Pearly Conure (Pyrrhura lepida) | Parrot Encyclopedia

Pearly Conure
© Florin Feneru [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

Did You Know?

There are over 55 different species of conure. These are included in the genuses Pyrrhura, Aratinga, Enicognathus, Nandayus, Leptosittaca, Guaruba, Ognorhynchus and Cyanoliseus.

Academic Research

Related publications: Pyrrhura lepida

Species Profile

Genus: Pyrrhura | Species: lepida

Size:

24cm (9.3 in)

Weight:

70g (2.4 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

three: P.l. lepida, P.l. coerulescens, P.l. anerythra

Colour Adult:

P.l. lepida: Both adults blue collar on hindneck in varying thicknesses; brown cheeks, washed with dull blue; off-white ear coverts; brown breast, barred off-white and dark brown; red bend of wing and lesser underwing coverts; brown/red tail. Bill dark grey. Eye ring bare and off-white. Eye dark brown.
P.l. coerulescens: Both adults as in lepida, but with grey/brown breast and strong blue wash reaching up to throat.
P.l. anerythra: Both adults blue wash on breast absent; green bend of wing and underwing coverts have minimal or absence of red; varying red marks on green carpal edge.

Colour Juvenile:

P.l. lepida: Paler grey bill.

Call:

Calls made in flight are described as shrill. Other vocalizations not known.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1 | Video 2

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

BirdCare
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 127431, Pearly Parakeet Pyrrhura lepida, Marantz, Curtis, Para, Brazil, Oct. 2 2000, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
A Guide to Popular Conures as Pet and Aviary Birds, Dorge and Sibley, 2001.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 editon
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.

Pearly Conure
© Florin Feneru [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

There are over 55 different species of conure. These are included in the genuses Pyrrhura, Aratinga, Enicognathus, Nandayus, Leptosittaca, Guaruba, Ognorhynchus and Cyanoliseus.

Academic Research

Related publications: Pyrrhura lepida

Species Care

Captive Status:

Uncommon in captivity.

Longevity:

20+ yrs.

Housing:

Aviary or suspended enclosure, minimum length 2m (6.5 ft).

Diet:

Fruits such as: apple, pear, orange, pomegranates, cactus fruits, kiwi, forming about 30 percent of the diet; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, corn, green beans and peas in the pod; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, sowthistle, dandelion, chickweed; spray millet; small seed mix such as: canary, millet and smaller amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower and a little hemp; soaked and sprouted sunflower seed; cooked beans and pulses, boiled maize and complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Are active so provide a lot of toys, such as bird-safe, unsprayed flowering, fir, pine or willow branches, wooden toys, vegetable tanned leather toys, heat sterilized pine cones, puzzle/foraging toys, noise-makers, swings, ladders and ropes. Also provide misters and shallow bowls for bathing.

Nest Box Size:

Nest log or box 8" x 8" x 24-28" (20.3cm x 20.3cm x 61-71cm).

Clutch Size:

3-5

Incubation Time:

24-25 days

Fledging Age:

7-8 weeks

Hatch Weight:

5-7g (0.2-0.25 oz)

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Pearly Conure
© Florin Feneru [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

There are over 55 different species of conure. These are included in the genuses Pyrrhura, Aratinga, Enicognathus, Nandayus, Leptosittaca, Guaruba, Ognorhynchus and Cyanoliseus.

Academic Research

Related publications: Pyrrhura lepida

Species Wild Status

World Population:

About 10,000, decreasing.

IUCN Red List Status:

Vulnerable

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Habitat loss has been very serious for this species but it appears more tolerant of disturbed habitats. Trapping for trade may be a more important factor in decline than previously supposed. Is known from several protected areas, including the Serra dos Carajas mosaic of conservation units, but some of these are threatened by illegal logging. Based on a model of future deforestation in the Amazon basin, this species is expected to lose 47–65% of suitable habitat in its range over three generations (18 years).

Range:

P.l. lepida: NE Para, east to NW Maranhao, Brazil.
P.l. coerulescens: E and C Maranhao.
P.l. anerythra: E Para.

Habitat:

Found up to 500m (1640 ft) in lowland terra firme tropical rainforest. Also has been reported from forest edge, clearings and secondary growth.

Wild Diet:

Diet includes fruits of Trema micrantha (Ulmaceae) and Didymopanax morototonii (Araliaceae). Also seen feeding on Erythrina (Fabaceae).

Ecology and Behaviour:

Are noisy and conspicuous while in flight, but well hidden while resting in upper stages of canopy. Seen in flocks of up to ten birds, particularly at good food source.

Clutch and Egg Size:

3-5 eggs, 26.0 x 21.0mm (1 x 0.8 in).

Breeding Season:

Probably August-November.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

There are over 55 different species of conure. These are included in the genuses Pyrrhura, Aratinga, Enicognathus, Nandayus, Leptosittaca, Guaruba, Ognorhynchus and Cyanoliseus.

Academic Research

Related publications: Pyrrhura lepida

Members Only Resources

Please log-in now to find more research, resources and tools.

Not a Member?

Find more great information:

Gain exclusive access to 600+ pages of additional research, seminars and podcasts, specialists to ask your toughest questions, and dozens of other fun resources - when you become a WPT member.
Join Today >>