Conure
Encyclopedia
Conures are a diverse, loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized parrot
s. They belong to several genera
within a long-tailed group of the New World
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
uses the generic term "parakeet
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
_-pet.jpg)
Conures are either large parakeets or small parrot
s that are found in the western hemisphere
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in 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 or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they 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." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
and Pyrrhura
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
and Jenday Conure
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
, Blue-crowned Conure
.
Pyrrhura
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
, Leptosittaca branickii, is a small Andean conure not found in aviculture and endangered in its own habitat.
and Ecuador
was never common in aviculture and has not successfully bred in captivity.
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
and Pyrrhura
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
, and Brotogeris
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
Macaws:
In addition the caique
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
. They were the subject of the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
; a story written by Mark Bittner.
Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
has been observed in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, CA since the late 1980s.
Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.
s. They belong to several genera
within a long-tailed group of the New World
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
uses the generic term "parakeet
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
Conures are either large parakeets or small parrot
s that are found in the western hemisphere
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in 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 or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they 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." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
and Pyrrhura
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
and Jenday Conure
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
, Blue-crowned Conure
.
Pyrrhura
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
, Leptosittaca branickii, is a small Andean conure not found in aviculture and endangered in its own habitat.
and Ecuador
was never common in aviculture and has not successfully bred in captivity.
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
and Pyrrhura
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
, and Brotogeris
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
Macaws:
In addition the caique
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
. They were the subject of the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
; a story written by Mark Bittner.
Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
has been observed in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, CA since the late 1980s.
Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.
Conures are a diverse, loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized parrot
s. They belong to several genera
within a long-tailed group of the New World
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
uses the generic term "parakeet
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
Conures are either large parakeets or small parrot
s that are found in the western hemisphere
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in 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 or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they 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." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
and Pyrrhura
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
Aratinga
Latin for "little macaw," (ara - macaw, tinga - diminutive) the Aratinga
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
and Jenday Conure
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
, Blue-crowned Conure
.
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
Nanday Conure
The Nanday Conure
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
Golden Conure
The Golden Conure
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
Patagonian Conure
The Patagonian Conure, also known as the Burrowing Parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus, is a largest conure. It can be found in the Patagonia
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
Enicognathus
Golden-Plumed Conure
Yellow-Eared Conure
Carolina Parakeet
Conuropsis carolinensis, the Carolina Parakeet
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
Gold-Capped Conure
The Gold-capped Conures (Aratinga auricapillus) - also known as Golden-capped Parakeets - are endemic to Brazil and Paraguay. Their natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and plantations. The existence of this conure is threatened by habitat loss.
However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
and Pyrrhura
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
, and Brotogeris
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
Macaws:
In addition the caique
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
There are multiple colonies of Cherry-headed Conures in the San Gabriel Valley (the suburbs northeast of Los Angeles). Subtropical U.S. cities like L.A. are great environments for tropical birds because of all the tropical plants that are cultivated as ornamentals, providing them with their natural food supply. Flocks of fifty or more descend on fruit trees during their bearing season, staying for a few days and making a deafening racket. During mating season they build nests in the palm trees that line many streets in the region. It is widely speculated that the reason there are so many feral conures is that they make too much noise for many pet owners, who "accidentally" leave their flight feathers untrimmed.
Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Long Beach, CA
Delray Beach, FL
A least one wild pair of Nandays has been spotted in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The total number of birds in the colony is yet undetermined.
Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s. They belong to several genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
within a long-tailed group of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
uses the generic term "parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Michael Forshaw is an Australian ornithologist, and the world's foremost expert on parrots. He was the former head of wildlife conservation for the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.-References:...
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
Description
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s that are found in the western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The Rose-ringed Parakeet , also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Since the trend of the population appears to be increasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009.Rose-ringed parakeets are...
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis or Carolina Parakeet
Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
was an exception. Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention seeking
Attention seeking
Enjoying the attention of others is quite socially acceptable. In some instances, however, the need for attention can lead to difficulties. The term attention seeking is generally reserved for such situations where excessive and "inappropriate attention seeking" is seen.-Styles:The following...
