icterotis relies on areas with wax palms which grow hetween 2,000 Conures and 3,400 metres (6,600 and 11,200 feet) in the Andes. The Slender-billed by Thomas Arndt, Bretten, Germany Conure Enicognathus leptorhynchus lives in the Nothofagus and Araucaria forests of its homeland, he term "Conure" is not steri is to be found, south through the Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus agreed upon by all con­ the whole of Central and South sp.) the dry areas of Argentina, and cerned. It derives from the America to Tierra de Fuego where the Margarita Conure Aratinga acuti­ T the Austral Conure Enicognathus caudata neoxena lives in the few former genus Conurus, which was later replaced by Aratinga. The name ferrugineus occurs. Various habitats square kilometres of mangroves of conure is used today as a general term are occupied in this huge area. They the island of Margarita. for South and Central American small range from rain forest to open Other species are only found at and medium-sized parrots with long savannah and very arid areas to certain altitudes such as the Rose­ tails and comprises of seven groups. humid tropical climate. The individ­ headed Conure Pyrrhura rhodocepha­ The largest are the Aratinga. ual species prefer certain types of la, which lives in the forest areas of These are mainly medium-sized with habitat, hut there are always excep­ the Venezuelan Andean foothills a bare periophthalmic ring, a power­ tions at least in the two groups with hetween 800 and 3,050 m (2,600 and ful bill, and a long, pointed tail. the most species. 10,000 feet). Taxonomists are inclined today to Aratinga and Nandayus occu­ If two or more species occur in subdivide this genus. For example, py generally savannah and open the same area they almost always the Queen of Bavaria or Golden woodland, the White-eyed Conure occupy different niches. Four Conure has been put into a genus of Aratinga leucophthalmus and the conures are to be found in the its own - Guaroba. Dusky-headed Conure Aratinga southern part of the Amazon area. The Pyrrhura form another weddellii are mainly to he found in The two Pyrrhura species are to he grouping of conures with many the Amazon forests. found in the interior of the forest species and subspecies. They are Representatives of the Pyrrhura with trees up to 25 m (82 feet) in generally small birds with a fairly group mostly prefer open and denser height, with the Pearly Conure P wide bill and a bare periophthalmic forest with the exception of the Green­ perlata mainly in secondary vegeta­ ring. It is probably the oldest repre­ cheeked Conure Pyrrhura molinae tion and the Painted Conure P picta sentative of the long-tailed parrot in which is found in the drier savannah more often in the denser forest. The South America. areas of southern South America. two Aratinga species in the area Another group related to Leptosittaca and Ognorhynchus have also divided the forest up. The pyrrhura with just two species is the occupy the montane forest of the Dusky-headed Conure A. weddellii Enicognathus. Both species are Andes and Enicognathus the forests prefers trees 30 metres (100 ft) in medium-sized parrots with a small of the temperate zone in Argentina height, whereas the White-eyed bill, which in the case of E. lep­ and Chile, while Cyanoliseus prefers Conure A. leucophthalmus prefers torhynchus is very elongated. The the hare open country of Argentina, trees 35 m (115 feet) high. cere is feathered. often without any trees. Another example is the Peach­ Four further single-species gen­ Most of the conures live in low­ fronted Conure A. aurea and the era are also regarded as conures, land areas, although a few such as Cactus Conure A. cactorum in east­ Nandayus with a bill that is longer the Brown-hreasted Conure ern Brazil. The former inhahits the than it is deep, Leptosittaca with pyrrhura calliptera, the Yellow­ evergreen valley areas while on the elongated lore feathers, Cyanoliseus eared Conure Ognorhynchus ictero­ other hand the latter prefers dry hill­ with a fairly small bill, covered part­ tis, the Golden-plumed Conure sides. As in the first example, direct ly by the cheek feathers, and Leptosittaca branickii or Chapman's competition is avoided. Ognorhynchus where the bill is Mitred Conure Aratinga mitrata alti­ deeper than it is long. Biochemical cola are found in the montane and Life in the Wild investigation of the latter has shown cloud forest of the Andes of Peru, There is relatively little known that it actually belongs to the Aras. Ecuador or Colomhia up to 3,400 ahout the life of conures in the wild. metres (11,200 ft). During the day the otherwise very Distribution of Conures The success of the conures lies noisy hirds are often very shy and The distribution area of the var­ in their extraordinary adaptahility. A quiet. They are therefore difficult to ious conures stretches from Sonora few species have however spe­ detect. Most species are in addition in Mexico, where Brewster's Green cialised in certain hahitats. The well camouflaged and even the bright Conure Aratinga holochlora hrewc Yellow-eared Conure Ognorhynchus yellow Sun Conure. Aratinga solsti-

