Dusky-headed parakeet

Dusky-headed conure
At Beale Park, Reading, Berkshire, England
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Aratinga
Species: A. weddellii
Binomial name
Aratinga weddellii
(Deville, 1851)[2]
Synonyms

Conurus weddellii Deville, 1851

The dusky-headed parakeet (Aratinga weddellii), also known as Weddell's conure or dusky conure in aviculture, is a small green Neotropical parrot with dusty grey head found in wooded habitats in the western Amazon basin of South America. It prefers semi-open habitats such as várzea, forest edge, and forest remnants, but can also be found in coffee plantations. Some of the countries that it lives in are Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. It is generally common and its habitat preference makes it less vulnerable than many other Amazonian species. Consequently, it is considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN.

This long-tailed species is generally green in color (both lutino and blue mutations are rare, but do exist in captivity) with a gray-brown head, a blue-tipped tail, and remiges that are dark gray from below, mainly blue from above. The bill is black, and it has a broad bare white (sometimes yellow-tinged) eye-ring. With an average length of 25–28 cm (10–11 in) and a weight of about 100 grams, it is slightly smaller than the sun conure. Many people call this conures mini macaws because they have skin near their beak and eye, similar to the macaw.

It is social, and usually found in pairs or small groups.It may even flock with different species of conures. When food is plentiful, it may form flocks of up to 100 members. It eats fruit, seeds, and flowers, and will search decaying wood for insect larvae. It also ingests mineral-rich soil, e.g., from a clay lick, as a supplement. The pair raise their offspring together, nesting in woodpecker holes in trees or arboreal termite nests.

With macaws and amazons at a clay lick in Ecuador.

Consuming clay is believed to provide a mineral supplement and neutralise toxins in their diet. Their predators (along with many other neotropical parrots) include many birds of prey, monkeys, and in some cases, jaguar.

They do well in captivity. They are fairly easy to breed if provided with a durable nest box, and will lay up to three clutches per year. They are known to be quiet, compared to other conure species, but still very energetic and clownish, like most conures. These conures lifespans range from anywhere from 25–50 years, though their average lifespan is usually 35–40 years.

Recently they have been sighted as a colony in coastal districts of Lima, Perú. Probably came as a pet and have settled in this city.

Dusky conure in a cage, waiting to come out

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Aratinga weddellii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Deville, E. (1851). "Note sur espèces nouvelles d'oiseaux provenant de l'expédition de M. Castelnau". Revue et magasin de zoologie pure et appliquée. 2nd ser. 3 (5): 209.
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