Blue-throated Conures / Red-rumped Conures
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Blue-throated Conures (Pyrrhura cruentata) are also known as Blue-chested or Blue-throated Parakeet , or Blue-chested or Red-rumped Conures.
These conures originate from the Atlantic rainforest in eastern Brazil. Habitat destruction and fragmentation have resulted in a massive decline in their numbers. Small flocks can be found in isolated areas of remaining forests and the few areas set aside as reserves.
Diet / Feeding:
The natural diet consists mainly of tree-fruits, seeds, flowers and berries.
Breeding / Nesting:
This conure nests in a tree cavity. The female usually lays between two to four eggs and both parents incubate the eggs for about 25 days. The young fledge when they are about 10 weeks old.
Description:
The Blue-throated Conure is a medium-sized conure, with an approximate length of 28 - 30 cm or approx 11 - 12 inches from head to tail tip, and weighs around 3.2 oz or 90+/- grams.
This green parakeet has a dark brown crown, red ear-coverts, green cheek and orange yellow on sides of neck. It has a blue upper chest, yellow green uppertail, red underside tail feathers, greyish bill, blue outer wing feathers, and red shoulder and belly patch.
Both sexes are similar. The young is duller than adult.
Personality / Pet Potential:
Because of their endangered status, many experts believe that these conures should not be kept in captivity unless they are placed into a breeding program. Their expected life span is 30 years.
Little is known of their pet potential as they are so rare.
Breeding / Reproduction:
These conures are fairly easy to breed. Below are the dimensions of nesting boxes usually used for these conures. However, the dimensions can vary widely, as they are influenced by the owner's and the birds' preferences. The preferences of the breeding birds can also be influenced by the size and type of nest-box / log in which the bird was hatched and reared.
If space allows, offering a choice of sizes and types of logs or nest-boxes, and placed in various locations within the aviary, can allow the parent birds to make their own choice. Once a pair has chosen a specific nest-box/log and been successful in it, offer that one to them each breeding season. Try and keep that one for their exclusive use. Once a pair has chosen its log or nest-box, the other ones can generally be removed. If the "spare" boxes are to be removed and moved to another flight, ensure the log / nest-box is cleaned to ensure the receptacle has the minimal contamination of mites, parasites and pathogens.
Log / Nest-box:
Marcy Covault from Feathered Companions Aviary suggests using a deeper box, either a bootbox or a vertical grandfather box (18" - 24" deep). Some conures do accept cockatiel-sized boxes, but using a deeper box will reduce the conures' tendency to remove the shavings and lay their eggs on the bare wooden base.
- Length / depth: approx. 16 - 24 inches (400 - 600 mm)
- Log / nest-box internal dimensions approx. 10 inches square (250 mm square)
- Diameter of entrance hole: approx. 3 inches ( ~70 - 80 mm)
- Inspection hole: Can be square or round, approx. 4 inches (100 mm) in diameter.
- A Removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location and height of log / nest-box: Install in a sheltered part of the aviary at about 5 feet (~1.5 - 1.8 meters) height, but not too close to the roof to cause heat problems in the hotter months.
- Angle of log or nest box: 45 degrees through to vertical. Most boxes are vertical.
- Nesting log / nest-box material: Add about 2 inches of decomposed suitable nest box litter to the bottom of the box to help stabilize the eggs and absorb the droppings from the chicks.
Options for suitable nesting material are decomposed non-toxic saw dust, corn cob, shredded newspaper, clean straw / dried grass or wood shavings (i.e., Aspen shavings or wood chips). The larger wood chips the better, so the parents don't feed it to the babies or the chicks accidentally ingest it.
Please note that some wood shavings - such as pine, cedar and redwood - give off aromatic hydrocarbons (phenols) and acids that are toxic and can cause dermatitis, allergic symptoms and irritation of the digestive tract. They should not be used in cages, aviaries, or nestboxes. - Incubation: Both hen and cock share in incubating the eggs.
Conures have a habit of removing all the nest box material and laying their eggs on the bare wooden base.
Nest inspection is generally not tolerated. If nest inspection is necessary, wait till both parents have left the nest. They can be aggressive and protective of the nest area when breeding.
For additional breeding-related information, please visit this website.
Taxonomy:
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura cruentata ... English: Blue-throated Conure, Red-rumped Conure ... Dutch: Blauwkeelconure ... German: Blaulatzsittich ... French: Perruche oreillon rouge ... CITES I - Protected
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
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