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
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
s. Conure beaks always have a small cere and are usually horn-colored or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they do not currently constitute a natural, scientific grouping. The term conure is now used mostly in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
. Scientists tend to refer to these birds as "parrots" or "parakeets." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
Conure species
Conures, as the term is used by aviculturists, include only the genera AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
- Conuropsis: Carolina ParakeetCarolina ParakeetThe Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
(extinct) - Cyanoliseus: Patagonian Conure
- Enicognathus: Austral and Slender-billed Conures
- Guarouba: Golden or Queen Of Bavaria Conure
- Leptosittaca: Golden-plumed Conure
- Nandayus : Nanday Conure---no longer in its separate species (Nandayus)-- but now an Aratinga species
- Ognorhynchus: Yellow-eared Conure
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
Aratinga
Latin for "little macaw," (ara - macaw, tinga - diminutive) the AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
Mini-macaw
Mini-macaws are a loosely-defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole...
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
Sun Conure
The Sun Parakeet or Sun Conure is a medium-sized brightly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female...
and Jenday Conure
Jenday Conure
The Jandaya Parakeet or Jenday Conure is medium-small parrot native to wooded habitats in northeastern Brazil. It is a member of the Aratinga solstitialis complex....
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
Red-masked Parakeet
The Red-masked Parakeet, Aratinga erythrogenys, is a medium-sized parrot from Ecuador and Peru. It is popular as a pet and considered a good talker. It is known in aviculture as the Cherry-headed Conure.-Description:...
, Blue-crowned Conure
Blue-crowned Parakeet
The Blue-crowned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Conure, or Sharp-tailed Conure is a parakeet native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south...
.
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
Nanday Conure
The Nanday ConureBlack-hooded Parakeet
The Nanday Parakeet is also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet or Nanday Conure. The bird is native to South America from southeast Bolivia to southwest Brazil, central Paraguay and northern Argentina, from the region known as the pantanal...
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
Golden Conure
The Golden ConureGolden Conure
The Golden Parakeet or Golden Conure, Guaruba guarouba, formerly classified as Aratinga guarouba, is a species of Neotropical parrot. Sometimes known as the Queen of Bavaria Conure, it is the only species in the genus Guaruba.Its plumage is mostly bright yellow, hence its common name, but it also...
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
Patagonian Conure
The Patagonian Conure, also known as the Burrowing Parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus, is a largest conure. It can be found in the PatagoniaPatagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
Enicognathus
Composed of the Austral Conure, Enicognathus ferrugineus, which is native to the southern tip of South America and the Slender-billed Conure, Enicognathus leptorhynchus, endemic to Chile.Golden-Plumed Conure
The Golden-plumed Conure, also called the Golden-plumed ParakeetGolden-plumed Parakeet
The Golden-plumed Parakeet is a Neotropical parrot species within the Psittacidae family, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and...
, Leptosittaca branickii, is a small Andean conure not found in aviculture and endangered in its own habitat.
Yellow-Eared Conure
The exceedingly rare Yellow-eared Conure or Ognorhynchus icterotis of ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
was never common in aviculture and has not successfully bred in captivity.
Carolina Parakeet
Conuropsis carolinensis, the Carolina ParakeetCarolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
Gold-Capped Conure
The Gold-capped Conures (Aratinga auricapillus) - also known as Golden-capped Parakeets - are endemic to Brazil and Paraguay. Their natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and plantations. The existence of this conure is threatened by habitat loss.However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
Scientific Classification
The word conure is an old term and was originally used as a descriptive name for the members of the no longer-used genus Conurus, which included the members of AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
Thick-billed Parrot
The Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha is an endangered, medium-sized, up to 38 cm long, bright green parrot with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs...
, and Brotogeris
Brotogeris
Brotogeris is a genus of small parrots endemic to Central and South America. The closest relative is the Monk Parakeet. They eat seeds and fruit.-Taxonomy:List of species of the genus:* Plain Parakeet, Brotogeris tirica...
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
Neotropical parrot
The Neotropical parrots belong to the family of the true parrots Psittacidae. Several species and one of the 32 modern genera have become extinct in recent centuries. Though fairly few fossils of modern parrots are known, most of these are from Arini...
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
- Aratinga
- Pyrrhura
- Nandayus--(now an Aratinga species)
- Guarouba--(The Queen of Bavaria Conure or the Golden Conure as it it sometimes called)
- Cyanoliseus
- Enicognathus
- Leptosittaca
- Ognorhynchus
- Conuropsis
- Rhynchopsitta: Thick-billed parrot
- Myopsitta: Quaker parakeet
Macaws:
- AraAra (genus)Ara is a Neotropical genus of macaws with eight extant species and at least two extinct species. The genus name was coined by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The Ara macaws are large striking...
