Trying to Id species of hybrid conure

[KeiriRavenTail]

last Sunday while my significant other and I were walking around a flea market we found a tiny little conure sitting on the corner of a cage full of birds twice his size. We already own a painted conure and saw the simularities of the two... Well we ended up buying him and he's the most friendly bird ever to the point he never wants to leave our sides lol. But he has the tail and a bit of he mask like a painted conure... But he's darker.. Any idea what he was mixed with?

 

[Jaguar]

Possibly black capped, with some feather damage on the shoulders/back

 

[Greencheek Lee]

Not sure, but he sure is a cutie.

 

[JosienBB]

He really looks like black capped/painted conure hybrid... very bad feather damage to his wings.

I have both black capped and painted... since you have already have a painted, I will post a black capped conure for you to compare.

 

[KeiriRavenTail]

We actually do have a black capped conure as well, she lives with my male painted conure. This poor little bird was obviously picked on because he has damage to the beak and his feathers are pretty terrible. It kept trying to get away from the people selling him. However ever since we brought him home he's been wanting to be with us constantly even launching himself off the top of the cage and chasing me down the halls lol. Pretty attached to us for only being around is a couple of days

 

[expressmailtome]

@Monica may be able to help you with this.

Matt

 

[sunnysmom]

Thank you for helping this bird. He is adorable.

 

[zoo mom]

He is beautiful. Obviously this little one was meant to be with you.

 

[webchirp]

Have you gotten him a chem panel yet? If something is wrong internally, catching it early ups your chances of longevity. I am worried about his kidneys and liver.

 

[Lady Jane]

If he is a true hybrid be prepared for possible deformities and sickness. An avian vet exam would be best. Sorry for this but it's true of most hybrid birds. Is he eating OK?

 

[Newbie GCC]

He is a cutie, whatever mix he is! A little on the thin side or very young. And feathers are dark. I agree with @webcbirp. Take him in and get him checked to make sure he is healthy.

 

[Monica]

Actually, @Lady Jane, as long as the hybrids remain within the same genera, *most* hybrids are rather healthy birds. It's when you get out of the genera where health issues start to occur.... except in the Ara macaws, I have heard of a few minor issues. It's possible that in macaws, we don't have them figured out quite correctly, either....



@KeiriRavenTail Did the seller say anything about the bird?

 

[JosienBB]

His collar looks like that of a black capped instead of a painted conure, which is why I said black capped x painted hybrid. In the second picture, he looks almost exactly like a black capped if I don't zoom in.

 

[JosienBB]

Yes, definitely get him checked out with full chem panel. That feather damage... it's not normal

 

[KeiriRavenTail]

Well he has some questionable origins. The people selling him didn't speak English and they said they just bought him off someone else... That the person just gets them in once and awhile. They called him a Green cheek. He looks like he was beaten up and he seems to be afraid of anything that can fly but no fear over anything else. Eats seeds fine but hates pellets working on that now.... But has a ton of energy and rarely seems to stop moving lol. My friend showed me these pictures of the garlepp conure.. Seems to look like him quite a bit...his nares are darker than my painted and my black caps however. Also his primaries are blue

 

[JosienBB]

My painted conure's primaries are blue too.

 

[KeiriRavenTail]

We looked because black caps are black tipped

 

[JosienBB]

I should also point out that his feet are very dark in colour, like my black capped's. Ophelia (painted conure) has much lighter coloured feet.

 

[KeiriRavenTail]

You make a good point there, I looked at Tiko my black cap and quetzie the painteds feet and his are actually darker and skinnier than theirs and the nares are darker than both of them. I can't wait til he molts so we can see what else comes out

 

[Monica]

I do not believe that the Amazon red fronted conure aka Garlepp's conure exists within captivity.....



I can ask a couple of groups about what he might be, but it would help to have some clearer photos using natural sunlight showing his head, his stomach, his back, his tail, and wings. The photos you have are good, but I would need more and/or clearer images.

If you have any idea on age, that would be helpful information as well.

Also, it may help to know where you are located at... i.e if in the USA, are you in Florida or southern California? Maybe someone has seen a similar bird from the area as well?