Slender-billed Conures aka Long-billed Conures
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The dusky red-tailed and green Austral conure and the descriptively named Slender-billed Conure make up the genus Enicognathus. Although both birds in the genus are available in aviculture, neither is especially common in captivity.
Personality:
The Slender-billed Conures are categorized as a medium noisy to noisy parrot. They are inquisitive, playful and animated, and are also good talkers. They are social birds that like to be part of the family or flock.
Description:
The general plumage is olive green. The bill is dark grey and the upper mandible (beak) is prolonged and slightly curved. The legs are grey and iris orange. Their forehead, crown and neck feathers are edged with brownish black. The lores and cere are crimson red. The center of abdomen is a maroon reddish color and the tail is brownish red with a tinge of green. They are around 15-16 inches in length.
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:
Breeding the Slender-billed Conure is not considered difficult. A nesting box of the following dimensions suits them well: 25 x 50 x 30 mm (10 x 20 x 12 ins) with an entrance hole of 8 cm (3 ins). They usually start breeding in April. The clutch averages 4 to 6 eggs, but can have as many as 8. The hen incubates the eggs for about 26 days. The fledging period is 7 to 8 weeks.
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:
- Length / depth: 400 - 600 mm (or approx. 16 - 24 inches)
- Log internal diameter approx. 250 - 300 mm. (or approx. 10 - 12 inches)
- Nest-box internal dimensions approx. 250 mm square (or approx. 10 inches square)
- 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.
Conures have a habit of removing all the nest box material and laying their eggs on the bare wooden base.
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: Enicognathus ... English: Slender-billed
Conures ... Dutch: Langsnavelparkieten ... German: Smaragdsittiche ... French: Perroquet emeraude 
Species: Scientific: Enicognathus leptorhynchus ... English: Slender-billed Conure ... Dutch: Langsnavelparkiet ... German: Langschnabelsittich ... French: Perruche à longue bec CITES II - Endangered Distribution: Central Chile
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
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