Should I Get a Jenday Conure or an Umbrella Cockatoo?

By Viola R Daigle | Published 12 November 2025 | Updated 13 November 2026

Jenday conure or umbrella cockatoo? Pick a jenday conure if you want a small, playful bird for a first pet. Pick an umbrella cockatoo only if you have space, time, and skill. Both birds need love, but the cockatoo needs far more of it.

Jendays are small, bright birds that live up to 30 years. Cockatoos are big, white birds that can live 30 to 70 years. That gap in size and years shapes the whole choice.

Contents

• Quick Comparison: Jenday vs Cockatoo
• Jenday Conure Overview
• Jenday Care Needs
• Jenday Behaviour to Expect
• Umbrella Cockatoo Overview
• Cockatoo Care Needs
• Cockatoo Behaviour to Expect
• Size and Lifespan Compared
• Social Needs Compared
• Noise Levels Compared
• Health Risks for Both Birds
• Jenday Conure or Umbrella Cockatoo: Which Bird Fits Your Life?
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Comparison: Jenday vs Cockatoo

Both birds are smart, social pets that love people time. They learn tricks, play games, and bond deep with owners. But their size, noise, and needs set them far apart.

Point	Jenday conure	Umbrella cockatoo
Size	10–12 inches	14–18 inches
Weight	80–120 grams	400–600 grams
Lifespan	Up to 30 years	30–70 years
Cage	At least 36x24x24 in	At least 36x36x48 in
Noise	Moderate, chirpy	Very loud, piercing
Best for	First-time owners	Skilled owners with time

Jenday Conure Overview

Jenday conures, known as Aratinga jandaya, are small to medium parrots. They run 10 to 12 inches long, with green bodies and orange-yellow heads. Their bright hues make them easy to spot in any room.

They are playful, warm, and keen to bond with owners. They learn easy tricks and mimic a few words with care. They live up to 30 years with good food and vet care.

Jenday Care Needs

Give a jenday a cage of at least 36 inches long, 24 wide, and 24 high. That space lets it move, climb, and play with ease each day. Add two hours out of the cage for play and flight.

Feed good pellets, seeds, and fresh fruit and veg each day. Try new foods early, since jendays love to taste new things. Give chew toys and foraging games to keep minds busy.

Book vet visits each year to check health and weight. Watch for plucking, which can mean boredom or stress in birds. Learn if jendays and sun conures are the same in our guide to are jenday conures and sun conures the same.

Jenday Behaviour to Expect

Jendays are lively, warm, and keen to play with people. They climb, swing, and flip with joy through the day. Bored jendays may chew wood or pluck feathers, so keep them busy.

They chirp and squawk when keen, but they are not the loudest birds. Training can tame excess noise with treats and praise. They bond deep and may feel sad if left alone too long.

Umbrella Cockatoo Overview

Umbrella cockatoos, known as Cacatua alba, are big white birds. They run 14 to 18 inches long and weigh 400 to 600 grams. Their tall crest lifts like an umbrella when they feel keen.

They live 30 to 70 years with good care at home. That span makes them a life-long friend, not a short pet. They are warm, smart, and keen to play with people each day.

Cockatoo Care Needs

Give a cockatoo a cage of at least 36 inches wide, 36 deep, and 48 high. Use strong bars laid flat so it can climb with ease. Add a big play area out of the cage for safe play each day.

Feed good pellets, seeds, fruit, veg, and nuts each day. Foraging toys keep minds busy and stop boredom fast. Book vet visits each year to check weight and health.

Cockatoo Behaviour to Expect

Cockatoos are warm and keen to bond deep with owners. That bond can turn to clinginess if they feel left alone. They may scream, chew, or harm their own feathers when bored.

Their screams are loud, high, and hard to bear in flats. They need play, training, and calm talk each day to cope. Owners must give them hours of time, not just minutes.

Size and Lifespan Compared

Jendays are small birds, at 10 to 12 inches and 80 to 120 grams. Cockatoos are far bigger, at 14 to 18 inches and 400 to 600 grams. That size gap shapes cage size, food cost, and mess each day.

Jendays live up to 30 years, which is still a long time. Cockatoos can live 30 to 70 years, which may outlive their owners. Think of who will care for the bird in old age too.

Point	Jenday conure	Umbrella cockatoo
Size	10–12 inches	14–18 inches
Weight	80–120 grams	400–600 grams
Lifespan	Up to 30 years	30–70 years

Social Needs Compared

Both birds need lots of time with people each day. Jendays love play and learn tricks with joy and ease. Two hours of time out of the cage keeps them bright.

Cockatoos need far more care, with near-constant time near you. They can grow clingy and sad if left alone for hours. Only pick a cockatoo if you can give that time each day.

Noise Levels Compared

Jendays are fairly loud, with chirps and chatter through the day. Training can tame the noise, but it will never vanish. They suit homes that can bear a chatty bird each day.

Cockatoos are far louder, with high screams when bored or sad. Those screams can upset flats and close neighbours fast. Pick a jenday if you live in a small home or flat.

Health Risks for Both Birds

Jendays may pluck feathers when bored or left alone too long. That habit can lead to sore skin and germs if not fixed. Vet visits and more play help most birds cope well.

Cockatoos may harm their own skin when bored or stressed. They can also grow fat if food and play are not watched. Both birds need vet care each year to stay well.

Risk	Jenday conure	Umbrella cockatoo
Feather harm	Plucking from boredom	Self-harm from stress
Weight	Less risk	Obesity if not watched
Stress	Mild, from lone days	High, from lone days

Jenday Conure or Umbrella Cockatoo: Which Bird Fits Your Life?

Pick a jenday if you live in a flat or lead a busy life. They are small, need less space, and play well with toys. They suit first-time owners who can give two hours a day.

Pick a cockatoo only if you have space, time, and skill. They need big cages, hours of play, and calm training each day. They suit owners who love deep bonds and loud, bright birds.

Think of your years ahead, not just your joy today. Both birds need homes that last for decades, not months. For more comparisons, see our cockatiel vs sun conure guide, our macaws vs conures guide, and our quaker parrot vs sun conure guide.

Conclusion

Jenday conures are small, playful, and fit most homes with ease, so a jenday conure vs umbrella cockatoo choice starts with your space and time. Umbrella cockatoos are big, loud, and need near-constant care. Both can be loving pets, but only one fits most lives.

Pick the bird that fits your home, time, and years ahead. A good match means joy for you and your bird alike. Choose with care, and enjoy the years that follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main behaviour differences between a jenday and a cockatoo?

Jendays are lively, playful, and bond close with owners. Cockatoos are warm too, but need far more time and care. Their moods can run deeper and harder to manage.

How much space does each bird need?

Jendays need a cage of at least 36x24x24 inches. Cockatoos need at least 36x36x48 inches, with room to climb. Both need time out of the cage each day to play.

Which bird is easier to train?

Jendays are easier, since they are keen and quick to learn. Cockatoos are smart too, but need more time and calm. Both learn best with treats and praise each day.

Do jendays and cockatoos have different social needs?

Yes, both need people time, but cockatoos need far more. Jendays can play alone for a while with toys near. Cockatoos can grow sad and loud if left alone too long.

How do their sounds compare?

Jendays chirp and chatter in a cheerful, loud way. Cockatoos scream in high, piercing calls that carry far. Both are loud, but cockatoos are louder still.