Venezuelan Brown-throated Conures
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The Venezuelan Brown-throated Conure (Aratinga pertinax venezuelae) are endemic to Venezuela except for extreme northwest, Cerro Roraima area and Delta Amacuro. Their natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
Description:
The Venezuelan Brown-throated Conure averages 24 or 9.5 inches in length. This conure looks similar to the nominate species, the brown-throated conure, but they have a narrow, yellow periophthalmic area (eye ring). They are slightly broader underneath. The forehead is whitish and the fore-crown is bluish. The lores, cheeks and ear-coverts (feathers covering the ears) are dull brown. The throat and upper breast are pale olive-brownish. The abdomen has a faint orange tinge. The outer webs of wings are green with a pale bluish tinge. The inner webs of the tail feathers are yellowish at the base.
Personality / Pet Potential:
The Brown-throated Conure, and its related subspecies , are intelligent birds that have the capability to talk. However, as is the case with any parrot species, there never is a guarantee that an individual bird will actually learn to talk.
Brown-throated Conures usually make very affectionate pets - provided they are well socialized and handled frequently. Brown-throated Conures tend to choose one member of the family to bond with rather than bonding with multiple people.
The Brown-throated Conure may be very loud and can be prone to destructive behavior. They need to have plenty of toys to keep them from growing bored.
The Brown Throated Conure has an average lifespan of 10 years, though - with proper care - they can live to be 25.
Conures as Pets (Suitability, Personality, Pros & Cons, Care Requirements)
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.
Breeding among the Brown Throated Conures usually happens between February and September. The female will need a nesting box, with good nesting material, cork being a good choice. Make sure the entrance hole in the box is about 3 inches in diameter. If your Brown Throated Conure is using the nestbox for sleeping, that is a good sign. They usually have to get used to it before laying an egg. The clutch will have from 3-6 eggs that incubate approximately 23 day. The young Conures usually fledge after 50 days. The young ones will sometimes stay with their parents, even after leaving the nest. Brown Throated Conures can have several clutches a year.
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: Aratinga ... English: Conures ... Dutch: Wigstaartparkieten ... German: Keilschwanzsittiche ... French: Aratinga
Species: Scientific: Aratinga pertinax venezuelae aka Eupsittula pertinax venezuelae ... English: Venezuelan Brown-throated Conure ... Dutch: Venuzuela Bruinwangparkiet ... German: Venezuela Braunwangensittich ... French: Perruche Mais de Venezuela ... CITES II - Endangered
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