Gold-Capped Conure
Description
The golden-capped parakeet (Aratinga auricapillus) is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae found in Brazil and Paraguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.
It is 30 cm (12 in) long and mostly green with a black beak, white eyerings, orange-red belly, and red face fading to yellow over the crown.
Scientific Name
Aratinga Auricapillus
Country Of Origin
Size
Life Expectancy
Noise Level
Talk / Trick Ability
Very Good
Characteristics
Gold-capped conures are affectionate, cuddly, somewhat more mellow than other small conures, and are intelligent and respond well to training, making them a very popular pet bird. Although gold-capped conures can go through nippy stages, they are very trainable and, with one-on-one attention, become tame and affectionate birds. They are active and enjoy playing, chewing and exploring. Because they live in flocks in the wild, they need a lot of social interaction from their family in a pet situation in order to thrive. They love to be a part of whatever is going on and enjoy spending time with their owners.
Behavior / Health Concerns
Consistent, positive training keeps the golden-capped conure tame and well-socialized. This species can be quite noisy, so it is important to give them enough supervised time out of their cage to play and be active, which can help prevent excessive shrieking. Conures also need to chew, so providing enough safe chewing options, such as bird-safe branches and wooden toys, is important. Socialization time is extremely important for this species to prevent behavioral problems.
Expert Advice
“Unlike the other noisier and more colorful Aratinga conures, the gold-capped conure is a fairly quiet bird that also has a wonderful, calm personality and loves to cuddle with its owner and is a great hang out bird.”
Lori Hancock, CAS, AACA, Lori’s Bird Sitting Services, London, Ontario, Canada