Maroon-tailed Conure - Species

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Identified Sub-species, including Nominate:

• Maroon-tailed Conure - Pyrrhura melanura melanura / P. m. melanura (Spix, 1824) - Nominate Species
   
  • Souancé's Black-tailed Conures - Pyrrhura melanura souancei / P. m. souancei (Verreaux, 1858)
  
  
  • Berlepsch's Conures - Pyrrhura melanura berlepschi / P. m. berlepschi (Salvadori, 1891)
  
  
  • Pacific Black-tailed Conures - Pyrrhura melanura pacifica / P. m. pacifica (Chapman, 1915)
  
  
  • Chapman's Conures - Pyrrhura melanura chapmani / P. m. chapmani (Bond & Meyer de Schauensee, 1940)

Sub-species:

Berlepsch's Conures:

Distribution: Huallaga River valley, Eastern Peru

Description: The Berlepsch's Conure (Pyrrhura berlepschi) averages 24 cm or 9.6 in in length. Please refer to illustration to the right.

Breeding: The average clutch consists of 2 to 4 eggs. Both male and female share in incubation duties - the average duration of which is about 27 days.

Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge

Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura melanura berlepschi ... English: Berlepsch's Conure ... Dutch: Berlepsch's Parkiet ... German: Berlepsch Sittich ... French: Perruche queue marron Berlepsch ... CITES II - Endangered

Chapman's Conures:

Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge

Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura melanura chapmani ... English: Chapman's Conure ... Dutch: Chapmans Parkiet ... German: Chapmans Sittich ... French: Perruche queue marron Chapman ... CITES II - Endangered

Distribution: They are relatively common in their natural habitat which is the sub-tropical zone between 1,600 m (4,800 ft) and 2,800 m (8,400 ft) on the eastern slopes of Magdalena River valley as well as in Huila and south Tolima, south Colombia. Occurs in fairly high cloud forest as well as secondary vegetation and partially cleared areas. Within their natural range, the breeding season stretches from February to June. Outside the breeding season, they are seen in flocks of up to 35 birds. They enjoy swinging in the branches and are conspicuous because of their occasional loud calls. If alarmed they initially freeze.

Description: Averages 26 cm (10 ins) in length, with a wingspan of 132 - 147 mm or 5.20 - 5.79 ins. Looks like the nominate species described above, except ...

• is generally larger
• the forehead and crown is dark brown and without the green edging
• the throat, breast and nape are dark brown, each feather broadly edged brownish-white
• the primary-wing coverts are green, some red
• the abdomen is more pronounced brownish-red to marking
• the green marking to base of tail upperside is narrower

Diet:

Natural Diet: They usually forage for seeds, fruits, berries, nuts and flowers. Also chew the bark of trees.

Captive Diet: A balanced diet should include a quality seed mix of safflower, oats; some sunflower (also sprouted) hemp, buckwheat, millet, canary seed and rowan berries and millet spray. Plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and greenfood should be provided daily, as well as a regular supply of branches with fresh flowers and buds for additional nutrition and to satisfy their strong urge to chew. Vitamin and mineral supplements, as needed.

 

Aviculture:

Breeding is rarely achieved as many pairs don't come into breeding condition. These conures are generally quiet, except when calling. They are initially shy, and only slowly grow confiding. Bonded pairs stay close together and spend a good amount of time grooming each other. Colony breeding in a spacious flight is possible even during breeding season - also not recommended as pairs can disturb each other. Two breedings a year are possible. They are hardy once acclimatized. They enjoy bathing.

The flight should be at least 3 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with a protected shelter. A nest box, 20 x 20 x 70 cm (8 x 8 x 28 ins), should be available throughout the year as they also use it for roosting.

The average clutch consists of 4 to 5 eggs, but usually one or two eggs are infertile. The incubation period is 23 days and the young fledge when they are about 50 days old.

Pacific Black-tailed Conures:

Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge

Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura melanura pacifica ... English: Pacific Black-tailed Conure ... Dutch: Pacifische Zwartstaartparkiet ... German: Pazifik Schwanzschwanzsittich ... French: Perruche queue marron pasific ... CITES II - Endangered

Distribution: Pacific slopes of the Andes in Narino, South-western Colombia

Souancé's Black-tailed Conures:

Genus: Scientific: Pyrrhura ... English: Red-tailed Conures ... Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten ... German: Rotschwanzsittiche ... French: Perruche à queue rouge

Description: Please scroll up for illustration to the right.

Species: Scientific: Pyrrhura melanura souancei ... English: Souancé's Black-tailed Conure ... Dutch: Souancé Zwartstaartparkiet ... German: Souancé Schwarzschwanzsittich ... French: Perruche queue marron Verreaux ... CITES II - Endangered

Distribution: East of the Andes, Colombia, Eastern Ecuador, Northern Peru

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