- Anodorhynchus
- Cyanopsitta
- Diopsittaca
- Orthopsittaca
- Primolius
In addition the caique
Caique
The Caiques are species of parrots in the genus Pionites. There are two main species, the White-bellied Parrot and the Black-headed Parrot . They are relatively small and stocky, with a short, square tail. Due to their very brght, pure colors they are considered among the more beautiful parrot...
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
Trivia
A Blue-Crowned Conure was the star of the family movie PauliePaulie
Paulie is a 1998 family film about a talking parrot named "Paulie". It was directed by John Roberts and written by Laurie Craig, and it was produced by Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, and Allyson Lyon Segan for Mutual Film Company and DreamWorks...
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
Nonnative Conure Colonies
Conures are highly adaptable to urban environments, and several nonnative colonies have been observed globally. The exact origins of such colonies are generally unverifiable.San Francisco, CA
There is a colony of Cherry-headed Conures living in Telegraph Hill, San FranciscoTelegraph Hill, San Francisco
Telegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
. They were the subject of the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a 2005 documentary film directed, produced, and edited by Judy Irving. It chronicles the relationship between Mark Bittner, an unemployed musician who is living rent-free in a cabin in Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, California, and a flock of feral parrots ...
; a story written by Mark Bittner.
Los Angeles, CA
There are multiple colonies of Cherry-headed Conures in the San Gabriel Valley (the suburbs northeast of Los Angeles). Subtropical U.S. cities like L.A. are great environments for tropical birds because of all the tropical plants that are cultivated as ornamentals, providing them with their natural food supply. Flocks of fifty or more descend on fruit trees during their bearing season, staying for a few days and making a deafening racket. During mating season they build nests in the palm trees that line many streets in the region. It is widely speculated that the reason there are so many feral conures is that they make too much noise for many pet owners, who "accidentally" leave their flight feathers untrimmed.Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Long Beach, CA
A colony of Half-moon ConuresOrange-fronted Parakeet
The Orange-fronted Parakeet or Orange-fronted Conure , also known as the Half-moon Conure, is a medium-sized parrot which is a resident from western Mexico to Costa Rica.-Taxonomy:There are three subspecies:...
has been observed in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, CA since the late 1980s.
Delray Beach, FL
A least one wild pair of Nandays has been spotted in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The total number of birds in the colony is yet undetermined.Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.
External links
Conures are a diverse, loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized parrotParrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s. They belong to several genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
within a long-tailed group of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
uses the generic term "parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Michael Forshaw is an Australian ornithologist, and the world's foremost expert on parrots. He was the former head of wildlife conservation for the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.-References:...
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
Description
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s that are found in the western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The Rose-ringed Parakeet , also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Since the trend of the population appears to be increasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009.Rose-ringed parakeets are...
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis or Carolina Parakeet
Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
was an exception. Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention seeking
Attention seeking
Enjoying the attention of others is quite socially acceptable. In some instances, however, the need for attention can lead to difficulties. The term attention seeking is generally reserved for such situations where excessive and "inappropriate attention seeking" is seen.-Styles:The following...
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
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
s. Conure beaks always have a small cere and are usually horn-colored or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they do not currently constitute a natural, scientific grouping. The term conure is now used mostly in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
. Scientists tend to refer to these birds as "parrots" or "parakeets." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
Conure species
Conures, as the term is used by aviculturists, include only the genera AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
- Conuropsis: Carolina ParakeetCarolina ParakeetThe Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
(extinct) - Cyanoliseus: Patagonian Conure
- Enicognathus: Austral and Slender-billed Conures
- Guarouba: Golden or Queen Of Bavaria Conure
- Leptosittaca: Golden-plumed Conure
- Nandayus : Nanday Conure---no longer in its separate species (Nandayus)-- but now an Aratinga species
- Ognorhynchus: Yellow-eared Conure
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
Aratinga
Latin for "little macaw," (ara - macaw, tinga - diminutive) the AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
Mini-macaw
Mini-macaws are a loosely-defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole...
