Geographic range:
Neotropical: A. canicularis
ranges from the western or Pacific side of Mexico (from Sinaloa and
W Durango south) down to NW Costa Rica.
Physical
characteristics: Aratinga canicularis
at 9.5 inches (24 cm) is the smallest of the New World Aratinga Conures.
Generally green in color, with the throat and upper chest olive. The
belly is lighter and more yellow. The forehead is orange and crown
pale blue. The bare skin around the eye, or periophthalmic ring, is
creamy white. Sexes can sometimes be distinguished in that the hen
has a smaller, finer bill and also carries less orange on the forehead.
There are three sub-species described, the nominate race, A. c. canicularis,
has the entire mandible light horn coloured. A. c. eburnirostrum has
the same horn colored upper mandible, but the lower mandible is blackish
gray. The third race A. c. clarae also has the dark lower mandible,
is greener on the belly and sports a smaller orange frontal band.
Food habits: Especially fruit
(Ficus, Brosimun, Byrsonima, Bursera), flowers (Gliricidia sepium),
and seeds (Ceiba pentandra) are consumed.
Reproduction:
These small birds are one of the least prolific of the Aratinga clan
in captivity, probably due to their highly specialized nesting requirements.
In the wild they burrow a tunnel upwards into the nest of an arboreal
termite, and then excavate a nesting chamber at the end. They then
leave the nest for a few days to let the termites seal the inner walls
before returning to lay their clutch of three to five eggs.
Behavior: Groups up to 30 individuals
are usually formed. In breeding season the number can reach 100 and
more.
Habitat: Open areas and prefer forest edges and river banks. |
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