18 Third Quarter 2001 tialis is not conspicuous from a short many locations the conures fly to protection against raptors. Some distance in its for the most part very places where they take up mineral­ species such as the Austral Conure dry habitat. Most species are only rich soil, drink, or bathe. From 11 :00 Enicognathus/errugineus have been noticeable in the early morning and A.M. to 3:00 P.M. the birds rest with observed with sentinel birds, which late afternoon when they fly screech­ virtually no activity in the midday watch over and warn the flock if it is ing to and from their roosting places. hours. These rest periods assist in feeding on the ground or is in terri­ A few species are, however, to conserving energy, but are also used tory that is difficult to survey. be seen virtually throughout the day. for intensive grooming. Between The roosting places of most The Brown-throated Conure A. perti­ 3:00 and 5:00 P.M. they feed again, species are to be found in tall, often nax, for example, or the Nanday after which they return to the roost­ isolated trees. A few conures such as Conure Nandayus nenday. Conures ing places. At sunset - between 6:00 the Yellow-eared Conure prefer can also be seen more readily in and 7:00 P.M. - the birds begin to palms for roosting purposes, others areas where they are not persecuted. quiet down for the night. However, like the Peach-fronted Conure often The Pantanal is a good example calls and small squabbles can occur withdraw into large bushes. Such where you are certain to see conures until around 8:00 P.M. roosting places are retained for years throughout the day. During the day most Pyrrhura and even decades and only species In general, the daily routine of and Aratinga species move around such as the Sun Conure, which are conures is determined by the typical in small family groups or very small nomadic during certain months hehaviour found in nearly all par­ flocks of two to 12 birds. These change them regularly. rots. From about 6:00 A.M the birds groups often come together on fruit­ Only a few species roost in tree fly to their feeding areas, although bearing trees and then there can be hollows outside the breeding period. the actual time of departure can vary gatherings of several hundred birds. These include the Golden Conure as according to species. Whilst the A few species, however, seem to fly well as a few Pyrrhura species. White-eyed Conure A. leucophthal­ around regularly in larger groups, Patagonian Conures roost in hollows mus begins its day around 6:00 A.M, although often these are immatures. in mud banks, into which the birds the Dusky-headed Conure A. wed­ This has been observed in Finsch's are supposed to fly with folded dellii does not leave until around Conure Aratinga /inschi and wings. The Red-fronted Conure 7:00 A.M. If the weather is very wet, Patagonian Conures (Cyanoliseus Aratinga wagleri uses cliffs as roost­ these times are delayed somewhat. sp.) with gatherings exceeding more ing places and the Nicaraguan Green The main feeding time occurs than 1,000 birds. Living in a flock Conure Aratinga holochlora strenua hetween 8:00 and 10:00 A.M. Then in makes sense. It provides increased spends the night during the wet sea-

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the afa WATCHBIRD 19 son in the crater walls of two active in the evening to lower areas where the 352 parrot species worldwide are volcanoes. it is not so cold at night. regarded as pests and conures are Where conures are not perse­ very prominent in this list. Of the 44 cuted they also occasionally visit Feeding Habits species 20 are known to cause con­ towns and villages, where they roost All the data gathered to date siderable damage to crops. It is in trees in the main squares. I about the feeding habits of conures believed that a further 10 species observed this for example in emphasises the high proportion of also forage in fields. Itacoatiara, where every evening various fruit consumed. It must be Surprisingly there are no food thousands of Dusky-headed Conures said, however, that it is often only