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
Sun Conure
The Sun Parakeet or Sun Conure is a medium-sized brightly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female...
and Jenday Conure
Jenday Conure
The Jandaya Parakeet or Jenday Conure is medium-small parrot native to wooded habitats in northeastern Brazil. It is a member of the Aratinga solstitialis complex....
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
Red-masked Parakeet
The Red-masked Parakeet, Aratinga erythrogenys, is a medium-sized parrot from Ecuador and Peru. It is popular as a pet and considered a good talker. It is known in aviculture as the Cherry-headed Conure.-Description:...
, Blue-crowned Conure
Blue-crowned Parakeet
The Blue-crowned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Conure, or Sharp-tailed Conure is a parakeet native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south...
.
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
Nanday Conure
The Nanday ConureBlack-hooded Parakeet
The Nanday Parakeet is also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet or Nanday Conure. The bird is native to South America from southeast Bolivia to southwest Brazil, central Paraguay and northern Argentina, from the region known as the pantanal...
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
Golden Conure
The Golden ConureGolden Conure
The Golden Parakeet or Golden Conure, Guaruba guarouba, formerly classified as Aratinga guarouba, is a species of Neotropical parrot. Sometimes known as the Queen of Bavaria Conure, it is the only species in the genus Guaruba.Its plumage is mostly bright yellow, hence its common name, but it also...
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
Patagonian Conure
The Patagonian Conure, also known as the Burrowing Parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus, is a largest conure. It can be found in the PatagoniaPatagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
Enicognathus
Composed of the Austral Conure, Enicognathus ferrugineus, which is native to the southern tip of South America and the Slender-billed Conure, Enicognathus leptorhynchus, endemic to Chile.Golden-Plumed Conure
The Golden-plumed Conure, also called the Golden-plumed ParakeetGolden-plumed Parakeet
The Golden-plumed Parakeet is a Neotropical parrot species within the Psittacidae family, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and...
, Leptosittaca branickii, is a small Andean conure not found in aviculture and endangered in its own habitat.
Yellow-Eared Conure
The exceedingly rare Yellow-eared Conure or Ognorhynchus icterotis of ColombiaColombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
was never common in aviculture and has not successfully bred in captivity.
Carolina Parakeet
Conuropsis carolinensis, the Carolina ParakeetCarolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
Gold-Capped Conure
The Gold-capped Conures (Aratinga auricapillus) - also known as Golden-capped Parakeets - are endemic to Brazil and Paraguay. Their natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and plantations. The existence of this conure is threatened by habitat loss.However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
Scientific Classification
The word conure is an old term and was originally used as a descriptive name for the members of the no longer-used genus Conurus, which included the members of AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
Thick-billed Parrot
The Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha is an endangered, medium-sized, up to 38 cm long, bright green parrot with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs...
, and Brotogeris
Brotogeris
Brotogeris is a genus of small parrots endemic to Central and South America. The closest relative is the Monk Parakeet. They eat seeds and fruit.-Taxonomy:List of species of the genus:* Plain Parakeet, Brotogeris tirica...
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
Neotropical parrot
The Neotropical parrots belong to the family of the true parrots Psittacidae. Several species and one of the 32 modern genera have become extinct in recent centuries. Though fairly few fossils of modern parrots are known, most of these are from Arini...
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
- Aratinga
- Pyrrhura
- Nandayus--(now an Aratinga species)
- Guarouba--(The Queen of Bavaria Conure or the Golden Conure as it it sometimes called)
- Cyanoliseus
- Enicognathus
- Leptosittaca
- Ognorhynchus
- Conuropsis
- Rhynchopsitta: Thick-billed parrot
- Myopsitta: Quaker parakeet
Macaws:
- AraAra (genus)Ara is a Neotropical genus of macaws with eight extant species and at least two extinct species. The genus name was coined by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The Ara macaws are large striking...
- Anodorhynchus
- Cyanopsitta
- Diopsittaca
- Orthopsittaca
- Primolius
In addition the caique
Caique
The Caiques are species of parrots in the genus Pionites. There are two main species, the White-bellied Parrot and the Black-headed Parrot . They are relatively small and stocky, with a short, square tail. Due to their very brght, pure colors they are considered among the more beautiful parrot...
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
Trivia
A Blue-Crowned Conure was the star of the family movie PauliePaulie
Paulie is a 1998 family film about a talking parrot named "Paulie". It was directed by John Roberts and written by Laurie Craig, and it was produced by Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, and Allyson Lyon Segan for Mutual Film Company and DreamWorks...
