Golden-capped Conure
Also known as:
Golden-capped Parakeet, Flame-capped Parakeet, Gold-capped Conure, Golden-headed Conure
Also known as:
Golden-capped Parakeet, Flame-capped Parakeet, Gold-capped Conure, Golden-headed Conure
DID YOU KNOW?
The Golden-capped Conure is often seen with the more common Peach-fronted Conure (Eupsittula aurea).
Size:
30 cm (11.7 in)
Weight:
140-150 g (4.9-5.25 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
two: A.a. auricapillus, A.a. aurifrons
Colour Adult:
A.a. auricapillus: Both adults forehead and lores to area around eyes orange/red, yellow forecrown, some birds cheeks yellow as well; abdomen and lower breast red; rump and low back margined red. Beak black. Eye ring grey, eye dull yellow.
A.a. aurifrons: As in auricapillus, but sides of head, throat and upper breast darker green with no yellow; rump and low back red absent.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adult but with less evident head markings, in particular the yellow on the forecrown; cheeks deeper green; almost no red on rump and low back; red of underparts on flanks and centre of abdomen only. Eye ring pale grey, eye brown.
Call:
Like Aratinga jandaya; short, quick tweea tweea.
More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Captive Status:
Established in the US; less so in Europe.
Longevity:
25-30 yrs
Housing:
Aviary or suspended enclosure, minimum length 2 or 3 m (6.5 or 9.8 ft).
Diet:
Fruit such as: apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits, pomegranate, forming about 30 percent of diet; fresh vegetables if taken, such as: carrot, celery, green beans and peas, corn on the cob, green leaves; spray millet, small seed, complete pellet.
Enrichment:
Provide overhead misters or shallow water bowls for bathing; bird-safe, unsprayed flowering, fir, pine, willow or elder branches, climbing toys (ladders, ropes, swings), puzzle toys, wooden block or vegetable tanned leather chew toys.
Nest Box Size:
Vertical box, 12″ x 12″ x 18″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm x 46 cm).
Clutch Size:
3 to 5
Fledging Age:
7-8 weeks
Hatch Weight:
—
Peak Weight:
—
Weaning Weight:
—
World Population:
At least 10,000 mature individuals, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
The species’ population is suspected to be declining due to ongoing habitat loss, with tree cover being lost at a rate of 13% over three generations. Some trapping for the pet trade. Is still locally common in Goiás, Minas Gerais and Bahia. It is described as very common along the Rio Grande basin.
Range:
A.a. auricapillus: Restricted to N and C Bahia; birds from S Bahia intermediate between this subspecies and A. aurifrons.
A.a. aurifrons: SE Brazil, from Minas Gerais and southern Goias south to Santa Catarina.
Habitat:
Occurs in forest, forest edge and clearings, including coastal moist evergreen Atlantic forest and deciduous and cerrado-type woodlands of interior. Up to 2180 m (7150 ft).
Wild Diet:
Eats fruits and seeds. In populated area NW of São Paulo state, birds foraged on 28 plant species, 16 of them non-native; major food items included seeds of Guazuma ulmifolia, Zea mays, Psidium guajava and Pterogyne nitens, as well as nectar of Ceiba speciosa and fruits of several species.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Gregarious, found in flocks of 12-20, rarely 40.
Clutch and Egg Size:
3 to 5 broadly elliptical eggs, 30.5 x 23.5 mm (1.2 x 0.9 in)
Breeding Season:
Possibly October start. Nest type is unknown.
Related Links:
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