Saturday, 31. July 2010
| Conures |
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Pyrrhura conures have become particulaly popular over recent years, and the prollific ability of these parrots to breed in captivity has resulted in many beautiful mutations becoming available mainly from the Green-cheeked Conures. So it with great difficulty that I have chosen to feature just a few that have perhaps not so often kept in captivity. Blue-throated Conures (p.cruentata) The biggest of the pyhurra species, these are also endangered and are CITES A listed. They were never imported in large numbers but have proved to be quite prolific in captivity. First bred in 1937 by Herbert Whitley. Many of the current Blue Throated Conures available in the UK originated from the successful breeding collection of Harry Sissens during the mid-1970's. They are a little more noisey than most of the other members of the pyrrhura family but not excessively in comparison with many other larger conures. Crimson-bellied (perlata.perlata) & Pearly Conures (perlata.lepida) These extremely beautiful conures but strikingly differently coloured Conures were once regarded as 2 separate species, but now classified as two sub-species of the same species (ie perlata). The Pearly conure having a irridescent blue chest instead of the crimson chest colour. Although they seem more available today (specially the Crimson bellied), I read with interest in a book published in 1986 that these conures were regarded as "extremely rare in aviculture" . There are in fact 4 sub-species recognised in the wild. Apart from the 2 above, there is Miritiba Pearly Conure (perlata.coerulescens) and Neumann's Pearly Conure (p.anerythra). Fiery-shouldered Conure (e.egregia) These delightful conures were only seen in collections since the 1990's. There are two sub-species recognised, the second Gran Sabana Conure (e.obscura) is similar but darker green and slightly smaller. The fiery red and yellow colours of the wing edges can vary considerably between individuals. There numbers in captive collections seem to have recently declined perhaps because of the demand for producing hand reared babies and not enough breeding stock. White-eared Conures This is more recently been identified as a group of four or five separate species (previously sub-species) where the ear area is featured as a white feathering in appearance. Now becoming quite rare in some of it's natural areas in Brazil. Not so often seen in collections nowadays and some sub-species very difficult to find. White-eared Conure (leucotis) which is probably the most commonly kept. Grey-breasted Conure (griseipectus) is similar to the White-eared but with white ear feathering more extensive, without blue to the forehead and breast grey with bright white edge feathering. Emmas Conure (emma) is similar to the White-eared but with front of crown and nape bright blue, breast edging feathers turning yellowish and white eye rings. The other two species Pfimers Conure (pfrimeri) and Monogas White-eared Conures (auricularis) are rearly seen in captive bred collections. It is also thought by some that the auricularis is probably the same specie as Emmas conure with the difference only in periopthalmic eye ring, being due to whether birds are kept inside or outside as often seen with other parrot species. Painted Conures (picta) Nine subspecies are recognised, the most common are the nominate race Painted Conure with it's blue forehead and brownish white ear feathers. The other very destinctive sub-specie is the Rose-headed (p.rosifrons) with it's bright red head and cheeks. Black-capped Conures (rupicola) Often been bred in the past in captivity, two sub-species Black-capped and the Sandia Conure (r.sandiae). Distinquished by its dark brown crown and nape of neck feathering. Upper breast with whitish-yellow feather edging. White eye rings. Sandia Conure with narrower white edging. Rose-crowned Conure (rhodocephala) Occasionally seen in collections. Red crown, beak horn coloured and white eye rings. Hoffman's Conure (hoffmani) Two sub-species are known, the Hoffmans head feathers green faintly edged with yellow. Ear with distinctive red covering feathers. White eye ring and horn coloured beak. Chiriqui Conure (h.gaudens) similar but with more yellowing to edging of head feathers. Santa Marta Conure (viridicata) This is indeed a rarely kept conure only know in very few collections. Exists in a tiny locallity in the Mountains of Santa Marta in North Columbia.