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
Nonnative Conure Colonies
Conures are highly adaptable to urban environments, and several nonnative colonies have been observed globally. The exact origins of such colonies are generally unverifiable.San Francisco, CA
There is a colony of Cherry-headed Conures living in Telegraph Hill, San FranciscoTelegraph Hill, San Francisco
Telegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
. They were the subject of the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a 2005 documentary film directed, produced, and edited by Judy Irving. It chronicles the relationship between Mark Bittner, an unemployed musician who is living rent-free in a cabin in Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, California, and a flock of feral parrots ...
; a story written by Mark Bittner.
Los Angeles, CA
There are multiple colonies of Cherry-headed Conures in the San Gabriel Valley (the suburbs northeast of Los Angeles). Subtropical U.S. cities like L.A. are great environments for tropical birds because of all the tropical plants that are cultivated as ornamentals, providing them with their natural food supply. Flocks of fifty or more descend on fruit trees during their bearing season, staying for a few days and making a deafening racket. During mating season they build nests in the palm trees that line many streets in the region. It is widely speculated that the reason there are so many feral conures is that they make too much noise for many pet owners, who "accidentally" leave their flight feathers untrimmed.Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Long Beach, CA
A colony of Half-moon ConuresOrange-fronted Parakeet
The Orange-fronted Parakeet or Orange-fronted Conure , also known as the Half-moon Conure, is a medium-sized parrot which is a resident from western Mexico to Costa Rica.-Taxonomy:There are three subspecies:...
has been observed in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, CA since the late 1980s.
Delray Beach, FL
A least one wild pair of Nandays has been spotted in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The total number of birds in the colony is yet undetermined.Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.
External links
Conures are a diverse, loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s. They belong to several genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
within a long-tailed group of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
Parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
, though it has appeared in some scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s. The American Ornithologists' Union
American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union is an ornithological organization in the USA. Unlike the National Audubon Society, its members are primarily professional ornithologists rather than amateur birders...
uses the generic term "parakeet
Parakeet
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers...
" for all species termed conure elsewhere, although Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Forshaw
Joseph Michael Forshaw is an Australian ornithologist, and the world's foremost expert on parrots. He was the former head of wildlife conservation for the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.-References:...
, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses the term "conure".
Description
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s that are found in the western hemisphere
Western Hemisphere
The Western Hemisphere or western hemisphere is mainly used as a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies west of the Prime Meridian and east of the Antimeridian , the other half being called the Eastern Hemisphere.In this sense, the western hemisphere consists of the western portions...
. They are analogous in size and way of life to the Old World
Old World
The Old World consists of those parts of the world known to classical antiquity and the European Middle Ages. It is used in the context of, and contrast with, the "New World" ....
's Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The Rose-ringed Parakeet , also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Since the trend of the population appears to be increasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009.Rose-ringed parakeets are...
s or the Australian parakeets. All living conure species are found in Central
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; the extinct Conuropsis carolinensis or Carolina Parakeet
Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
was an exception. Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention seeking
Attention seeking
Enjoying the attention of others is quite socially acceptable. In some instances, however, the need for attention can lead to difficulties. The term attention seeking is generally reserved for such situations where excessive and "inappropriate attention seeking" is seen.-Styles:The following...
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
Beak
The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young...
s. Conure beaks always have a small cere and are usually horn-colored or black. Most conure species live in flocks of 20 or more birds. Conures often eat grain, which causes them to be treated as agricultural pests in some places.
Conures are as diverse a group as African Parrots, so trying to characterize them all is difficult and inaccurate. The category conure is loosely-defined because they do not currently constitute a natural, scientific grouping. The term conure is now used mostly in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
. Scientists tend to refer to these birds as "parrots" or "parakeets." (See below under Scientific Classification for more details.) They are also recklessly loud.
Conure species
Conures, as the term is used by aviculturists, include only the genera AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
, as well as several single-species genera and one double-species genus*.
These other genera are listed below:
- Conuropsis: Carolina ParakeetCarolina ParakeetThe Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
(extinct) - Cyanoliseus: Patagonian Conure
- Enicognathus: Austral and Slender-billed Conures
- Guarouba: Golden or Queen Of Bavaria Conure
- Leptosittaca: Golden-plumed Conure
- Nandayus : Nanday Conure---no longer in its separate species (Nandayus)-- but now an Aratinga species
- Ognorhynchus: Yellow-eared Conure
See also: Wikispecies taxonomy.
