Painted Conures
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The Painted Conure (Pyrrhura picta) - also known as the Painted Parakeet - is endemic to northern South America (north of the Amazon River); specifically the Guianas, and most regions of the Amazon Basin - except the northwest Basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. They also occur in locales of Panama in Central America.
Outside the breeding season, groups of 5 to 12 birds or more birds may congregate in favored feeding areas. Bonded pairs tend to stay close. Mixed feeding groups with Golden-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris chrysopterus) and Pearly Conure (Pyrrhura perlata) also occur. They regularly visit water places to drink and bathe as well as feed on mineral-rich soil of clay-banks and barreiros in rain forest.
This species prefers dense and tall trees and tends to move around a lot. They are conspicuous through their loud calls, but are difficult to detect in the foliage because of their camouflaging plumage.
The breeding season in Panama and Colombia stretches from March to June; in Surinam from February to April; and in Brazil and Bolivia from July to December. In the United States, they may breed from February to March through June / July (depending on climate).
They nests in the cavities of dead and living trees - often at considerable height.
Calls / Vocalizations:
During flight a brief eek. Their contact call is a loud peeah and when perching they make harsh kleek-kleek calls.
Description:
The Painted Conure averages 8.5 to 9.6 inches (~ 24 cm) in length, including its long tail.
It has a mostly green plumage. The feathers on the chest are dark with broad whitish-grey tips, resulting in a distinctly scaled effect. The crown and nape (lower back of the neck) are dark brown, strongly suffused with blue on the forecrown. The lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird's head) and upper cheeks are reddish-brown. The feathers covering the ears are buff-white. They have a reddish-brown patch on the center of the abdomen and a brownish-red patch extending from the lower back to the upper tail-coverts (feathers). The primary-coverts and outer webs of primaries (longest wing feathers) are blue. The tail above is brownish-red turning green towards base. The beak is brownish-grey, the irises generally brown and the legs are greyish.
Both males and females look alike, and they reach maturity when they are about two years old.
Their flight is described as swift and direct.
Sub-species ID:
Adults of all picta subspecies - except for Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina) and some Azuero Conures (P. eisenmanni) - have red to the leading edge of the wing, but this is often difficult to see (particularly when perched).
Depending on the subspecies, the face and cheeks are dusky-maroon to maroon-red (sometimes with a bit of blue on the lowermost part), except in Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina) where the cheeks are bluish-green.
The irises are generally reported as being brown or dark, but at least Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps) can have light cream irises.
Personality:
This small parrot is quieter than other conures and well-socialized Painted Conures can be very sweet-natured. It is rarely seen in captivity and is very much in demand not only because of their endearing disposition but also because of their beautiful coloring.
Painted Conures have lots of energy and love to play. A roomy cage to accommodate lots of toys and natural branches should be provided to this active conure. Neglected or bored Painted Conures are inclined to feather plucking.
These are active conures that are not too noisy, unless they get alarmed or excited. They enjoy bathing and chewing fresh branches.
They are smart!
Most will hold their own with any of the mid-sized or medium-large parrots in terms of smartness. They can be taught simple tricks pretty easily and more complicated tricks with some training.
How much attention do they need?
Like all parrots, they are social birds. They do require daily interaction with their social group, entertainment, things to do -- or else they will become bored and develop behavioral problems. In the wild, they would never leave the company of their flockmates. In a captive pet situation, a hand-fed conure requires the same social interaction from you and your family.
If you have little time to give, a parrot would not be a good choice for you. You would need someone at home several hours a day at a minimum, preferably someone should be home most of the day. I would recommend that there be people at home, with the bird, for at least several hours every day or the majority of day.
It's best to keep your pet conure where the center of activity is, usually the family room, and leave the cage door open or allow your pet to be on a playpen whenever someone is at home. During this time some direct interaction should be provided, such as talking to your pet, petting it, or placing it on your shoulder while you surf the internet, watch tv or go about your other activities. My parrot even joins me in the gym!
Do they make good family pets?
In general, conures make good family pets as long as they have been well socialized. They don't mind a lot of activity - in fact, the more "fun stuff" is going on, the more entertained and happier they tend to be. They usually get along well with all family members, although they are likely to eventually choose a favorite; but as long as they are exposed to, and socialized by, other family members, they should maintain their friendliness with the others. Conures love to be touched and handled - another reason why they often do well with kids.
However, they go through nippy phases that can be hard on children as well as on adults. Teaching the child appropriate handling of the conure will help prevent some painful experiences - however, it will never entirely eliminate them. The tamest pet bird gets startled and bites - without this being a true reflection on its personality. It's a natural reaction. Experienced pet owners learn to read the body language of their pets and can avoid most of these "accidental encounters." Training is important to prevent an accidental bite from turning into a behavioral problem.