Photos above (left to right) : Crimson bellied, Emmas, Fiery-shouldered, Grey-breasted, Hoffman's and Pearly Conures Photos above (left to right): Pfimeri, Rose-crowned, Red-headed, Black-capped, Santa Marta and White-eared conures Pyrrhura Conure websites http://web.gvdnet.dk/GVD001448/ http://www.conures.fr.gd/Page-d-h-accueil.htm Aratinga Conures. There are 19 species of Aratinga conures which have a total of 35 subspecies living in Central and south America. They vary in size and colouration, but all mostly larger than the pyrrhura conures. They live in extremely varied habitats.Both in tropical rainforest,savanna and desert or semi desert and in mountains. As the temperatures in the wild are relatively stable throughout the year, it is found in general that these conures can breed the year in Europe but often from early spring to late summer. They are social birds by nature and normally even conures of the same sex are not aggresive towards each other except when breeding. Their voice is rather loud in comparison with the smaller pyrhurra conures. There are 4 separate groups of Aratingas: 1) Those conures which are not typical of the genus. Sharp-tailed conure is often said to resemble the small Macaws. Queen Bavaria's Conure behaviour, colouring and shape of the beak is not typical of Aratingas. 2) Golden-headed, Jendaya and Sun Conures. Their distribution ranges do not overlap but their similarity has led some people to believe that they are subspecies of a single specie ? 3) Jamaican, Petz's, St Thomas, Cactus and Golden-crowned Conures. The distribution of these 5 species closely fit together in a pattern. So again they do not compete but have very close behavioural similarities. 4) Mexican Green, Finch's, Wagler's, Mitred, Red-masked, White-eyed, Hispanolan and Cuban Conures. Similar to above have a common link to their territorial distribution and in addition have a common colour combination of green and red. Blue-cowned Conure (Aratinga acuticaudata haemorrhous) Similar to the nominate race (Sharp-tailed) but with only the forehead blue and with the beak horn coloured lower as well as upper mandible. They inhabit a wide sweeping range from Central western Brazil up to Columbia. Normally lay one clutch a year of 3 eggs. Commonly seen in collections in Europe. Queen or Bavaria's Conure (Aratinga guarouba) This breathtaking spectacular Conure inhabits a relatively small area north-eastern Brazil up to the Amazon. Unfortunately under serious threat because of deforestation. Normally lay up to 4 eggs but sometimes as many as 6.There are two main problems with these conures, the first being their ability to produce an ear-splitting scream and the other is that they are easily stressed into feather plucking. Mitred Conure (Aratinga mitrata mitrata) Inhabits the southern Andes and south central Peru, this conure is most often found in the mountain areas. Not often found in collections, a shy conure which is hardy in low This conure lives in Bazilian mountain regions. Still common in the wild and often kept in collections in Europe. Some birds are seen with white eye rings whilst others are mostly with black eye rings. Although lively temperatures. Normally lays 3 eggs. Jendaya Conure (Aratinga jandaya)and inquisitive it is also often known to be quite a noisy aviary bird.They often lay 3-4 eggs and occasionally will have 2 clutches a year. Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis) A conure of the north- eastern part of Brazil North of the Amazon. They remain common in the wild in light wooded areas. Also widely kept in European collections, they normally will produce 4-6 eggs each clutch. St Thomas Conure (Aratinga pertinax pertinax) There known to up to 14 subspecies of these conures. Mostly living in the north areas of Venezuela, Guyana and Colombia.There is also a problem of natural hybridisation bewteen subspecies existing in close proximetry. Weddell's conure (Aratinga weddellii) A conure of the savanna and woodland areas along the rivers on the eastern side of the Andes.They are not uncommon in the wild and often found in European collections. They lay between 2-4 eggs and have been known to produce 2 clutches in a year. A few breeders report that these conures will only eat eggfood when they have chicks in the nestbox. Photos above (left to right) : Blue-crowned, Golden, Jendaya, Mitred, St Thomas, Sun and Weddells conures Aratinga conure websites |
