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- San [)ieQ() Eird Ereeders HALVOKATY a Club for Breeders & Keepers of Birds PRIVATE A VICULTURIST P.O. Box 1462, Lakeside, CA 92040 760-789-3815 Come learn how to PO. BOX 1413 -TEMECULA, CA 92590 care for, feed,and breed (909) 694-0755 your birds and meet new friends. Visitors are always welcome. Bring a friend. Best wishes! from Sorry, no birds. Northwest Ohio Bird Club P.O.Box 138168 - Toledo, Ohio 43613 http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/sandiegobirdbreeders Join us, our meetings are usually the first Sunday of We meet the 2nd Friday of each month at the month at the Walbridge Shelter House Wells Center Activity Room on roadway Ave., across from the back entrance of 1153 E. Madison Avenue, EI Cajon, CA the Toledo Zoo. Doors open at 7:30 P.M. For info. call: 734-269-2861 email: [email protected] 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.