specialists among the conures as alighted on the palms in the middle the seeds within that are eaten and there are among Aras. The Red-bel­ of the town. not the pulp. Dry seed is only con­ lied Macaw Ara manilata for exam­ sumed by a few species and then ple has specialised in feeding on the Migrations mostly half-ripe seeds. The choice of fruit of the buriti palm. Nonetheless Relatively little is known about food is very wide, ranging from the there are seasonal variations. the migration of South American par­ outer casing of palm fruits through Pfrimer's Conure Pyrrhura I. rots. One is often surprised to arrive berries, nectar and blossom to leaves pJrimeri feeds almost exclusively off in an area where a species is sup­ or stalks. the flowers of the Tabebuia impe­ posed to be common and find none. Many seeds and fruits are eaten tininosa tree at the height of the dry That happened to me with Sun in unripened condition because of season in northeast Brazil and the Conures in the area surrounding Boa the competition from monkeys or Enicognathus species feed mainly Vista. The year before they had still other birds. Much of this food, how­ on the seeds of Araucaria and been seen there in August, but when ever, has toxic content, which must NothoJagus trees. I searched for them in April, I learnt be neutralised by the conures. This from the local people that they actu­ may be the main reason why many Reproduction ally only appeared in July and August parrots, including numerous Conures use hollows in the for the maize harvest. This was not conures, fly daily to the "collpas" branches of large trees or in dead generally known until then. along the river banks to feed on small trees f~r breeding purposes. It is known that the Blue­ mineral-rich soil. This assists in They do not appear to be fussy. crowned Conure Aratinga acuticau­ absorbing or filtering out the toxic Larger species such as the Nanday data remains in Colombia only from element. There are fewer more spec­ Conure also breed in palm trees and March until June. They are to be tacular sights than the famous "coll­ the Yellow-eared Conure has little found in Venezuela for the rest of pas" in the Manu National Park in other alternative to palms. As nest­ the year where they also breed. The Peru. Often they consist of just a few ing opportunity is very limited in Patagonian Conure provides another metres wide strip along the rivers. many areas, some species use other example. It migrates northwards into The smaller forest dwelling possibilities. Aratinga wagleri uses Uruguay in the cold part of the year, species including many of the crevices in cliffs, Patagonian because the climate is milder there. Pyrrhura visit "barreiros" - locations Conures excavations in river banks Other species are nomadic, in the interior of the forest where and the Orange-fronted Conure although it is still not clear whether mineral-rich soil occurs on the sur­ Aratinga canicularis termite this applies only to young birds or is face. Savannah species such as the mounds. Occasionally conures select typical for all birds in the species. Nanday Conure on the other hand very curious nesting sites. Nanday This behaviour obviously applies to seek out the soil alongside paths and Conures have been observed nesting Finsch's Conure A. Jinschi. The tracks where they also probably in fence posts, the Nicaraguan Green species has succeeded in settling the consume the little stones needed to Conure Aratinga strenua uses Azuay Peninsular in Panama in the assist the stomach muscles in break­ crevices in the craters of two active last 10 years and the Nanday Conure ing down food. volcanoes and the Slender-billed has penetrated to eastern Bolivia. It When rearing young most Conure has been known to use is known that the Golden-plumed species also seek out animal protein. twigs to secure its nest in cliff faces. Conure Leptosittaca branickii has Although little research has been The beginning of the breeding been absent for years in certain loca­ carried out into this, it is at least season differs according to region, tions, only to re-appear unexpected­ known that White-eared Conures but is generally at the end of the dry lyagain. Pyrrhura leucotis forage figs infested period. If there are several conure Most Pyrrhura species are with wasps for this purpose. species in one area, then the largest sedentary, although some species Many parrot species take mostly breed first followed by the are known to migrate between dif­ advantage of agricultural activities smaller ones. Thus the breeding fering altitudes. Thus the Santa Marta although seldom to the delight of period of Aratinga leucophthalmus Conure Pyrrhura viridicata moves the farmer. Today no less than 54 of in the Peruvian Rio Purus area is

