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- Blue Crown Conure
The Blue-crowned Parakeet, Blue-crowned Conure, or sharp-tailed conure (Aratinga acuticaudata) is a parakeet native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south. They inhabit grassland, forest margins, and semi-arid regions. Members of the genus Aratinga are officially called parakeets by the AOU, though popularly called conures. Description: The Blue-crowned Conure is one of the larger birds in the genus Aratinga measuring approximately 37 cm (14.5 inches) in length and weighing between 140 and 190 grams (4.9 - 6.7 ounces). Blue-crowns have many features common to the Aratingas, including green plumage, long, tapered tails, horn and black-colored beaks, and white, featherless eye (periophthalmic) rings. Blue-crowns are predominantly green, with dull blue coloring on the forehead, crown, cheeks, and ears. The breast feathers may also be tinged with blue, though they are more commonly green to yellow-green. Closed wing coloring matches that of the body while extended wings show blue-brown, becoming chestnut on the outer flight feathers. The tail feathers are green on top, maroon to red-brown on the underside. Legs are pink-brown with grey-brown claws. The upper mandible is horn- colored, tapering to a needle-sharp, grey-black tip. The lower mandible is horn-colored in juveniles, fading to grey-black by the bird's second year, Some subspecies retain the horn-colored lower mandible throughout adulthood. Aviculture: Blue-crown parrots are generally called Blue-crowned Conures in aviculture. They are social birds and are relatively good talkers for Aratingas. They have become quite popular as pets, with a reputation as one of the "easier" parrots to care for. However, they are also intelligent, high-energy birds that require a lot of attention and a cage with ample room and toys. They can also be quite loud at times. Consequently, they are more appropriate companions for serious bird enthusiasts rather than the casual birdkeeper. Breeding: In the wild these birds nest in tree hollows. They have been found easy to breed in captivity and so are commonly bred. They are not dimorphic so will need to be sexed either through a DNA sampling, surgically, or through a chromosomal analysis. The hen will lay three eggs which are incubated for about 24 days. The young fledge (leave the nest) in about 58 days. Popular Culture: The most famous fictional Blue-crowned Conure is the title character in the 1998 movie Paulie. The movie used 14 birds to play the role of the talking parrot and caused a surge in the popularity of Blue-crowned Conures as pets. A Blue-crowned Conure also played a prominent role in the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. The movie spends much of its time following Connor, a lonely Blue-crown Conure in a mixed flock of Cherry- headed and Mitred Conures. |
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