It is difficult to instruct smaller children on proper parrot handling, and their interactions with the conure should always be supervised. But children who have learned to handle the conure gently and confidently usually don't have a big problem with aggression. How well the child-parrot interaction goes really depends on the maturity level of the child, as well as the proper socialization-level of the parrot. Admittedly though, some genetics come into play as well. Some individual parrots are more aggressive than others. Often this is a family trait and one parrot pair produces sweet babies, while others produce nippy offspring. Sweet babies can turn nippy, if not socialized well, and nippy (usually nervous / fearful birds) can be taught to be good family pets. Birds do pick up on stress and anger that we humans may feel and this can impact their personality and likelihood to be aggressive towards us. It is always best to approach a bird calmly and focus on, and enjoy, the interaction with the parrot rather than reflecting on problems in your life. Doing so will actually be conducive to your own health, as it will help you relax.
There never will be a guarantee that a meaningful relationship between the children in the family and the pet parrot develops and if things don't go well, the conure may end up being a pet for the adults only. For this reason, it is not recommended to buy a parrot as a pet for the kids - this needs to be a family pet, with the adults taking on most of the responsibility.
Training and Behavioral Guidance:
Conures, albeit their smaller size, do present their challenges, and they are not the best "starter" birds, although some species are easier to keep than others. It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established.
Conures are known for their loud and harsh calls, which is a natural way of communication and social interaction and shouldn't be "trained away" -- however, they can develop into excessive screamers, which really requires early intervention.
Even a young bird that has not been neglected and abused requires proper guidance; this becomes even more challenging when it involves a rescued bird that may require rehabilitation. Behavioral challenges that conures present include:
- Excessive Chewing: Any parrot will chew. In nature, they use their beak to "customize" their favorite tree, to enlarge the size of their nest in a tree hollow. Doing this keeps their beaks in good condition. The problem is excessive and undesirable chewing. Undisciplined conures will chew on electric wiring potentially causing house fires. The owner needs to provide plenty of "healthy" chewing opportunities (bird toys, natural wood branches, etc.) and training is necessary to teach your pet what is "off-limits."
- Biting: Conures can become nippy. Like most parrots they are likely to discover their beaks as a method of "disciplining us" once they are out of the "baby stage." It really is important to learn to understand them and to guide their behavior before an undesirable behavior has been established.
- The "Noise" Factor: Along with other Pyrrhura conures, they are only moderately loud, therefore making acceptable pets for apartment dwellers for the most part. However, these conures can still be noisy enough to potentially upset the neighbors of apartment dwellers or annoy those that are sensitive to noise. Like other conures, they tend to express excitement with a series of loud, shrill screams.
Training and behavioral guidance will help your pet be the kind of companion you want it to be ...
- AvianWeb Resources: I put together web resources for you to help you understand your pet bird and properly direct him. Please visit this website for valuable tips on parrot behavior and training. If you found a way to resolve a "parrot behavioral issue" please share it with others.
- If you are, as I am, a visual learner and prefer step-by-step instructions to train your pet, I recommend:
- the Parrot Training Course to teach your parrot to:
- Stop Biting
- Perform Tricks &
- Tame ANY SIZE bird you could possibly own
- and/or try the "Teach Your Parrot to Talk" Training Course.
If you are considering a conure as a pet, the following web resources might be of interest:
- Procuring your Parrot
- Breeders
- Housing & Caring for Your Conure: Conures love to climb and play and need to be provided with a cage that allows them to move around freely and toys to entertain themselves with. Please refer to the following websites for information:
Diet / Feeding
Their natural diet consists of fruits (including berries), flowers, seeds, vegetable matter as well as insects and their larvae. They occasionally feed on algae on the surface of ponds.
Captive diet: They should be offered plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and greenfood. Offer a regular supply of branches with flowers and buds for added nutrition and to satisfy their urge to chew. A good quality seed mix with safflower seeds, oats, some sunflower seeds, hemp, buckwheat, millet, canary grass seed and rowanberries should be available at all times. Sprouted seeds should be offered daily, as well as millet spray several times a week. Provide vitamins and mineral supplements, as needed.
Breeding / Reproduction:
Painted Conures are somewhat challenging to breed and are, therefore, not recommended for inexperienced breeders. While some pairs breed readily, others show no interest at all.
Newly imported birds are shy and nervous and may never become confiding with their caretakers. Although well-socialized captive-bred birds tend to be friendly and inquisitive. They are susceptible during the acclimatization period, but generally hardy once acclimatized. Outside the breeding season, a colony system in large flight is possible with same species or other Pyrrhura Conures. It is, however, best to isolate pairs for breeding as they can disturb each other or even be aggressive towards other birds in the flight during this time.
