The White-eared Parakeet or Maroon-faced Parakeet (Pyrrhura leucotis) is a small Pyrrhura Conure. The Painted or Venezuelan, Grey-breasted and Pfrimer’s Conures were formerly classed as subspecies of this conure, but are increasingly treated as separate species.
Distribution
The White-eared Conure is found in eastern Brazil where it occurs from Rio de Janeiro state north to southeast Bahia. It inhabits the canopy of humid forests from the lowlands up to 500 meters above sea-level.
These conures prefer dense, tall trees and tend to move around a lot. They are only conspicuous because of their occasionally loud contact or alarm calls; as they are otherwise well camouflaged by their plumage.
They are generally not nervous and only become alarmed if deliberately disturbed, at which point they fly away loudly protesting.
Outside the breeding season, they are usually seen in groups of 15 to 20 birds. Pairs usually stay close together.
Marked population declines have been noted due to deforestation and resulting loss of habitat.
Aratinga Conure Info … Aratingas as Pets … Aratinga Conure Species
Conure Info … Index of Conure Species … Photos of the Different Conure Species for Identification
Description:
Size:
White-eared Conures are quite small, and most do not grow to be more than 8.5 inches or 21 – 23cm long, including the long tail, and usually weigh no more than two and a half ounces.
Coloration:
The plumage is mostly green; the chest is generally barred green and has yellow-orange edging with dark gray or black tips. A band of mahogany red is located above the cere. They have white marks where their ears are located. Their foreheads, lower cheeks and occasionally their napes (lower back of the neck) are bluish. The upper cheeks, napes and crown are a mahogany red color. They have maroon abdomens and lower backs.
The tail is also maroon, edged with green. The underside of the tail is dull brownish-red. The shoulders have red splashes, and often the wing-coverts are aqua colored with blue primary flight feathers. The feet and legs tend to be a shade of grey, and the beak and eye rings are a brownish grey color. The base of the bill is narrowly striped with dark brown.
Immature birds look like adults, but have a duller plumage.
Similar Species ID:
- The Grey-breasted Conure looks similar but has a larger head, longer bill and larger white ear-patches.
- The Pfrimer’s Conure also looks alike, but has a bluish crown and nape (back of the neck) and lacks the ear patches.
Personality:
These are inquisitive and playful conures that easily grow confiding. They are active and enjoy flying. They tend to be quiet and are only heard when alarmed or excited. Once acclimatized, they are hardy.
They enjoy bathing and chewing and fresh branches should be provided to satisfy their urge to chew. They can get aggressive towards other birds (scroll down for more information on personality and pet potential).
Voice / Vocalizations:
The White-eared Conure has a sharp call which is repeated three or four times.
Breeding / Nesting:
Captive breeding is regularly achieved and not difficult. It’s best to isolate pairs during the breeding season, as they can disturb each other.
They need a spacious flight 2.5 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1 x 1 x 2 m (3 x 3 x 6 ft). They should not be exposed to temperatures below 5°C (41°F). Provide a roosting / nest box 20 x 20 x 70 cm (8 x 8 x 28 ins) all year round.
In their natural habitat, the breeding season usually commences in May; in North America they may get started as early as February or March (especially in the southern states) and April in the northern areas.
The average clutch size consists of 4 to 6 eggs (of which 1 or 2 eggs are usually infertile).
Each egg measures about 26.3 x 20.5 mm (1.04 x 0.81 ins). The incubation period is about 23 days and the young fledging about 50 days after hatching and are mature when they are about 10 months.
Diet / Feeding:
Their natural diet consists of fruits, flowers, seeds, berries, insects and their larvae. These conures usually forage in flocks.
Captive birds should be provided with plenty of fruit, vegetables and greenfood; as well as a quality seed mix of safflower, oats, some sunflower (also sprouted), hemp, buckwheat, millet, canary grass seed and rowanberries. Millet spray is also eagerly accepted. Also provide fresh branches with edible flowers and buds to satisfy their urge to chew and for added nutrition. A vitamin and mineral supplements as needed.
Personality:
These charming and beautifully colored conures are not as popular as some of the more flashy cousins. Although they have many desirable personality traits. Well socialized white-eared conures make sweet, loving and talkative pest. They are seldom destructive and are generally not screamers, often choosing to mimic speech instead.
They are intelligent and quite independent, and are social animals, and will do well when kept in pairs. As is the case with just about all Conures, they are playful and very entertaining.
Conures as Pets (Suitability, Personality, Pros and Cons, Care Requirements)
Taxonomy:
Genus: Scientific: Aratinga … English: Conures … Dutch: Wigstaartparkieten … German: Keilschwanzsittiche … French: Aratinga
Species: Scientific: Aratinga leucophthalmus leucophthalmus aka Psittacara leucophthalmus leucophthalmus … English: White-eyed Conure … Dutch: Witoogaratinga, Guyana Parkiet … German: Pavuasittich, Weißaugensittich … French: Perruche de Guyana … CITES II – Endangered
Sub-Species / Races Including Nominate: emma, auricularis, leucotis
Distribution: Guianas, Eastern Venezuela, Eastern Colombia, South of Meta, Bolivia, South Brazil, Paraguay, Northern Argentina
Sub-species:
Emma’s White-eared Conures:
Distribution: Coastal Range in Northern Venezuela, from Yaracuy to Miranda. This conure is relatively common within its range. These conures prefer dense, tall trees and tend to move around a lot. They are only conspicuous because of their occasionally loud contact or alarm calls; as they are otherwise well camouflaged by their plumage. They are generally not nervous and only becomes alarmed if deliberately disturbed, at which point they fly away loudly protesting. Outside the breeding season, they are usually seen in groups of 15 to 20 birds. Pairs usually stay close together.
