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Gold-capped
Conure
Common Names: Gold-capped
Conure & Gold-cap Conure
Scientific
Name: Aratinga
auricapilla
Origin: South
America—Southern
Brazil
Relative Size: Small 140-150 grams
Average Lifespan: 20 – 30 years.
Feral and
Captive Behaviors:
The Gold-capped Conure is native to
Brazil.
These birds function in flocks of 30 or more and are usually noticed
through their loud shrills. Together they forage and eat fresh
blossoms or ripe fruits. While in their natural habitat they nest
in tree cavities and choose roosting sites that are high.
At one time
these birds were abundant in Brazil; however, habitat destruction
has caused their numbers to decline. Nesting sites are now harder to
come across due to deforestation. Fortunately, they breed will in
captivity and have been established inside the pet trade.
Pet Aspect:
The Gold-capped Conure is a wonderful pet. They are common amongst
parrot breeders and can be found for reasonable prices. They have
wonderful personalities and are very affectionate creatures. They
have so much energy that finding time to play is never a problem.
To help burn their excess energy, these conures need time outside
their cage. Handfed babies will eagerly cling to the side of the
cage until they are let out and placed onto a play stand.
Spending time
with their owners is essential to their psychological health. They
need to be interacted with daily. Placing your conure on your
shoulders is a great way to include him in your activities. While
watching television with you, this conure will easily find a nice
pocket or place to snuggle in.
Their antics
are quite amusing too. There is nothing more comical then watching
a conure play on its stand or move its head up and down. They enjoy
swinging, flapping, and chewing. Again, they are truly active, and
at times during relaxing moments it can be difficult to keep them
rested. Having some sort of distraction is great to keep them
still, such as wooden hand toys.
Talking:
Though conures are not known for their talking ability, the
Gold-capped conure can speak. Their clarity is not as clear as an
Indian Ringneck; however, their voices are somewhat understandable.
Most owners describe their voices as sounding muffled and high
pitched. It is not uncommon to hear these parrots speak 20 or more
words.
Appearance:
The Gold-capped Conure is a brightly colored parrot. It belongs to
the Genus Aratinga, a taxonomic group that has conures that look
similar and have similar physical traits. Members inside the group
include the Jenday Conure, Sun Conure, and the Golden-fronted
Conure. Like most conures inside this genus, full coloring is not
apparent until the conure reaches about a year of age.
Though not as
bright as the Sun Conure, the Gold-capped Conure has some similar
colorings. For example, the cap is golden and highlighted by a red
band above the forehead and around the eyes. Their bodies are green
but hues of aqua can be seen in direct sunlight. Red underlines the
wings and above the thighs. Interspersed between the underside of
the green wings and black feathers, a bright golden band is
present. The eyes are surrounded by a white ring and the feet and
beak are black. The tail has hues of yellow, green, and blue mixed.
The birds are
dimorphic which means they cannot be sexed visually.
Problems:
Conures can be loud. Their calls are sharp and piercing. To avoid
turning your conure into a screamer, proper techniques should be
used to help minimize screaming. These parrots cannot be expected
to keep quiet during their natural calling times, which is during
the morning,
noon,
and before sun set.
Like most
parrots, these conures can become nippy. To avoid biting, set
ground rules from day one and continually distract your conure if
you think you will be bitten. Never encourage nibbling or soft
preening of the skin. Never react to a sudden bite because this can
reinforce the bad trait.
Diet:
Your conure’s diet needs to be healthy if you expect him to reach an
old age. A diet of seeds will only keep your conure alive for 10
years. Seeds are high in fat and therefore should be given in
moderation. The best remedy is giving your conure a mixture of
pellets and seeds. Substitute fruits and vegetable daily. Fresh
fruits and vegetables offer the conure natural unprocessed nutrients
that are healthy for him. |