The average clutch is anywhere from 4 to 9 eggs, and a good part of them tend to be infertile. Both parents share in the incubation duties, which will last 21 - 23 days. When not incubating, the male usually sits on or near the nesting box. The young fledge when they are about 50 days old. Young are mature and able to breed when they are about 2 years old. One breeding a year is the norm, occasionally two breedings are possible, particularly if the first clutch is pulled early for handrearing.
They enjoy flying and should be provided a spacious flight with the following minimum dimensions: 3 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1 x 1 x 2 m (3 x 3 x 6 ft). They should not be exposed to temperatures below 5°C (41°F). A roosting box should be available all year round - the following dimensions have worked well for some breeders: 20 x 20 x 70 cm (8 x 8 x 28 ins) or a tree stump of at least 1.5 sq. meters or 16 sq. ft per pair in communal aviary. 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:
- Length / depth: 16 - 24 inches (or ~ 400 - 600 mm)
- Log internal diameter approx. 10 - 12 inches (~250 - 300 mm)
- Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 250 mm square (or approx. 10 inches square)
- Diameter of entrance hole: approx. 3 inches ( ~70 - 80 mm)
- Inspection hole: Can be square or round. Diameter: ~4 inches (100 mm)
- 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 inspections are generally not tolerated. If nest inspection is necessary, wait until 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:
The taxonomy of the Painted Conure has recently undergone significant changes:
Traditionally, the Painted Parakeet included the Hellmayr's Parakeet (P. amazonum), Deville's Parakeet (P. lucianii) and Rose-fronted Parakeet (P. roseifrons) as subspecies. Following a review in 2002, it was recommended to treat these separate species. In 2006, a study based on maternal lineage test (mtDNA) confirmed that the "traditional" Painted Parakeet was polyphyletic (derived from more than one ancestral type), as P. p. picta was closer to the taxon emma (traditionally considered a subspecies of the White-eared Parakeet, P. leucotis) than it was to amazonum and roseifrons. The taxon lucianii was not sampled, but based on plumage and biogeography it likely falls between P. amazonum and P. roseifrons. In 2002 it had also been recommended treating the Azuero Conure (P. eisenmanni), Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina) and Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps) as separate species. Of these, only Azuero Conure (P. eisenmanni) was sampled in 2006, where it was found to be relatively close to P. p. picta, and arguably should be retained as a subspecies of the Painted Parakeet. Based on plumage and biogeography, Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps) and Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina) are likely also part of this group. Consequently, the South American Classification Committee voted for treating these as subspecies of the Painted Parakeet. Following this treatment, the Painted Parakeet includes the following subspecies:
- Painted Conure (P. p. picta) (nominate): North-eastern Brazil (north of the Amazon River and east of the lower Rio Negro/Rio Branco, though crossing west of the latter in northern Roraima), the Guianas and south-eastern Venezuela.
- Venezuelan or Emma's Conures (P. p. emma): Western Venezuelan Coastal Range.
- Venezuelan Conures (P. p. auricularis): Eastern Venezuelan Coastal Range.
- Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps): Perijá Mountains in Colombia and Venezuela, and the eastern slope of Magdalena Valley (= western slope of Cordillera Oriental) in Colombia.
- Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina) - Sinú Valley in Córdoba, Colombia.
- Azuero Conure (P. eisenmanni): Azuero Peninsula, Panama.
Note: The possibility that some of the above are separate biological species cannot be discounted at present.
Disputed / Changed Taxa
Venezuelan Conure: It has been suggested that the Venezuelan Conure (P. p. auricularis) should be considered a synonym of emma, but a recent review has suggested that Venezuelan Conure (P. p. auricularis) is valid.
The Hellmayr's Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum), also known as the Santarém Conure, has typically been considered a subspecies of the Painted Parakeet. Ribas et al. (2006) confirmed by maternal lineage test (mtDNA) that P. amazonum should be considered a species separate from P. picta. The American Ornithologists' Union voted to recognize P. amazonum as a species with Madeira Parakeet (P. amazonum snethlageae) as a subspecies.
The Deville's Conure or Parakeet (Pyrrhura lucianii) - also known as the Prince Lucian's Conure - was also considered a subspecies of the Painted Conure (Pyrrhura picta). Joseph (2002) recommended that the Deville's Conure should be recognized as a monotypic species (= one single species). The American Ornithologists' Union voted to recognize Deville's Conure (P. lucianii) as such.
Smaller Painted Conure (Pyrrhura microtera or Pyrrhura picta microtera) - no diagnostic difference was found between the Hellmayr's Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum, formerly Pyrrhura p. amazonum) and Smaller Painted Conure (P. microtera); it was therefore recommend that the latter should be considered a junior synonym of the former.
The Pantchenko's Conure (pantchenkoi) have often been considered a valid subspecies or rarely even a separate species, but recent opinion is that it is a synonym of Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps).
