PATAGONIAN CONURES
(Patty)
Cyanoliseus Patagonus
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The Patagonian Conure (Cyanoliseus Patagonus) is the only member of its genus. At this time it is classified with the conures, but recent research may change this. It is the largest member of the conure family with a sub-species being 53 cm. (20 in.) from forehead to tip of tail. There are three types of Patagonians: the Lesser, Greater, and Andean. The difference between them is size, and extent of yellow and red on their abdomen, and the extent of white on the upper breast. | |
| The general color of the Patagonian is a dark olive-brown with the breast having a dark grayish shade. The upper breast has a white streak starting at the shoulders reaching towards the center like a necklace. The Greater Patagonian has the most complete necklace; the Andean has only a small amount near the shoulders. The center of the abdomen and the inner thighs are orange-red and surrounding this red patch is yellow. The Andean type has little or no yellow and the red is very dull. The primary flights and coverts are blue. The beak is black and the irises nearly white in the adult bird. Young birds have a gray iris and white upper beak. There is a bare white area surrounding the eye. |  |
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They are still found in Northern and Central Argentina and some parts of Central Chile. Their numbers have been declining due to construction in their areas (most notably the recent building of a dam which flooded a major nesting area), being killed by farmers who see them as pests, and the robbing of nests (chicks are known to be a delicacy). Patagonian Conures have received the nicknames "cliff dwelling Parrot" and "Burrowing Parrot" due to their choice of nesting sites high in bare cliffs in which they raise their young in deep tunnels. | ||
| Patagonians have long been maligned as the carriers of Pachecos virus. The advent of a vaccine to prevent it and proof that other birds, other than conures have caused the outbreaks in recent years has brought this beauty into a new popularity. Their substantial size, reasonable price, and lively personality makes them very desirable as pets. Patagonians have the tendency to be noisy, though most people will forgive them since they are also good talkers. |  |
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Breeding them was long thought to be extremely difficult, but in recent years there has been a lot of success. Patagonians may be bred in a colony if one has a lot of space. It is recommended however that they be bred in individual cages to prevent fighting. They should be given a deep grandfather clock style box either hung at a slant or on its side. They usually lay two to four eggs, which have an incubation period of 24-26 days. Babies usually wean at about ten weeks of age. If the chicks are left with the parents they rarely double clutch since the period from laying to weaning is so long. |  |
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Handraised young make very loving pets that are rarely nippy. During handfeeding it is best to keep the babies separate after they are feathered since their rough and tumble play can lead to injuries. I have seen them wrestle where one is pinned on its back. They have such a good time playing together its a shame to keep them apart, so supervised playtime is a must. Tame Patagonians seem to like toys a lot and will accept nearly anything that can be held, tossed or rubbed up against. Most Patagonians are not bad about chewing but are very clever about taking things apart so may become escape artists. Patagonian conures are ideal pets for those who like excitement. They are rarely still; they dance, bob, climb, tumble and play for most of the day. |  |