Cuban Conure
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Description:
Both sexes are alike. Mainly green coloration. Breast and belly: yellow-green. Dispersed red feathers on its head and the body. Underside of wings and tail olive-yellow. Bill horn-colored. White eye-ring. Iris yellow. Legs brownish.
Immature bird: Fewer red feathers (red increases as it matures). Iris brown.Personality:
In the wild, they are easily noticed because of their loud call, although compared to other Conures they are relatively quiet as they only call out for a reason, such as to warn the other birds or if they get excited for some reason. They tend to calm down pretty quickly. The Cuban Conures are very active, robust, playful and inquisitive.
They don't chew as much as other Conures, but fresh branches should be provided to them. They love bathing and showering, and water for this purpose should be provided to them daily.Breeding / Reproduction:
Only experienced breeder should attempt to breed these conures. Cuban Conure are rare in aviculture and difficult to obtain and breed. Finding a compatible mate is challenging. In the wild, they breed in January or February. In captivity, they should be kept separate from other pairs in the mating season as they can get aggressive during this time. The hen lays about three to five eggs at 2 -3 day intervals, which they incubate for 23 days. The chicks wean after about 50 to 60 days.
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.
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.
- Diameter of entrance hole approx. 70 - 80 mm (or approx. 3 inches)
- Inspection hole: Square or round) 100 mm (or approx 4 inches)
- A Removable top / lid can be a useful access point for inspections and for cleaning.
- Location and height of log / nest-box = in a sheltered part of the aviary and at about 1.5 - 1.8 metres 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: Decomposed non-toxic saw dust, wood shavings or other suitable material/s.
- Incubation: Hen / cock / both share in incubating the eggs.
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.
Care and Feeding:
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. Boredom is often the most common cause for destructive behavior. Please refer to the following websites for information:- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird
- The 3 Key Elements to Your Pet Bird's Happiness and Health
- Caring for your companion bird
Genus: Scientific: Aratinga ... English: Conures ... Dutch: Wigstaartparkieten ... German: Keilschwanzsittiche ... French: Aratinga
Species: Scientific:Aratinga
euops aka Psittacara euops ... English: Cuban Conure,
Red-speckled Conure ... Dutch: Cubaanse Aratinga, Cubaanse
Parkiet ... German: Kubasittich ... French: Perruche de
Cuba CITES
II - Endangered Distribution: Cuba and Formerly the Isle of Pines, West Indies Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
Photo contributions are welcome!