Aratinga
Latin for "little macaw," (ara - macaw, tinga - diminutive) the Aratinga
Aratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
conures generally seem to have a more mischievous personality than the real little macaws or Mini-Macaw
Mini-macaw
Mini-macaws are a loosely-defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole...
s. Popular as pets, the Aratinga conures are generally larger with brighter plumage and are generally the noisier, more outgoing, more demanding of the two primary conure genera. The colorful Sun Conure
Sun Conure
The Sun Parakeet or Sun Conure is a medium-sized brightly colored parrot native to northeastern South America. The adult male and female...
and Jenday Conure
Jenday Conure
The Jandaya Parakeet or Jenday Conure is medium-small parrot native to wooded habitats in northeastern Brazil. It is a member of the Aratinga solstitialis complex....
are among the species of conures more commonly kept as pets. Many of the Aratinga species can be quite loud but otherwise can make very good pets for responsible owners. Some species, such as the Dusky Conure, Brown Headed Conure, Peach front Conure, and Half Moon Conure, are among the quieter Aratinga species, though they may still be loud at times. Lifespan is 20–30 years.
See Cherry-headed Conure
Red-masked Parakeet
The Red-masked Parakeet, Aratinga erythrogenys, is a medium-sized parrot from Ecuador and Peru. It is popular as a pet and considered a good talker. It is known in aviculture as the Cherry-headed Conure.-Description:...
, Blue-crowned Conure
Blue-crowned Parakeet
The Blue-crowned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Conure, or Sharp-tailed Conure is a parakeet native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south...
.
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
is the other large genus of conures. These generally greenish conures include the very common Green-cheeked Conure, as well as the maroon-bellied conure, pearly conure, black-capped conure, painted conure, crimson-bellied conure, and a number of other species. They are usually smaller, duller-colored, and much quieter than the Aratinga conures. Pyrrhura species are growing in popularity as pet birds, primarily due to their quiet nature, their friendly, affectionate, and intelligent personalities, and the increasing number of color mutations being developed in several of these species. Lifespan is 20–25 years.
Nanday Conure
The Nanday Conure
Black-hooded Parakeet
The Nanday Parakeet is also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet or Nanday Conure. The bird is native to South America from southeast Bolivia to southwest Brazil, central Paraguay and northern Argentina, from the region known as the pantanal...
, Nandayus nenday is the most commonly kept pet conure species outside of the two main genera. Some experts believe that Nandays should actually be grouped with the Aratinga genus, since they are cross-fertile with such species as Jendays and Suns. Nanday Conures have a distinctive black head, and wings and tails tipped with dark blue feathers. They have a light-blue scarf and bright orange feathers on their legs and around their vents. The maturity of a Nanday can be told by the edges of its black hood: if the hood has a ragged edge of brown, then the bird is over a year old. Although Nandays are often said to be extremely noisy, it might be more accurate to say that they are a heavily flock-oriented species, used to making their demands known, calling out warnings for the group, and making inquiries about other members of the group who are out of sight. They are also extremely social and intelligent birds, capable of learning tricks, mimicking sounds, and learning a decent vocabulary. At least one report suggests that they are highly adaptable to human encroachment on their territories, but the exact status of the species in the wild is unknown.
Flocks of Nanday Conures have been seen living wild in parts of Florida, notably the west coast including areas of St. Petersburg and Clearwater. There is a large flock of "Nanday Conures" living wild in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. They have been resident in the area for the past several years.
Golden Conure
The Golden Conure
Golden Conure
The Golden Parakeet or Golden Conure, Guaruba guarouba, formerly classified as Aratinga guarouba, is a species of Neotropical parrot. Sometimes known as the Queen of Bavaria Conure, it is the only species in the genus Guaruba.Its plumage is mostly bright yellow, hence its common name, but it also...
or Queen of Bavaria Conure, Guarouba guarouba (recently reclassified from Aratinga guarouba) is, as the name implies, covered all over with bright yellow feathers, except for the green wing-tip feathers and the greyish-horn-colored beak. Golden Conures are among the most expensive conures both to purchase and to care for, although many owners feel that the benefits outweigh the cost. It is one of the rarest conures in the wild in addition to the pet trade. Many experts believe that these birds should not be kept in captivity unless in a breeding program.
