Conures Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.

There are 8 genera of Conures:   Aratinga - 19 species, including the popular Sun and Mitred Conures Pyrrhura - 18 species, including the popular Maroon-bellied, Green-cheeked, and Black-capped Conures Nandayus - 1 species, the Nanday Conure Leptosittaca - 1 species, the Golden-plumed Conure Ognorhynchus - 1 species, the Yellow-eared Conure Cyanoliseus - 1 species, the Patagonian Conure Enicognathus - 2 species, the Austral and the Slender-billed Conure Guaruba - 1 species, Guaruba guarouba, the Golden or Queen of Bavaria Conure (formerly Aratinga guarouba) Conures have been imported into the United States since the late 1800's; however, by the early 1980's, importation had almost entirely been replaced by captive breeding programs. This in turn led to birds being sold that were inarguably healthier and better suited emotionally to captivity by virtue of handling and hand-feeding beginning at an early age. The name Conure is applied to many of the long-tailed parrots of the New World (the Americas). The largest of all the Conures, the Patagonian (Cyanoliseus patagonus) is generally 17"-18". The smallest, the Painted Conure (Pyrrhura picta) is half that size, 8.5". The most popular group of Conures are of the Aratinga genus. Other notable Conures include the Austral, (Enicognathus ferrungineus), with the most southern habitat of any parrot (southern Chile). The Austral, Patagonian, and Slender-billed Conures will spend a good deal of time foraging for food on the cage floor. The Nanday Conure (Nandayus nenday) has the habit of falling asleep on its back, feet straight up in the air (rather disconcerting the first time observed…). The Queen of Bavaria Conure (Aratinga guarouba) is not recommended for the first-time Conure owner because it requires a great deal of time and attention to avert possible destructive behaviors including screaming, feather picking, and aggression toward other parrots. Conures, in general, are playful, intelligent, "big parrots in a little parrot body." They also love to snuggle under things, so providing them with a tightly woven wash cloth, soft piece of fabric, or fuzzy toy will be appreciated. Prices range from $200 for many members of the Pyrrhura genus to $700 or more for larger and rarer genus members. Quick Stats:   Conures Family: Psittacidae Origin: Aratinga - South and Central America, Mexico Pyrrhura - throughout South America Nandayus - south-central regions of South America Leptosittica - isolated regions of Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru Ognorhynchus - northern Ecuador Cyanoliseus - Chile, Argentina, and perhaps Uruguay Enicognathus - Chile, Argentina, and Tierra del Fuego (Austral); central Chili (Slender-billed) Guaruba - restricted to small range of northeast Brazil Size: 8.5-18 inches Coloration: Aratinga: small to medium size; long tail; broad, heavy bill; naked or partially feathered periophthalmic ring; lores and cheeks fully feathered; cere either naked or hidden by feathers with only the nares exposed; general plumage green except for the Sun Conure subspecies, which is predominantly yellow. Pyrrhura: small to medium size; long tail; broad bill with notch in upper mandible; prominent naked cere; general plumage green with the exception of the Maroon-bellied Conure and the Yellow-sided Conure, which show a good deal of brown. Nandayus: medium size; long tail; bill longer than wider with upper mandibular notch; cere partially feathered with nares exposed; general plumage green. Leptosittaca: medium size; long tail; partially feathered cere; conspicuous tuft of feathers extends beyond ear coverts; general plumage green. Ognorhynchus: medium size; large, heavy, bill with upper mandibular notch; elongated ear coverts; general plumage green. Cyanoliseus: large size; long tail; small bill in proportion to size, often partially covered by cheek feathers; feathered cere; general plumage olive brown. Enicognathus: medium size; long tail; disproportionately small bill; feathered cere; characteristic edging to feathers; Slender-billed Conure has remarkable elongated upper mandible; general plumage dull green. Guaruba: medium size; long tail; disproportionately large bill; general plumage a rich yellow; wing coverts dark green; bill tan; legs pink. Diet: 50% quality pelleted diet, 40% vegetables (e.g., greens, legumes, corn-on-the-cob), 10% fruits, and an occasional nut, mealworm, or cricket. Use many varieties of fruits and vegetables, washed thoroughly. No avocados or fruit pits. See Basic Nutrition for Psittacines (Parrot Family) for more information. In the wild, grass seeds, fruits, cactus, berries, nuts, flowers, insects, and grains. Cage Size: The cage should be a minimum of 18" H x 18" L x 18" W for the smaller species; and up to a minimum of 36" x 36" x 36" for the larger species. Grooming: Trim the beak and nails as necessary; wing trims are also recommended for safety. Compatibility/Disposition: Conures are generally compatible with other conures; however, aggression may be a problem during mating season(s). Some differences in degree of aggression exist between genera (notably, Aratinga is reportedly more aggressive); however, disposition is generally affectionate, peaceful and playful, especially when socialized and handled at an early age. Vocalization: Conures have a harsh and shrill screech, louder in the Aratinga genus while the Patagonian is reported to have the loudest call of all Conures. Will pick up human speech with relative ease, especially when exposed at an early age. Some owners and breeders report the Aratinga genus will have better enunciation while the Pyrrhura genus will develop larger vocabularies. Playfulness: Highly intelligent and curious; love to cuddle; Pyrrhura genus noted to be the consummate escape artist. Life Span: Up to 35 years Age at Maturity: 1-3 years (the smaller Conures mature more quickly). Nesting Sites in the Wild: Holes carved in sandstone cliffs and terminate mounds or in naturally formed tree cavities. Breeding Season: Throughout the year, depending on genus and species. Sexing: Reliable only via DNA or endoscopy. Special: Love to bathe and will use their water bowl if nothing else is available. Also enjoy showers. Clever escape artists and acrobats. Avid chewers (especially the Aratingas) and need to be provided with plenty of toys for this purpose or behavior will become destructive. In general, the Aratinga genus is louder, larger and more aggressive, while the Pyrrhura genus is preferred as a good "first time" Conure due to its quieter and more peaceful disposition.

