That Bird Blog – Bird Care and History for Pet Birds

 

The 27-30 parrots in the Genus Amazona, collectively known as “Amazons”, are among the world’s most popular avian pets.  Indeed, they represent, at least to the general (i.e. “non-bird keeping”) public, the “typical” parrot.  But they are far from typical in any manner, and the various species, while sharing some characteristics, differ greatly from one another.

I’d like to devote a good deal of time to this important and popular group, with an emphasis on the general personality traits of the various species.  I’ll start here with those that are well-suited for beginners, and in future articles will cover larger Amazons, as well as some of the lesser-known and rare species.  I’ll also include information on Amazons in the wild from time to time.

Range

Amazons of one kind of another range throughout much of Central and South America, and also occur on a number of Caribbean islands.  The group includes quite common, rare and recently-extinct species.

General Characteristics

Amazons are feisty birds overall, much given to noisy bickering among themselves and nearly always on the go.  They are quite hardy, with longevities exceeding 80 years for some species.  They are considered by aviculturists to among the most intelligent and trainable of the parrots, and many individuals learn to speak well.  Most bond strongly to their owners, and so make great companions.

Choosing a Species

Because the various Amazons are superficially similar – medium to large, mainly green, stoutly-built parrots with short, rounded tails, there is sometimes a tendency to lump them together, as regards their suitability as pets.  However, as I hope to illustrate, care should be taken to match one’s personality with that of the parrot when choosing a pet.  Of course, individual birds vary greatly within the same species, but there are some general species’ characteristics that can be helpful.

Surprisingly, the qualities mentioned in the preceding section render some Amazon species as poor choices for beginning parrot-keepers.  Some are just too strong-willed and feisty, and need a great deal of room and attention.  They quickly learn (almost always far sooner than their owners!) how to dominate their caretakers, and what they can get away with.  These types, which I’ll cover in the future, are best left to experienced keepers.

Neophyte parrot fanciers do best with the smaller, quieter varieties that tend to have calm demeanors and a less “pushy” personality.  I’ll start off with some examples of these.

Lilac-Crowned or Finsch’s Amazon, Amazona finschi

Although well-known in captivity, this delightful parrot’s natural range is limited to foothills and mountainous terrain in western Mexico.  The green feathers have a dark tint to their edges, lending the bird a quite unique appearance, and there is an attractive purple cast to the head.  One of the smaller Amazons, it tops out at about 12 inches in length.

Lilac-crowned Amazons are shyer than most of their relatives, and well-suited to a calm owner and quiet household.  They are good talkers, and, if handled gently, make fine pets.

Blue-Fronted Amazon, Amazona aestiva aestiva

The large range of this parrot extends from northeastern Brazil to Paraguay and northern Argentina.  It seems, fortunately, to be a bit more resilient than other parrots as regards habitat loss, and is still to be found in good numbers in many areas.

Slightly larger than the lilac-crowned Amazon, the blue-fronted is also a good deal more vigorous and definitely a bit more of a challenge,  That being said, it is an easily managed bird in the right hands, and is regarded as an excellent talker.  They are quite energetic, and need to kept busy if they are to do well.

Blue-fronted Amazons have always been popular in Europe, but lag behind other Amazons here in the USA.  Green in color and topped with a blue and yellow head, their unusually large eyes lend them a sensitive, “knowing” demeanor.

 

You can read about the natural history and conservation needs of the lilac-crowned Amazon at:

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1670&m=0

Lilac  Crowned Amazon Photo referenced from Wikipedia, originally published by Ruth Rogers, and shared under Creative Commons Share 2.0

Blue-fronted Amazon picture referenced from Wikipedia, originally published by Snowmanradio, and shared under Creative Commons Share 2.0

 

Parrot finches are aptly named…the bright green plumage common to many, set off by red and blue, does bring to mind a tiny Amazon parrot.  They are quite unique in appearance from other finches, and once seen cannot easily be mistaken for anything else.  Some are among the most highly prized of all cage birds, but 2 species are well established in captivity and readily available.

Some Preliminary Considerations

Parrot finches average only 5 inches in length, but are very active, even by finch standards.  They should be given a larger cage than their size alone would indicate.  All species are native to warm climates and, while some can be acclimatized to cool temperatures, they do best when kept fairly warm.