20 Third Quarter 2001 between March and May and the The clutch size depends on the especially threatened. sn1aller Aratinga weddellii from June size of the species. The larger However, the direct influence of to August. The reason for this is Aratinga species lTIostly lay 3 or 4 people on the wild populations is not obvious. By dividing the period the eggs, exceptionally 5, while the inconsiderable. A few species are still species avoid competing with each smaller species lay 4 to 5 eggs. The trapped for national and international other for nesting sites and food. The Golden-plumed Conure and the trade although not to the same extent Pearly Conure pyrrhura perlata has Yellow-eared Conure provide excep­ as during the 80s and 90s. Mostly the two breeding periods, whereby the tions with clutches of 2 to 3 eggs nests are robbed or in a few cases the second possibly serves to replace whilst members of the Enicognathus birds are caught by nets or decoy failure in the first phase. group can lay up to 8 eggs. birds. The robbing of nests has been Contrary to general opinion, Most species have no breeding practised for centuries by the indige­ only part of the population breeds. territory apart from a small area nous population - the Incas for Information about this is, however, around the nest that is defended example ruled over a lively trade in very meagre. Although between 370/0 against members of the same species. parrot feathers, which were acquired and 600/0 of a population of the However several pairs of the Dusky­ in exchange for commodities from closely related Monk Parakeet headed Conure have been known to the Indians of the Amazon basin - Myiopsitta monachus breeds every nest in one tree. Two females of the but it was the new settlers who sys­ season, in the case of the Yellow­ Brown-throated Conure have even tematically continued the trade. In eared Conure it is less than 200/0. been ob erved hrooding at the same many locations the nest sites were time in a termite mound and the broken open to take the young,

Photo by Fred Harris Golden Conure is known to breed thereby making them unavailable for regularly in colonies. further breeding. The incubation time lies A few of the larger parakeet between 23 and 24 days per egg, the species such as the Yellow-eared fledging period between 7 and 8 Conure were and still are hunted for weeks. The young are reared by the pot. Others like the Golden both parents, except for the afore­ Conure are killed for their feathers mentioned Golden Conure where and in some locations in Brazil and the young are fed together by sever­ Colombia shooting parakeets is al females. There is, in addition, an regarded as a sport, carried out for interesting observation of Yellow­ pl~asure and extirpating entire pop­ eared Conures, where a third adult ulations. guarded the nest and assisted in All these factors have resulted feeding the you ng. in no fewer than 17 of the 44 conure Unfortunately there has not yet species acquiring threatened status. been an investigation of the breed­ Well-known examples are the ing success of conures. It is believed Golden Conure, the Yellow-eared that the loss rate is fairly high. The Conure or the Golden-capped main causes are parasites, disease, Conure Aratinga auricapilla. Less nest predators such as snakes and known are the Hispaniolan Conure toucans, heavy rainfall resulting in Aratinga chloroptera, the Golden­ nest flooding, the collapse of rotten plumed Conure Leptosittaca bran­ nesting trees as well as narrow ickii or the Greater Patagonian entrance holes, and the shooting of Conure Cyanoliseus bloxami. the parents by hunters. For many species, keepers and breeders of conures have a special Threats responsibility. They can not only Some one third of all parrot maintain and enlarge the populations species are under threat, including in captivity rendering the trade in wild many species of conure. The new birds unnecessalY, but also in the case Parrot Action Plan lists 95 species, of a few species and subspecies but omits a few threatened sub­ ensure that they continue to survive. It species, which may become sepa­ would also be very desirable if more rate species at a later date. As with and more birdkeepers and breeders most other parrots the main cause is would support projects in the wild Red-masked Conure habitat destruction. Many Pyrrhura financially, especially for those species species living in forest interiors are they claim to hold dear. ~

the afa WATCHBIRD 21