Sub-species:
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura picta picta ... English: Painted Conure ... Dutch: Bonte Parkiet ... German: Blaustirn Rotschwanzsittich ... French: Perruche peinte ... CITES II - Endangered
Nominate Species and Sub-Species: picta, auricularis, subandina, caeruliceps, roseifrons
Azuero Conures: Please scroll up for additional information.
Distribution: This conure is endemic to western part of Azuero Peninsular, in Panama.
Description: The Azuero Conure averages 22 cm or 8.5 inches in length (including its long tail). It looks similar to the Painted Conure featured on this page, except it has a narrow band to the forehead. It has a longer tail than the nominate Painted Conure and the beak is more powerful. The lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and the areas under the eyes are red, turning reddish-brown on the cheeks. The crown is dark brown with a faint bluish tinge. The sides of the neck, throat and upper breast are dusky brownish-blue with broad brownish-white edging, but without the typical well-defined scalloped appearance of other subspecies. The bend of the wing is green.
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura picta eisenmanni ... English: Azuero Conures ... Dutch: Azuero Parkiet ... German: Azuero Sittich ... French: Perruche peinte Azuero ... CITES II - Endangered
Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina): Please scroll up for additional information.
Distribution: This conure is endemic to the Sierra de Quimarí and Sierra de Murrucucú in northwestern Colombia; possibly also adjoining lower Cauca and Magdalena areas. It already disappeared from the lower Sinú Valley.
Despite surveys aimed at finding the Jaraquiel Conures or Sinú Parakeet (P. subandina), there are no recent records of this species, and it may already be extinct.
Description: This conure averages 22 cm (8.5 ins) in length (including its long tail) and its wings are 111 - 124 mm or 4.4 - 4.9 inches long. It looks like the nominate Painted Conure (featured on this page), but it has a narrow band to the forehead and the lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and area under the eyes are brownish-red. The cheeks are bluish-green and the crown is dark brown with a slight blue tinge to the frontal area. The feathers covering the ears are yellowish-brown. The sides of the neck, throat and upper breast are dusky brownish-blue, with a broad pale grey-brownish edging. The bend of the wing is green.
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura picta subandina ... English: Jaraquiel Conure ... Dutch: Jaraquiel Parkiet ... German: Jaraquielsittich ... French: Perruche peinte Jaraquiel ... CITES II - Endangered or Extinct
Magdalena Conures: Please scroll up for additional information.
Distribution: The Magdalena Conures or Todd's / Perijá Parakeets (Pyrrhura caeruleiceps / Pyrrhura picta caeruleiceps) are found in north-western South America, specifically the lower areas of Perijá Mountains eastwards from Casacará and on the western slopes of eastern Andes east of Auguachica, Cesar, as well as adjoining Andes regions from Norte de Santander in northeast Colombia.
It has a restricted distributions within those regions as a result of extensive habitat destruction. This species may also be threatened by capturing for the pet trade. Living specimens of this sub-species were only recently photographed for the first time, and it has been estimated that its population may be as low as 30-50 individuals.
Description: They average 22 cm or 8.5 inches in length (including its long tail), with a wing length of 119 - 126 mm (4.7 - 5 ins). They look like the nominate species (picta) featured above, except the forehead, lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and the areas under the eyes are red turning reddish-brown on the upper cheeks. The crown is blue and the sides of neck, throat and upper breast are dusky brownish-blue, with a broad pale grey-brownish edging.
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura picta caeruleiceps ... English: Magdalena Conure ... Dutch: Magdalena Parkiet ... German: Magdalenensittich ... French: Perruche peinte Magdalena ... CITES II - Endangered
Distribution: Western Slopes of Eastern Andes in Magdalena and Norte de Santander, Northern Colombia
Pantchenko's Conures: Please scroll up for additional information.
The Pantchenko's Conure (pantchenkoi) has traditionally been considered a valid subspecies of the Painted Conure or, on occasion, even a separate species, but recent opinion is that it is a synonym of the Magdalena Conures or Todd's/Perijá Parakeets (P. caeruleiceps).
Distribution / Range: This conure's natural habitat are the upper areas of Perijá Mountains along the border between Colombia and Venezuela.
Description: The Pantchenko's Conure averages 22 cm or 8.5 inches in length (including its long tail). It looks like the Painted Conure featured above, except the forehead, lores (the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head) and the areas around the eyes are red turning reddish-brown on the upper cheeks. The crown is greyish-brown tinged bluish. The sides of the neck, throat and upper breast are smoky-grey with a broad pale grey-brownish edging, which is not well defined. The periophthalmic (eye) ring is partly feathered.
Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species (disputed): Scientific: Pyrrhura picta pantchenkoi ???... English: Pantchenko's Conure ... Dutch: Pantchenko Parkiet ... German: Pantchenko Blaustirn Rotschwanzsittich ... French: Perruche peinte Pantchenko ... CITES II - Endangered
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