Diet

Dietary variety is an important consideration in keeping parrot finches…all species that are regularly kept take a wider range of food than do most related birds.  In order to ensure that all bases are covered, the basic diet should consist of a mix of 2 high quality foods, such as Fiesta Finch Food  and Vita Bird Finch Food.

Parrot finches seem to have fairly high protein requirements, and relish egg food and small insects.  Bits of fruit and sprouts  should also be offered regularly.

Range

Parrot finches occur from Southeast Asia to New Guinea and northern Australia, and on many of the numerous islands within that range.  Twelve to thirteen species are recognized.  The popular gouldian finch was formerly classified as a parrot finch, but most ornithologists no longer classify it so.

Popular Species

The blue-faced parrot finch, E. trichroa, is the most commonly seen species and breeds well in captivity.  The red-headed parrot finch, E. psittacea, is also fairly well known…in the wild it is found only on New Caledonia.  One of the most colorful parrot finches is the nonpareil, or pintailed parrot finch, E. prasina.  Attractively clad in blue, red, yellow and green, this little gem is a bit delicate and does not breed as readily as the 2 species just mentioned.

You can read about the natural history and conservation status of the nonpareil and other parrot finches at:

http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8684&m=0

This website has some good parrot finch pictures. Check them out here.

 

 

I first made my acquaintance with Pekin robins while working for a bird importer, but did not really get to know them well until I again met up with them as a Bronx Zoo bird keeper.  Housing them in a large, mixed species aviary there, I was able to appreciate their many interesting behaviors.  They are always on the move…bathing, hunting and exploring, more so than most birds.

These beautiful little “babblers” (Family Sylviidae) have been kept by aviculturists for over 100 years, and it is easy to see why.  Pekin robins are a real delight to watch, especially if one can provide them with an outdoor aviary, and are far hardier than most “exotic softbills”.  Males sing beautifully but softly, and both sexes are attractively colored.

They are excellent starter birds for those looking to expand their bird-keeping horizons, but really should be kept in outdoor aviaries for at least part of the year.  They fly rather than climb about as do parrots, and cannot usually be released for exercise, and so do not adapt readily to confined quarters.

 

You can read more about the care and natural history of Pekin robins, including a note about an introduced population on Hawaii, at the web site of the Honolulu Zoo:

http://www.honoluluzoo.org/red-billed_leiothrix.htm

Image referenced from Wikipedia.

The golden conure is a bird that demands attention…indeed, a more strikingly-colored parrot can hardly be imagined.  This, coupled with a playful demeanor and rarity in the wild and captivity, renders it one of the most desirable of all cage birds. 

Description

At 15 inches in length and equipped with a massive head and beak, this giant among conures has the bearing of a much larger bird.  Many observers have commented upon this, comparing it to the smaller macaws, and taxonomists have removed the golden conure from the genus into which other conures are classified. 

The body and tail are golden-yellow, and the primary wing feathers are rich emerald green.

Range and Conservation Status

The golden conure is limited in distribution to upland forests in northeastern Brazil, an area that has seen much environmental degradation in recent decades.  It shares its habitat with over 300 bird species, including the harpy eagle and 22 other parrots.  Unfortunately, gold mining, logging and the massive Tucurui Dam have resulted in the flooding or development of millions of acres of primary forest, and place the golden conure and other species at risk.

The golden conure is CITES Appendix I listed and protected by the US Endangered Species Act, but environmental threats have proven difficult to curtail.  Fortunately, it is reasonably well-established in captivity.  Although not common and usually quite expensive, golden conure breeding is well-worth considering if you are interested in both pet-keeping and conservation.  A US Fish and Wildlife Service permit is required…please write in for further details if you are considering keeping golden conures.

Golden Conures as Pets

Golden conures are extremely social as regards both people and other conures.  They are curious and very playful, and make wonderful, long-lived (to 40 years or more) pets.  Despite looking like feathered jewels, they are quite hardy and robust, and tame individuals enjoy nothing more than a good “wrestling match” with their owner’s hand.

