Red-throated Conure (Psittacara rubritorquis) | Parrot Encyclopedia (2024)

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Species Profile

Genus: Psittacara | Species: rubritorquis

Size:

28cm (11 in)

Weight:

130g (4.5 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults in general green, with yellow on underparts; orange/red throat and foreneck, with scattered orange/yellow feathers; varying orange/red feathers scattered on lower cheeks and sides of neck; blue tinge to primary coverts and outer webs of flight feathers; yellow/green underwing coverts; dull yellow undersides of flight feathers. Bill horn in colour. Eye ring bare and brown/grey. Eye orange.

Colour Juvenile:

Red on throat, cheeks and sides of neck minimal or absent. Eye brown.

Call:

Calls described as more high-pitched than Pacific Conure; in flight a loud, screaming noise. When perched emits more varied and persistent notes.

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More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

Species Care

Captive Status:

Rare

Longevity:

Up to 35 yrs

Housing:

Aviary or suspended enclosure, metal construction, 2-3m (6.5-9.8 ft).

Diet:

Fruits such as: apple, pear, banana, orange, pomegranate, cactus fruits, forming about 30 percent of diet; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, green beans, peas in the pod; fresh corn; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, dandelion, chickweed, sowthistle; spray millet; small seed mix such as: canary, millet, and smaller amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower and a little hemp; soaked and sprouted sunflower seed; cooked beans and pulses, boiled maize, and complete pellet.

Enrichment:

Socialization, bathing. Vigorous chewer, so provide bird-safe branches of pine, willow, elder and fir, heat sterilized pine cones, vegetable tanned leather chew toys. Also provide swings, ladders, different sized perches and foraging/puzzle toys.

Nest Box Size:

Vertical box 10" x 10" x 20" (25.4cm x 25.4cm x 50.8cm).

Clutch Size:

3-4

Incubation Time:

24-25 days

Fledging Age:

8 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, stable.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Overall decline has occurred due to conversion of forest to agriculture.

Range:

Central highlands and nearby Pacific slope of E Guatamala to W Nicaragua.

Habitat:

Found from 600-1800m (1968-5904 ft) in various kinds of wooded areas except tropical rainforest. In both moist and scrubby open woodland and farmland in Guatamala and in Pinus sp. forest in Nicaragua.

Wild Diet:

Feeds on seeds of Mimosa, fruits of Myrica mexicana, Ehretia anacua, Ceitis laevigata, Washingtonia and Melia azedarach. Also takes Populus buds and Quercus acorns. May also take seed and maize crops.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Found in flocks when not breeding, pairs during season. Larger congregations occur where food is plentiful. Nesting occurs in tree cavities, rock crevices, holes in buildings or termite mounds.

Clutch and Egg Size:

3-4 rounded eggs, 30.0 x 24.5mm (1.2 x 0.9 in).

Breeding Season:

August in Guatemala. Nest is likely in tree cavity.

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