   Galah Cockatoos
Cacatua roseicapilla
Reprinted from Birds of Australia by Mike Owen

 

OTHER NAMES

Rose-breasted Cockatoo (USA usage), Rose Cockatoo.

SIZE

Length about 35 cm (14"), weight about 300 to 400 grams

SEXING

The sexes are very similar except for the eye colour. A mature female will develop a coppery red iris while the male, and immature females, have a very dark iris.

SUBSPECIES

The common subspecies in aviculture and in the wild through much of Australia is C. r. roseicapillus. A second subspecies, C. r. assimilis, is found in much of Western Australia and is distinguished by a paler grey body colour. A third subspecies, C. r. kuhli, has been recognised in the northern part of Western Australia, and into the Northern Territory. It is a smaller bird, about 30 cm, and exhibits differences in the periopthalmic eye ring.

NATURAL OCCURRENCE

The Galah is one of the most widespread of Australia's parrots, being found in all states. It is only absent from the most arid country and from the tip of Cape York. It prefers open grasslands and woodland, is a common species in the cities and towns, and has adapted well to farmed land. The species is gregarious, often forming flocks of several hundreds, although when foraging for food these large flocks will often split into small groups, coming together again at the evening roost site. Feeding is often done on the ground and their food in the wild is dominantly seed, nuts and fruit, and they can cause major damage to cultivated grain crops. For this reason the bird is regarded as a pest species in many parts of its range, and licensed culling is permitted in certain states.

The breeding season extends from July to December in the south and February to July in the tropical north. A nesting hollow is lined with leaves and twigs carried into the nest, and usually 3 or 4 eggs are laid. Incubation is shared by both parents over a 30 day period and the babies leave the nest at about 8 weeks old.

AVICULTURE

The Galah, like the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, is commonly kept as a pet bird, but is rarely bred in aviaries in Australia due to the depressed effect on the price of any progeny caused by the ready availability of legally wild caught young birds. Like other members of the Cockatoo group, an aviary at least 5 metres by 1.2 metres by 2 metres high is required, constructed of materials to withstand the inevitable chewing that will occur. A nest box around a 60 to 90 cm deep and about 30 cm in diameter should be supplied. An essential requirement is to keep a constant supply of fresh branches of eucalyptus and other native trees available to avoid boredom.

A supply of leaves that can be used to line the nest box is also essential. Mate aggression can be a problem if older birds are introduced to each other but seems to be less of a problem with birds that are paired up at a young age. Another problem with breeding birds is that they seem to be very clumsy, and broken eggs are by no means uncommon. There appears to be no easy solution to this, although a nest box mounted at an angle or a nest box with a bottom chamber off to one side, so that the parents do not jump down onto the eggs, may be helpful. Alternatively patience is useful, since the problem seems to decrease with age.

The diet needs to be varied, balanced and interesting. A variety of seeds such as wheat, hulled oats, canary, and some grey striped sunflower, should be provided as well as a wide range of fresh vegetables and fruit. Animal protein is also beneficial, given by way of chicken or chop bones, mealworms or other grubs. A tendency of the species to become overweight should be guarded against, and there are arguments for the use of pellets rather than seed for the Galah. The encouragement of flying by the birds is also helpful. Galahs have a tendency to prefer to climb around the aviary rather than fly, and so careful siting of perches and food dishes can help to ensure the birds have to do some flying.

PET POTENTIAL

The Galah can make an excellent pet, with even wild caught young birds capable of becoming affectionate and friendly birds. They will however often become a little unpredictable when mature, and should never be allowed to spend time on a shoulder. They are extremely playful and intelligent birds, which, like most cockatoos, need constant stimulation with toys to play with, and objects to chew, to keep them from getting bored. They are not generally noisy, apart from early morning and evening, although some are the exception to the rule. Both sexes can become good talkers, possibly with the males being somewhat better, however their talking ability is not usually on a par with either Sulphur-crested Cockatoos or the Corellas. 

Other Sites for Information     
Galah WebSite - Lots of info
                                                      
Articles on Galahs:
Galah Cockatoos - Description, history, habitat, nesting breeding, personality, behaviors and more.
Galah Talking Ability - Galahs (Rose breasteds) can be excellent talkers. Listen to them talk.
Galah FAQ - Questions answered about pet Galahs.
Galah Diet - A nutritional diet for pet Galahs includes fresh foods, herbs, greens, pellets and more.
Galah FAQ - Questions answered about pet Galahs.
Galah Health - Health problems and health needs of Galahs. Nutrition, exercise, diseases, etc.
Galah Home Environment - Caring for your pet Galah. Caging, perches, toys, lighting, etc.
LEXICON OF PARROTS - the Galah - An overview of the galah - habitat, description, breeding in the wild.
Lutino Galah and Other Mutations - Pictures and descriptions of the Lutino, Cinnamon and the Grey and White Galah Mutations
Wild Wild Rose - Part 1 - Some interesting information on Galahs (rosebreasted Cockatoos) - their behaviors and differences from other cockatoos.
Wild Wild Rose - Part 2 - Some interesting information on Galahs (rosebreasted Cockatoos) - their behaviors and differences from other cockatoos, housing, play needs.
Australian Birdkeeper

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