Description: Emma’s White-eared Conure averages 21 cm or 8.25 inches in length (including its long tail). It looks like the nominate species featured above, but the front of the crown and nape (back of the neck) are pronounced blue. The breast features a broad whitish edging, becoming dull yellow on the lower breast. The cere and periophthalmic (eye) ring is whitish.
Personality:
These are inquisitive and playful conures that easily grow confiding. They are active and enjoy flying. They tend to be quiet and are only heard when alarmed or excited. Once acclimatized, they are hardy. They enjoy bathing and chewing and fresh branches should be provided to satisfy their urge to chew. They can get aggressive towards other birds.
Breeding / Nesting:
Captive breeding is regularly achieved and not difficult. It’s best to isolate pairs during the breeding season, as they can disturb each other.
They need a spacious flight 2.5 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1 x 1 x 2 m (3 x 3 x 6 ft). They should not be exposed to temperatures below 5°C (41°F). Provide a roosting / nest box 20 x 20 x 70 cm (8 x 8 x 28 ins) all year round.
In their natural habitat, the breeding season usually commences in May; in North America they may get started as early as February or March (especially in the southern states) and April in the northern areas. The average clutch size consists of 4 to 6 eggs (of which 1 or 2 eggs are usually infertile). Each egg measures about 26.3 x 20.5 mm (1.04 x 0.81 ins). The incubation period is about 23 days and the young fledging about 50 days after hatching and are mature when they are about 10 months.
Diet / Feeding: Their natural diet consists of fruits, flowers, seeds, berries, insects and their larvae. Captive birds should be provided with plenty of fruit, vegetables and greenfood; as well as a quality seed mix of safflower, oats, some sunflower (also sprouted), hemp, buckwheat, millet, canary grass seed and rowanberries. Millet spray is also eagerly accepted. Also provide fresh branches with edible flowers and buds to satisfy their urge to chew and for added nutrition. A vitamin and mineral supplements as needed.
Genus: English: Red-tailed Conures … Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten … German: Rotschwanzsittiche … French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: Scientific: leucotis emma … English: Emma’s White-eared Conure … Dutch: Emma’s Witoorparkiet … German: Emmas Weißohrsittich … French: Perruche oreillon blanc Miranda
CITES II – Endangered
Monagas White-eared Conures:
Distribution: The Monagas White-eared Conure ( Pyrrhura l. auricularis) is found along the coastal range from Anzoátegui to Sucre and Monagas in northeast Venezuela, where they frequent forests, edges of forests, adjacent open country and occasionally in parks and around villages.
In Brazil, they typically can be found up to 600 m (2,000 ft) elevations, and in Venezuela, up to 1,700 m (5,700 ft). Within its range, this conure is generally common, although it is considered endangered because of habitat destruction and capturing for the pet trade.
These conures prefer dense, tall trees and tend to move around a lot. They are only conspicuous because of their occasionally loud contact or alarm calls; as they are otherwise well camouflaged by their plumage.
They are generally not nervous and only becomes alarmed if deliberately disturbed, at which point they fly away loudly protesting. Outside the breeding season, they are usually seen in groups of 15 to 20 birds. Pairs usually stay close together.
Description: They average 21 cm or 8.25 inches in length, including the long tail. They look similar to the Emma’s White-eared Conures described above, but the ear patch is more whitish and more extensive. The green of the flanks, back and upper tail-coverts (feathers covering the tail) are darker and less yellowish. The periophthalmic (eye) ring and cere are blackish.
Personality:
These are inquisitive and playful conures that easily grow confiding. They are active and enjoy flying. They tend to be quiet and are only heard when alarmed or excited. Once acclimatized, they are hardy. They enjoy bathing and chewing and fresh branches should be provided to satisfy their urge to chew. They can get aggressive towards other birds.
Breeding / Nesting:
Captive breeding is regularly achieved and not difficult. It’s best to isolate pairs during the breeding season, as they can disturb each other.
They need a spacious flight 2.5 x 1 x 2 m (9 x 3 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter 1 x 1 x 2 m (3 x 3 x 6 ft). They should not be exposed to temperatures below 5°C (41°F). Provide a roosting / nest box 20 x 20 x 70 cm (8 x 8 x 28 ins) all year round.
In their natural habitat, the breeding season usually commences in May; in North America they may get started as early as February or March (especially in the southern states) and April in the northern areas. The average clutch size consists of 4 to 6 eggs (of which 1 or 2 eggs are usually infertile). Each egg measures about 26.3 x 20.5 mm (1.04 x 0.81 ins). The incubation period is about 23 days and the young fledging about 50 days after hatching and are mature when they are about 10 months.
Diet / Feeding: Their natural diet consists of fruits, flowers, seeds, berries, insects and their larvae. Captive birds should be provided with plenty of fruit, vegetables and greenfood; as well as a quality seed mix of safflower, oats, some sunflower (also sprouted), hemp, buckwheat, millet, canary grass seed and rowanberries. Millet spray is also eagerly accepted. Also provide fresh branches with edible flowers and buds to satisfy their urge to chew and for added nutrition. A vitamin and mineral supplements as needed.
Genus: English: Red-tailed Conures … Dutch: Roodstaartparkieten … German: Rotschwanzsittiche … French: Perruche à queue rouge
Species: leucotis auricularis … English: Monagas White-eared Conure … Dutch: Monagas Witoorparkiet … German: Monagas Weißohrsittich … French: Perruche oreillon blanc Zimmer et Phelps
CITES II – Endangered