In common with many related birds, their voices are quite piercing…please bear that in mind and do not be swept away by their gorgeous colors when deciding if these (or other parrots) are the pets for you.

Breeding in Nature and Captivity

Field reports indicate that golden conures breed colonially, with females sharing feeding responsibilities.  While this is so, later observations revealed that breeding groups were composed largely or entirely of related birds.  Therefore, unrelated captives may not co-exist at breeding time.

Golden conure chicks have a tendency to gnaw at one another’s tail feathers…other than that captive reproduction is fairly straightforward.

Golden conure care basically follows that of related species…please write in if you have questions or would like further details.

You can read about golden conures in the wild, and a project that is seeking to preserve their habitat, at:

http://goldenconure.org/

 

Please see: Two Mid-Sized Parrot Clowns: the Black-Capped and White Headed Caique, Pionites melanocephala and P. leucogaster, Part 1, for general information on caique care.

Black-Capped Caique, Pionites melanocephala

Description

The caiques are unique among South American parrots in displaying a white breast.  This is set off, in this species, by the bright green wings and back and a black face and crown.  The abdomen, thighs and under-tail are yellowish-orange.

Subspecies

Two subspecies have been described.  The nominate form, P. melanocephala melanocephala, is found in the eastern and southern portions of the range.

In P. melanocephala pallida, sometimes referred to as the pallid caique, the abdomen, thighs and under-tail are yellow instead of orange.  Intergrades, showing characteristics of both subspecies, are common where the ranges overlap.  The black-capped caique also interbreeds with the white-breasted caique (please see below), further confusing identification of the various subspecies.

Range and Habitat

The range extends from eastern Venezuela to French Guiana and south through southwestern Columbia and Ecuador to northeastern Peru and northern Brazil.

The black-capped caique is most commonly encountered along forest edges near rivers, swamps and other bodies of water.  It generally forages in the canopy, but will venture into adjoining savannas to feed as well.

Behavior and Social Groups

Caiques may be seen in pairs, family groups or small flocks – but whatever the arrangement, there is always a good deal of noise.  Observers often note that caique flocks always seem to be larger than they actually are, due to the racket they create.  As in captivity, they are always in motion.

Black-capped caiques have been observed to engage in a behavior that has come to be known as “crowing”.  A bird, apparently of either sex, will perch and raise its wings high over its head, exposing the bright orange under-feathers in the process.  While so poised it emits a “piping call” that has not been heard at other times.  “Crowing” is believed to be a contact behavior.

Black-Capped Caiques as Pets

Black-capped caiques are more commonly kept than are white-breasted caiques.  They are quite active, rolling about and playing – with each other and favored people – in a most endearing manner.  Although not known for their speaking ability, in time they can amass a decent repertoire of words.  Caiques are best acquired as young, preferably hand-raised birds, as they have a tendency to use their strong beaks when trying to “make a point”.  Please see Part I of this article for further information on captive care.

White-Breasted Caique, Pionites leucogaster

Range and Habitat

The white breasted caique has a more limited range than its black-capped cousin, and is less commonly seen in captivity as well.  Three subspecies occur through eastern Peru, northern Bolivia and northern Brazil.  It is native to eastern Ecuador as well, but its continued presence there is now uncertain.

Like the black-capped caique, this species usually moves about and feeds high in the treetops, and frequents forests bordering watercourses.

Description

The three subspecies differ a bit in color.  All share a white breast.  The nominate race, P. leucogaster leucogaster has green thighs while those of the other subspecies are yellow.

The yellow-tailed caique, P. l. xanthurus is limited in distribution to northwestern Brazil and has, as might be expected, a yellow tail along with yellow thighs.  Its overall color is somewhat paler than that of the nominate race of the other subspecies (the yellow-thighed caique, P. l. xanthomeria).

Naturally-Occurring Hybrids

The yellow-thighed caique and the black-capped caique overlap throughout parts of their ranges, and frequently hybridize in the wild, leading some ornithologists to question the validity of their taxonomy.

 

A field research report on the behavior of black-capped caiques and other parrots in Ecuador is posted at:

http://science.melipona.org/PDF/rasmussen2000_1096_parrots.pdf

Images referenced from Wikipedia.