Mitred Conure

Family: PsittacidaeHeckel and JeckelAratinga mitrataPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   "I'm here to tell you... the original Heckel and Jeckel never got into as much trouble as these two!"...Dr. Jungle

For more information about the care of Conures see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Conure

Geographic Distribution Aratinga mitrata See All Data at Google Maps Data provided by GBIF.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Genus: Aratinga Species: mitrata

Scientific Name: Aratinga mitrata

Distribution:
   These birds are native to central and souther Peru south through eastern Bolivia the La Rioja and western Cordoba in north-western Argentina.

Description:
   Mostly green but more yellowish on the underparts. The forehead is red with distinctive red markings around the eyes. There are scattered red feathers on the hindneck, mantle, throat, thighs, and bend of wing. The undersides of the wing-coverts are olive-green, while the undersides of tail and flight feathers are olive-yellow. The naked periophthalmic ring is creamy-white. Bill is horn colored. Irises are orange-yellow with and inner gray ring.

Size - Weight:
   These birds get up to 15" (38 cm). 8.6 ounces (244 g)

Care and feeding:
   A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch. They eat a variety of sprouts, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and commercial pellets, as well as the same nutritional foods humans eat.

   See About Conures: Housing and About Conures: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:
   In captivity these conures become very tame and will learn to speak. They need attention, patience, and toys.

Activities:  Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys.

Breeding/Reproduction:
   They breed readily if they have the right size aviary. The hen lays two to four eggs which are incubated for about 23-26 days. The young fledge after about 59 days. The nest box size should be 12" x 12" x 12".

Potential Problems:    As with many Aratinga species, MItred Conures can be noisy.
   See About Conures: Potential Problems for more information.

Availability:
  This bird is generally available at a pet stores or breeders.

Lastest Animal Stories on Mitred Conure View all 23 Animal Stories on Mitred Conure Add Your Animal Story

yolanda - 2012-04-30 please call me if you know who will sell me a red masked conure 541-292-7538 ask for tito. Reply

Mongo - 2003-12-29 My adult hen Mitred is very friendly but also very cage aggressive. I use a stick (she hops right on) to remove her from her cage and we are both very happy. She steps up immediately once OUT of the cage. She is a sweet funny pet and a great size! These birds should be much more popular! Reply

joyce - 2003-10-12 I have a mitred conure name jeckle. What a joy he is. He speaks and has a very good vobcabulary. He says "what are you doing", "whats a matter jeckle", "ma", sneezes, coughs and yells for help. Reply

Lorie - 2004-11-07 Sammy is nnow going on 17 years. I bought him when he was 7 weeks old and he had to be hand fed as he was not yet weaned. He has never grown out of being hand fed. Each morning he has a tablespoon of hot cereal with honey and applesauce. I started "potty training" him when he was young so now let me know when he wants down by either saying "Sammy wants to potty" or if I hold him, he nibbles my ear. He says quite a lot but has become quite agressive toward anyone who comes near me if he he feels intimated by them. I would not trade him for anything as he is a great companion but he does get noisy when he wants attention or wants to be outside the cage. We built a Madrona tree for him to climb around on. He would rather be on it than caged. Reply

Martha from Silverstrand Beach - 2011-04-22 Hello, Much to my surprise the "wild parrot" that visits my back yard is a Conure. I would like to make friends, not sure how to go about that. I put fruit and nuts in the birdbath type of feeder and also drove a tall handled shovel next to it for the bird to purch. So now it does stop by to see what I have out to eat. Would you guess this is a pet that took flight ? It stays in a 2 block radius and caws to let us know he is around. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks...Martha Charlie Roche - 2011-04-23 Yes, I would say this is/was someone's pet but who knows from where. I had a friend who had her bird fly out of the car on a trip. So the conure could be from your area or from another state. The idea that the bird stays in a 2 block area can mean that it is from there or it got lost there and will expand it's circle of flight. The "caw" is the cry to find what it is used to. It's owners, its mobile home or whatever. You could place an ad in the paper but you might have many responces. You are feeding it and that is the first big step. It is eating. When you see it and it is eating, talk to it. Be calm and go slow and talk to it. Hold your hand out with food in it - or just sit down by it and eat something also. They are usually curious and want what you eat. Cheerios, cheese, cracker, something and it might just come over to you. If you can get that close, you can probably just pick it up. Just hold out your hand and say "UP". However, if you are nervous, at all, then you grab him around the back. If you are really frightened than you can try with a towel. Of course the towel will probably scare the whatever out of the conure so you will only get one chance on that. Your hand and holding it up should work fine. The idea is to get it in the house where it is safe. It can't live out there in the wild too long. There are predators and it doesn't have a clue how to survive out there. Obviously, if you get it in the house, you will eventually need a cage etc. The idea is just to let him know you are safe and feeding him and to come to you. Charlie Roche - 2011-04-23 It's just Cheryl again and as I was drinking my coffee it occured to me that I didn't know if you have ever had any experience with birds, fish butterflies etc. You can purchase a bird net at the pet store and just slowly approach the bird with the net held at your side and when he is eating, just quickly put the net over the conure. They do not like this. It does make them frightened and mad. However, you would be able to hold him in the net until you got in the house. He will be mad at you but he will be in the house. They are very easy to work with from there. You will probably only have one chance at this cuz somehow birds seem to know a net even if they have never been exposed to one before. I, personally, would just try and pick him up - at least try. Then if that didn't work, I would use the net. One other thing, most birds can not fly wet. You can sprinkle him really well with a hose and that would slow him down or bring him to the ground and you could pick him up. You would use the adjustment for spray on the hose not the force of a nozzle. Good luck and let us know what happens. Reply

Mary Hodges - 2010-07-12 I have a blue crown conure that is wonure and I thought I would like a mitred but I can't find any. I an thinking of maybe getting a sun conure instead I do have six cats and two dogs(papillons). The cats are scared to death of Gibby but I am worried about a smaller bird. I am almost always at home due the fact that I can't walk well. What kind if bird is recommended? Reply

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