conure community runs the full volume spectrum and they know it. Sun Conure owners are prepared for — they will tell you — the loudest bird per ounce on earth. The Sun Conure scream is legendary. Green-Cheeked Conures (GCC) are the opposite: quieter, cuddlier, considered the apartment conure. The community abbreviations are important: GCC for Green-Cheek, SCC for Sun Conure, Nanday or Black-Capped for the Nanday. Use the right abbreviation and you immediately signal that you know what you're talking about.
Conures as a group are among the most physically affectionate parrots — they burrow under collars, nest in pockets, and enjoy being held in ways that larger parrots often don't. The 'conure cuddle' is a real thing that owners talk about with great enthusiasm. Despite their small size, they have large parrot personalities and require large parrot levels of engagement.
Jenday Conures are frequently confused with Sun Conures — knowing the difference (Jendays have green on the wings, Suns don't) is a quick credibility signal with serious conure people. Nandays are underappreciated and unfairly stigmatized as 'too loud' — Nanday owners will tell you they're among the most intelligent and trainable of the conures.
What Keeps Conure Owners Up At Night
Conure Bleeding Syndrome (CBS)
CoveredA clotting disorder specific to conures — particularly Sun, Jenday, and Nanday. Causes spontaneous bleeding from feather follicles or internally. Vitamin K treatment is effective if caught early. Can be fatal if missed. Every conure owner should know this condition exists.
Chlamydiosis
CoveredStandard bacterial disease. Treatable. Covered.
Proventricular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
ConditionalLess common than in larger parrots but real. Management-only condition.
Feather Destructive Behavior
ConditionalMore common in Sun Conures from stress or improper socialization. Workup needed to rule out medical causes.
Heavy Metal Toxicity
CoveredCurious birds, heavy chewers. Lead and zinc ingestion is an emergency and unfortunately not rare.
Coverage Options for Your Conure
Nationwide Avian & Exotic
- Annual limit
- $7,500
- Deductible
- $100 / $250 / $500 / $1,000
- Reimbursement
- 50% / 70% / 80%
- Accident waiting period
- 14 days
- Illness waiting period
- 14 days
- Age restrictions
- None for avian/exotic
- Wellness add-on
- Not available for exotic pets
- Multi-pet discount
- 5%
- Any licensed avian vet accepted
- Yes
- Payment
- Check or ACH
- Est. monthly
- $18–$42 (species and age dependent)
"Nationwide is the carrier the parrot community trusts. 40+ years of avian claims. When it matters, they pay."
90% may be available for avian plans — we can confirm current options.
MetLife Pet Insurance
- Annual limit
- Up to $10,000
- Deductible
- $0 / $250 / $500 / $750 / $1,000 / $2,500
- Reimbursement
- 50% / 70% / 80% / 90%
- Accident waiting period
- 0 days (IMMEDIATE)
- Illness waiting period
- 14 days
- Payment
- Check, Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay
- Est. monthly
- ~$28/month average
We verify current NY availability for your quote
Pet Assure
Pet Assure is a vet discount network, NOT accident-and-illness insurance. It will not cover an emergency. But for routine wellness visits, it saves real money.
- Basic
- $18/month → $350/year savings
- Essential
- $34/month → $650/year savings
- Premium
- $57/month → $1,100/year savings
Add-on to Nationwide or MetLife. Not a standalone option.
Ready to compare options for your Conure? Get a personalized quote and we'll walk you through both carriers' current offerings.
Is Bird Insurance Worth It? Run The Numbers.
No opinion — just math.
Respiratory infection
- National avg claim: $283
- NYC estimate: $400–$800
- At 80% after $250: $280 back
- Break-even: 7 months of premiums
Foreign body ingestion
- National avg claim: $2,752
- NYC estimate: $1,500–$5,000+
- At 80% after $250: $2,360 back
- Break-even: 59 months of premiums
Major illness (aspergillosis)
- National avg claim: $2,150
- NYC estimate: $800–$3,500+
- At 80% after $250: $1,520 back
- Break-even: 38 months of premiums
Estimates based on Nationwide published claim data and NYC-area vet pricing research. For large parrots who may live 40+ years, continuous coverage with no age restrictions has value that no calculator fully captures.
Finding a Real Avian Vet in New York
There's a difference between a vet who "sees birds" and a certified avian specialist. Here's who actually knows what they're doing in the NYC area.
Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine
562 Columbus Ave, Manhattan (Upper West Side)
(212) 501-875020+ years in business. Part of Thrive Pet Healthcare. Physical exam ~$120. Accepts Scratchpay financing.
Long Island Bird & Exotics Veterinary Clinic
Long Island, NY (serves NYC metro)
VIP Membership $998.75/year — unlimited annual exams + 25% off all procedures. Multi-pet: $912.50 (2nd bird), $823.75 (3rd bird).
Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC)
510 E 62nd St, Manhattan
Full specialty hospital. Treats exotic pets. Financial assistance program for income-eligible owners: amcny.org/financial-assistance. 24/7 exotic emergency capability — one of very few NYC hospitals with this.
Cornell University Veterinary Specialists (CUVS)
880 Canal St, Stamford, CT (~50 min from Manhattan)
(203) 595-2777Cornell-affiliated. First specialty consultation $195–$250. Verify avian/exotic availability at this location when calling.
Cornell University Hospital for Animals (CUHA)
930 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 253-306039,000+ animals/year including birds. Open 24 hours. No referral required. First specialty consultation $195–$250. Payment plans available. ~3.5–4 hrs from NYC.
Vet information last verified: April 2026. Always call ahead to confirm new patient availability.
Three Layers of Protection
Insurance is one tool. Here's how to stack it with others, the way smart bird owners manage vet costs.
Insurance (Accident & Illness)
Nationwide or MetLife covers unexpected illness and accidents. This is your protection against the $2,000–$8,000 bills that can blindside any bird owner. Get this first.
Practice Membership (Routine Wellness)
Long Island Bird & Exotics VIP Membership ($998.75/year) covers unlimited routine exams and 25% off all procedures. Stack with insurance: insurance handles emergencies, membership handles everything routine.
Emergency Financing Backstop
Before an emergency happens, get pre-approved for Scratchpay (scratchpay.com). Free to check rates, doesn't affect credit score, $200–$10,000 available instantly when needed. Accepted at Center for Avian & Exotic Medicine, NYC.
- Schwarzman AMC: amcny.org/financial-assistance
- NY State Vet Medical Society: nysvms.org/help-with-vet-bills
- Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals: animalalliancenyc.org