Patagonian Conure
The Patagonian Conure, also known as the Burrowing Parrot, Cyanoliseus patagonus, is a largest conure. It can be found in the Patagonia
Patagonia
Patagonia is a region located in Argentina and Chile, integrating the southernmost section of the Andes mountains to the southwest towards the Pacific ocean and from the east of the cordillera to the valleys it follows south through Colorado River towards Carmen de Patagones in the Atlantic Ocean...
region of south-central Argentina and Chile. Drab on the top, brightly colored underneath, the Patagonian Conure has increased in popularity since the 1990s, leading to an increase in illegal importation which threatens the wild populations; however, they are fairly commonly bred in captivity. Patagonian conures have a reputation for being exceptionally sweet-natured and intelligent conures, but can be very loud and destructive with their chewing. The Greater Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami or Cyanoliseus patagonus byroni) is the largest of all the conures. They learn to talk and they usually bond very well with people, especially if hand-raised, and although not the most colorful bird they make great pets.
Enicognathus
Composed of the Austral Conure, Enicognathus ferrugineus, which is native to the southern tip of South America and the Slender-billed Conure, Enicognathus leptorhynchus, endemic to Chile.
Golden-Plumed Conure
The Golden-plumed Conure, also called the Golden-plumed ParakeetGolden-plumed ParakeetThe Golden-plumed Parakeet is a Neotropical parrot species within the Psittacidae family, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and...
, Leptosittaca branickii, is a small Andean conure not found in aviculture and endangered in its own habitat.
Yellow-Eared Conure
The exceedingly rare Yellow-eared Conure or Ognorhynchus icterotis of ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and EcuadorEcuadorEcuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
was never common in aviculture and has not successfully bred in captivity.
Carolina ParakeetConuropsis carolinensis, the Carolina Parakeet
Carolina Parakeet
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States. It was found from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico, and lived in old forests along rivers. It was the only species at the time classified in the genus Conuropsis...
, was the only parrot species endemic to the United States in recorded history. The Carolina parakeet was a remarkably social bird, living in vast flocks. American bird hunters reported that Carolina Parakeets would return to mourn dead members of the flock, making themselves easy targets. Considered a pest, popular in the pet trade, and bearing plume feathers valued for hats, this species was hunted to extinction around the beginning of the 1900s.
Gold-Capped Conure
The Gold-capped Conures (Aratinga auricapillus) - also known as Golden-capped Parakeets - are endemic to Brazil and Paraguay. Their natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, and plantations. The existence of this conure is threatened by habitat loss.
However, Gold-capped Conures are prolific breeders, making them popular birds in aviculture, and hand-fed golden cap babies are generally available.
The Gold-capped Conure grows to about 13 to 14 inches in length and weighs about 150 grams. Their bodies are mainly green, with blackish bills, gray feet and brown irises. The forehead, the areas around the eyes and underwing coverts are usually red. The breast feathers are a red and green mix. Their tail feathers are olive green with a bluish tip. The primary feathers, wing coverts, and under-wing coverts are blue.
Immature Golden-capped Conures are essentially green, with some orange around the eyes, above the beak, and on the breast near the wings. Some navy is mixed in with the green of the tail. The bird's full coloration is not seen until they are sexually mature at about two years of age.
Their lifespan is about 30 years.
Scientific Classification
The word conure is an old term and was originally used as a descriptive name for the members of the no longer-used genus Conurus, which included the members of AratingaAratinga
Aratinga is a genus of American parakeets. They belong to the long-tailed group and are among the genera often called conures in aviculture. Most are predominantly green, although a few are predominantly yellow or orange. They are social and commonly seen in groups in the wild...
and Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America . Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the Blaze-winged Parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the...
.
The parrot order Psittaciformes is a rather confusing tangle of genera, many containing only one species. Parrots or Psittacines (order Psittaciformes) includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae or true parrots. The term parrot is generally used for both the entire order as well as for the Psittacidae alone.
All members of the Psittaciformes order have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. See Parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
.
The conures and all other New World parrots are often placed in a subfamily or tribe Arinae. Internal relationships of conures are poorly understood though it seems evident that, to make them a natural grouping, the Quaker parakeet, the thick-billed parrot
Thick-billed Parrot
The Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha is an endangered, medium-sized, up to 38 cm long, bright green parrot with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs...
