WHAT IS A DUSKY HEADED CONURE?
The Dusky-headed Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii), also known as Weddell's Conure or Dusky-headed 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. It is generally common and its habitat preference makes it less vulnerable than many other Amazonian species.
This long-tailed species is generally green in color (both lutino and blue mutations are rare, but do exist in captivity) with a grey-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. It is social, and usually found in pairs or small groups. 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 neutralize toxins in their diet. 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. 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.
Traits: The dusky-headed conure is cuddly, clownish and intelligent, but it’s also known as the “quiet” conure. They can be playful but dusky-headed conures also like to snuggle, hiding or falling asleep under shirts or pockets.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Dusky-headed conures need interesting entertainment and interaction. Feather picking and susceptibility to psittacine diseases are the usual health concerns with this pet bird. A diet that consists of a combination of both pellets and sprouted seeds as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, cooked brown rice, beans or pasta. Provide your conure with plastic, wood, puzzle, musical, rope, leather and other varieties of toys.
The Dusky-headed Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii), also known as Weddell's Conure or Dusky-headed 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. It is generally common and its habitat preference makes it less vulnerable than many other Amazonian species.
This long-tailed species is generally green in color (both lutino and blue mutations are rare, but do exist in captivity) with a grey-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. It is social, and usually found in pairs or small groups. 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 neutralize toxins in their diet. 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. 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.
Traits: The dusky-headed conure is cuddly, clownish and intelligent, but it’s also known as the “quiet” conure. They can be playful but dusky-headed conures also like to snuggle, hiding or falling asleep under shirts or pockets.
Behavior/Health Concerns: Dusky-headed conures need interesting entertainment and interaction. Feather picking and susceptibility to psittacine diseases are the usual health concerns with this pet bird. A diet that consists of a combination of both pellets and sprouted seeds as well as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, cooked brown rice, beans or pasta. Provide your conure with plastic, wood, puzzle, musical, rope, leather and other varieties of toys.