Range
Central Chile, northern and central Argentina, and possibly Uruguay.

Habitat
Trees, bushes, along small watercourses, burrows in sandstone cliff faces.

Size
Length: 45 centimeters

Description
There are three types of Patagonians: the Lesser, Greater, and Andean. The difference between them is size, and extent of yellow and red on their abdomen, and the extent of white on the upper breast.

The general color of the Patagonian is a dark olive-brown with the breast having a dark grayish shade. The upper breast has a white streak starting at the shoulders reaching towards the center like a necklace. The Greater Patagonian has the most complete necklace; the Andean has only a small amount near the shoulders. The center of the abdomen and the inner thighs are orange-red and surrounding this red patch is yellow. The Andean type has little or no yellow and the red is very dull. The primary flights and coverts are blue. The beak is black and the irises nearly white in the adult bird. Young birds have a gray iris and white upper beak. There is a bare white area surrounding the eye.

Characteristics
Their substantial size, reasonable price, and lively personality makes them very desirable as pets. Patagonians have the tendency to be noisy, though most people will forgive them since they are also good talkers

Handraised young make very loving pets that are rarely nippy. During handfeeding it is best to keep the babies separate after they are feathered since their rough and tumble play can lead to injuries. They have been observed to wrestle where one is pinned on its back by the others. They have such a good time playing together its a shame to keep them apart, so supervised playtime is a must.

Tame Patagonians seem to like toys a lot and will accept nearly anything that can be held, tossed or rubbed up against. Most Patagonians are not bad about chewing but are very clever about taking things apart so may become escape artists. Patagonian conures are ideal pets for those who like excitement. They are rarely still; they dance, bob, climb, tumble and play for most of the day.

Behavior
Very large flocks of these parrots were recorded in most parts of their range, but now observers report only small parties. Usually seen feeding when feeding on the ground or in trees and bushes, or may be flushed from beside small water courses. Most of the day is spent forging for seeds and fruits.

Reproduction
Lays 3 eggs. Incubation 24 – 25 days by the female. Male seen in the nest after the chicks hatched to feed the hen and the chicks. Young fledge at approximately 8 weeks, but are fed by parents for several weeks after this time.

Diet
Feed on seeds, berries, fruits, and probably vegetable matter.

Miscellaneous
Once widespread, now rare and isolated to a few breeding colonies. The adults were shot and the young were taken from their nests and considered to be a delicacy.

Patagonian Conures have received the nicknames "cliff dwelling Parrot" and "Burrowing Parrot" due to their choice of nesting sites high in bare cliffs in which they raise their young in deep tunnels.

Information From: 'Utah's Hoggle Zoo' and 'Up At Six'