, and Brotogeris
Brotogeris
Brotogeris is a genus of small parrots endemic to Central and South America. The closest relative is the Monk Parakeet. They eat seeds and fruit.-Taxonomy:List of species of the genus:* Plain Parakeet, Brotogeris tirica...
should be included, and often are. neotropical parrot
Neotropical parrot
The Neotropical parrots belong to the family of the true parrots Psittacidae. Several species and one of the 32 modern genera have become extinct in recent centuries. Though fairly few fossils of modern parrots are known, most of these are from Arini...
s, macaws, and other are also candidates potential for inclusion. In this scheme, "conure" would comprise members of the genera:
- Aratinga
- Pyrrhura
- Nandayus--(now an Aratinga species)
- Guarouba--(The Queen of Bavaria Conure or the Golden Conure as it it sometimes called)
- Cyanoliseus
- Enicognathus
- Leptosittaca
- Ognorhynchus
- Conuropsis
- Rhynchopsitta: Thick-billed parrot
- Myopsitta: Quaker parakeet
Macaws:
- AraAra (genus)Ara is a Neotropical genus of macaws with eight extant species and at least two extinct species. The genus name was coined by French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. It gives its name to and is part of the Arini, or tribe of Neotropical parrots. The Ara macaws are large striking...
- Anodorhynchus
- Cyanopsitta
- Diopsittaca
- Orthopsittaca
- Primolius
In addition the caique
Caique
The Caiques are species of parrots in the genus Pionites. There are two main species, the White-bellied Parrot and the Black-headed Parrot . They are relatively small and stocky, with a short, square tail. Due to their very brght, pure colors they are considered among the more beautiful parrot...
s and the Hawk-headed Parrot have also been proposed for inclusion. Both the caiques and the Hawk-headed parakeets have a heavier build and different tail structure from traditional conures.
Trivia
A Blue-Crowned Conure was the star of the family movie PauliePaulie
Paulie is a 1998 family film about a talking parrot named "Paulie". It was directed by John Roberts and written by Laurie Craig, and it was produced by Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn, and Allyson Lyon Segan for Mutual Film Company and DreamWorks...
. 14 different birds were used in the film.
Nonnative Conure Colonies
Conures are highly adaptable to urban environments, and several nonnative colonies have been observed globally. The exact origins of such colonies are generally unverifiable.San Francisco, CA
There is a colony of Cherry-headed Conures living in Telegraph Hill, San FranciscoTelegraph Hill, San FranciscoTelegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
. They were the subject of the film The Wild Parrots of Telegraph HillThe Wild Parrots of Telegraph HillThe Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a 2005 documentary film directed, produced, and edited by Judy Irving. It chronicles the relationship between Mark Bittner, an unemployed musician who is living rent-free in a cabin in Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, California, and a flock of feral parrots ...
; a story written by Mark Bittner.
Los Angeles, CAThere are multiple colonies of Cherry-headed Conures in the San Gabriel Valley (the suburbs northeast of Los Angeles). Subtropical U.S. cities like L.A. are great environments for tropical birds because of all the tropical plants that are cultivated as ornamentals, providing them with their natural food supply. Flocks of fifty or more descend on fruit trees during their bearing season, staying for a few days and making a deafening racket. During mating season they build nests in the palm trees that line many streets in the region. It is widely speculated that the reason there are so many feral conures is that they make too much noise for many pet owners, who "accidentally" leave their flight feathers untrimmed.
Three species of conures (genus Aratinga) have formed non-native colonies in California, and these are documented by the California Parrot Project in affiliation with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and in cooperation with the Pasadena Audubon Society.
Long Beach, CA
A colony of Half-moon ConuresOrange-fronted ParakeetThe Orange-fronted Parakeet or Orange-fronted Conure , also known as the Half-moon Conure, is a medium-sized parrot which is a resident from western Mexico to Costa Rica.-Taxonomy:There are three subspecies:...
has been observed in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach, CA since the late 1980s.
Delray Beach, FLA least one wild pair of Nandays has been spotted in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. The total number of birds in the colony is yet undetermined.
Connecticut
Several Quakers aka the Monk Parrot or Parakeet, have lived and bred here for over 30 years.