The Finsch's Conure (Aratinga Finschi)
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The Finsch's Conure is a small, mostly green Aratinga conure, which is loved for its playful and affectionate nature. Finsch's Conures are quite common in its natural habitat and in captivity.
Personality:
The Finsch's Conure makes a great pet for the average household. They are confiding and affectionate once they get to know the family members. They are easily trained to do tricks and most are capable of learning to talk. They are said to be people-oriented, cuddly, clowny and very sweet.
However, Finsch's Conures can also be very noisy and may not be the right pet for those who are sensitive to noise.
Description:
Usually, Finsch's Conures grow to about 11 or 12 inches in length. They are predominantly green with red foreheads, forecrowns and lores. The tiny red triangle squarely on the front of its head can cause this species to be confused with the Red-fronted Conure. However, the Red-fronted Conure is noticeably larger at 14 to 15 inches. The Finsch's Conures' wings and outer wing coverts are also red. Finsch's Conures have yellowish tails and and flight feathers. The lower breast and abdomen are sporting a bright yellowish green color. Finsch's Conures have white periopthalmic rings and their irises are a dark red-orange color. Their feet can be gray or flesh colored. Some Finsch's Conures have isolated bright red feathers scattered over their bodies. Adult coloration is usually acquired by one to two years of age.
The underwing coloration is identical with that of the White-eyed Conure, which can create further confusion in juvenile birds. Juveniles are hard to identify as they have no red feather coloration at all. They acquire their red headed adult coloration at about one to two years of age. Also, immature Finsch's Conures have darker irises than adults.
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. Please refer to the following websites for information:
- Optimal nutrition to keep your bird healthy
- Housing your bird
- Caring for your companion bird
Breeding / Reproduction:
It is quite easy to breed Finsch's Conure and they make prolific breeders and are great parents. A good-size nesting box would be about 10 x 10 x 24 inches deep. The hen typically produces a clutch of three or four eggs, which the hen incubates for about 24 days. The young fledge when they are about about 50 days old. When hand rearing Finsch's Conures, offer biscuit and dry, crisp bread.
Below are the dimensions of logs / 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.
Genus: Scientific: Aratinga ... English: Conures ...
Dutch: Wigstaartparkieten ... German: Keilschwanzsittiche
... French: Aratinga 
Species: Scientific:
Aratinga finschi aka Psittacara finschi ... English: Finsch's
Conure ... Dutch: Finsch' Aratinga ... German: Finschsittich
... French: Perruche de Finsch CITES
II - Endangered Distribution: Tropical Central America from Southern Nicaragua to Western Panama
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots.
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