Scientific Classification
- Common Name
- golden-capped conure, golden-capped parakeet
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae (true parrots)
- Genus Species
- Aratinga (bright and macaw-like) auricapillus (gold head)
Fast Facts
- Description
- The golden-capped conure has a green body with a red and gold cap and a red breast.
- Size
- Approximately 30 cm (12 in.) in length
- Weight
- Approximately 150 g (5.3 oz.)
- Diet
- These birds feed on fruits like mango, papaya and orange and seeds.
- Incubation
- Approximately 30 days
- Clutch Size
- 3 to 5 eggs
- Life Span
- Approximately 30 to 35 years
- Range
- These birds are primarily found in southeastern Brazil.
- Habitat
- This species is found in both humid Atlantic coastal forest and inland transitional forests. It is largely dependent on semi-deciduous forest, but forages and breeds in forest edge, adjacent secondary growth, agricultural areas, and even urban areas.
- Population
- The population has not been formally estimated but is believed to number more than 10,000 individuals. That is roughly equivalent to 6,700 mature individuals; however, detailed research is still required. The population is declining but is not severely fragmented.
- Status
- IUCN: Near Threatened
CITES: Appendix II
USFWS: Vulnerable
Fun Facts
Due to the small population in the wild, little is known about this bird.
Though they are not known as a truly social bird, pairs and small groups may be seen feeding in the treetops together.
These birds have a tendency to spend long periods of time in their nest, even when not breeding.
They are playful birds and are said to be clown-like.
Due to their sharp screeching calls, they are often known as "little macaws."
Ecology and Conservation
There has been extensive clearance and fragmentation of suitable habitat for coffee, soybean and sugarcane plantations and cattle-ranching (Snyder et al. 2000). Trapping for trade has probably had a significant impact since it was relatively common in illegal Brazilian markets in the mid-1980s.
The U.S. Wild Bird Act prohibits the commercial import of any bird listed by CITES which includes most parrots.
Bibliography
Forshaw, J.M. Parrots of the World. New Jersey. T.F.H. Publications Inc. 1978.
Marrison, C. and A. Greensmith. Birds of the World. New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc. 1993.
Perrins, C. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Birds. New York: Facts on File Publications. 1985.
abcbirds.org/international/parrots.htm
birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html
BirdLife International. 2016. Aratinga auricapillus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22685710A93084117. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685710A93084117.en. Downloaded on 27 February 2019.
Photo Credit: Aratinga_auricapillus_-Jurong_Bird_Park_-8a.jpg. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Image by: Peter Tani. Year Created: 13 June 2009. Website: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aratinga_auricapillus_-Jurong_Bird_Park_-8a.jpg. License: CC by SA 2.0.
