Pyrhurra conures types - part 2: Species

[Rozalka]

I decided to choose the most common species. Sure, other species are bred too, but they are very rare.
Notes:

• As "characteristics" I wanted to write only the most characteristic things in theirs plumage, which may help in recognizing from other species. Sometimes I had some problems with that, if you want, you can suggest to add something.
• All species have similar behavior because they belong to one genus. However I've heard such things like rose crowned conures are the least nippy, Emma's conures are more quiet than other Pyrhurra's.
• All species officially are called as "parakeets" (green cheeked parakeet, crimson bellied parakeet etc.). Commonly it is replaced with "conure".
• There are many classification versions of this genus. I used IOC version.

Green cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies:

• P. m. australis, Todd 1915
• P. m. flavoptera, Maijer, Herzog, Kessler, Friggens & Fjeldsa 1998
• P. m. hypoxantha,(Salvadori 1899)
• P. m. molinae, (Massena & Souance 1854)
• P. m. phoenicura, (Schlegel 1864)
• P. m. restricta, Todd 1947

In captivity the most common subspecies are P. m. molinae and P. m. hypoxantha.
Range:

Source: Wikimedia
Because it is the most common species, I decided to not describe (and you see on the photo)
Blue throated conure (Pyrrhura cruentata)

Source: Wikimedia
Aka: Ochre-marked conure/parakeet
Subspecies: none
Range:

Souce: Wikimedia
Characteristics: the blue throat
Note: It’s the only species of this genus which belongs to CITES appendix I. If you decide to buy them, make sure you get the necessary documents (in the case of other species it depends on the law in your country)
Maroon bellied conure (Pyrrhura frontalis)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies:

• Maroon bellied parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis frontalis)
• Azara’s conure (Pyrrhura frontalis chiripepe)

Range:

Source: Wikimedia
Characteristics: The cap is green, outside of the tail is green too. The belly is more um... maroon.
Pearly conure (Pyrrhura lepida)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies: P. l. lepida, P. l. anerythra, P. l. coerulescens
Range:

Source: Wikimedia
Characteristics: They may be confused with young crimson bellied conures. No red feathers on the belly.
Crimson bellied conure (Pyrrhura perlata)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies: none
Range:

Source: Wikimedia
Characteristic: The red belly.

 

[Rozalka]

Emma’s Conure (Pyrhurra emma)

Source: eBird
Subspecies: none
In the past it was a subspecies of P. leucotis (white-eared/maroon faced conure), so sometimes you can find an old classification. (eg. in Poland we must register Emma’s conures as white-eared conures)
Range:

Source: IUCN
Characteristics: brown cheeks, blueish crown
Rose fronted conure (Pyrrhura roseifrons)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies:

• Wavy-breasted parakeet/conure (P. r. peruviana)
• P. r. dilutissima
• Garlepp’s parakeet (P. r. parvifons)
• P. r. roseifrons

Wavy-breasted and Garlepp’s parakeets sometimes are classified as separated species.
Range:

Source: IUCN
Characteristics: brown head with red forehead.
Black capped conure (Pyrrhura rupicola)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies:

• P. r. rupicola
• P. r. sandiae

Range:

Source: Wikimedia
Characteristics: feathers on the neck are black with white edges.
Rose crowned conure (Pyrrhura rhodocephala)

Source: Wikimedia
Subspecies: none
Range:

Characteristics: green head with red forhead, cap

Other species (+photos link)

• Blaze-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura devillei): https://ebird.org/species/blwpar2/
• Pfrimer's Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri): https://ebird.org/species/pfrpar1/
• Grey-breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura griseipectus): https://ebird.org/species/gybpar1/
• White-eared Parakeet (Pyrrhura leucotis): https://ebird.org/species/mafpar3/
• Painted Parakeet (Pyrrhura picta): https://ebird.org/species/paipar1/ - note: in eBird classification one of their subspecies is mentioned Emma’s conure
• Santarem Parakeet (Pyrrhura amazonum): https://ebird.org/species/sanpar2/
• Bonaparte's Parakeet (Pyrrhura lucianii): https://ebird.org/species/bonpar1/
• Santa Marta Parakeet (Pyrrhura viridicata): https://ebird.org/species/sampar1/
• Fiery-shouldered Parakeet (Pyrrhura egregia): https://ebird.org/species/fispar1/
• Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Pyrrhura melanura): https://ebird.org/species/matpar2/
• El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi): https://ebird.org/species/elopar1/
• White-breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura albipectus): https://ebird.org/species/whnpar1/
• Flame-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura calliptera): https://ebird.org/species/brbpar2/
• Blood-eared Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoematotis): https://ebird.org/species/reepar1/
• Sulphur-winged Parakeet (Pyrrhura hoffmanni): https://ebird.org/species/suwpar1/

 

[Skarila]

Sooo interesting!!!! My favourite genus for sure

Interesting how you call P.leucotis as "maroon faced" in polish, it's more known as "white eared" conure (hence the 'leuco' meaning white).

Was hoping to see painted conure D: super gooorgeous species.. (fun fact: it is believed that there are sooo many different species/subspecies who are under P. Picta and P.leucotis since they all look alike!!)

Amazing informative thread as always

 

[Rozalka]

Sooo interesting!!!! My favourite genus for sure

Interesting how you call P.leucotis as "maroon faced" in polish, it's more known as "white eared" conure (hence the 'leuco' meaning white).

Was hoping to see painted conure D: super gooorgeous species.. (fun fact: it is believed that there are sooo many different species/subspecies who are under P. Picta and P.leucotis since they all look alike!!)

Amazing informative thread as always

sorry, I took P. leucotis name from Wikipedia and didn't know which version is more common, I'll correct it to "white eared conure" (it wasn't translation from Polish - it would be "rusty-cheeked pyrhurra" then)

Ps. Thank you

 

[Rozalka]

(fun fact: it is believed that there are sooo many different species/subspecies who are under P. Picta and P.leucotis since they all look alike!!)

Yeah, their classification is VERY complicated. Here in Poland most breeders use the old classification version and after I posted the Polish version (I chose the same species with one difference - Emma's conure was a subspecies of the painted conure), one breeder said that I've made two mistakes - because Emma's is a subspecies of the white eared and rose fronted is a subspecies of the painted conure.... They weren't mistakes. It's just because there are MANY classification versions. I think it's maybe because CITES classification is never updated and because of it we have to register them using the old version (according to the current cladogram of this genus, the old version is wrong now)

 

[Skarila]

Yeah, their classification is VERY complicated. Here in Poland most breeders use the old classification version and after I posted the Polish version (I chose the same species with one difference - Emma's conure was a subspecies of the painted conure), one breeder said that I've made two mistakes - because Emma's is a subspecies of the white eared and rose fronted is a subspecies of the painted conure.... They weren't mistakes. It's just because there are MANY classification versions. I think it's maybe because CITES classification is never updated and because of it we have to register them using the old version (according to the current cladogram of this genus, the old version is wrong now)

Agreed. It is very difficult. Some people will put emma as separate species, some still find it as a sub species... And truth be told, I don't blame them at all! Took me a while to understand why people mix - as you said, because the taxonomy just keeps changing by the scientists all the time.

 

[Rozalka]

Curio: to post the range map of the rose fronted conure including all subspecies in used by me classification I needed to combine 3 ranges (rose fronted, wavy breasted and Garlepp's conures). That's why some areas overlap.