These specialty pet birds are all bred in Canada by caring aviculturists.
Common Name |
Green Cheeked Conure |
Latin Name |
Pyrrhura molinae
|
Average Lifespan |
20 - 25 Years |
Average Length |
10 Inches
|
Average Weight |
60 - 75 grams |
Song Type |
Tropical Squawking |
Noise Level & Talking Ability
Green-cheeked conures are relatively quiet birds for their size. As conures go, these are definitely among the quietest species. Green-cheeked conures can and do make noise, though, but are considered to be suitable for apartments. The bulk of the noise a conure makes is contact calling when their owner is out of sight. If a green-cheeked conure is not provided appropriate exercise - both mental and physical - the likelihood of them being noisy increases. Like most conures, they are able to talk but are better known for their playfulness and antics.
Physical Features
Normal (No Mutation, Standard, Wildtype)
Dark grey-brown cap extending to nape which has a varying amount of blue. The cheeks are green, sometimes with a bluish tint. The ear area is light grey and fades into the breast feathers which are heavily striated with a similar colour. The beak is dark grey, the cere is bare and light grey. Like all Pyrrhura there is a white periophthalmic ring. The back, wings, belly, and thighs are green. Flight feathers are a brilliant blue colour, some individuals may have a small amount of yellow, orange, or white at the allula. The lower abdomen has a maroon patch that varies greatly in size and amount. The tail is red and the longest in proportion to the body of all Pyrrhura species. The base of the tail is green, however, individuals may also have some blue as well. The legs and feet are grey.
Yellow-sided (Opaline)
At a brief glance these birds will appear quite similar to the "No Mutation" birds. The yellow-sided colour mutation green-cheeked conures have a midtone beak. The breast tends to appear lighter in colour, the striations are not as noticeable. Often the blue on the nape is a little more noticeable, as is the blue at the tail base. The abdomen and underwings are yellow as opposed to green, and the maroon patch on the lower belly is more red. The amount of red varies, and some breeders like Exotic Wings will selectively pair their birds to increase the amount of red produced in the offspring. Sometimes these pairings can produce what is called a "high-red yellow-sided". These birds will have bright red from their face to their lower abdomen and are quite attractive looking. The tail feathers tend to have brighter red margins and a darker center. The legs and feet are pink.
Cinnamon
This colour mutation almost appears as though the printer cartridge was running out of ink! The colour distributions are the same as a normal green-cheeked conure, but everything is softened. That is what many people love about the cinnamon mutation, is how soft and cuddly it appears. The cap is a tan brown colour, the cheeks are a light olive green. The breast is exceptionally light in colour, and fades almost seemlessly into the belly. The beak is light tan or pink in colour. The back and wings are still green, just a softer tone of green. The flight feathers are a slightly muted blue. The red patch on the lower abdomen remains relatively the same colour as in the nominate form. The tail is closer to brick red-brown. The thighs and underwing are limey green, and the legs and feet are pink.
Pineapple
This colour form is not actually a mutation, rather it is the combination of two mutations. "Pineapple" is the visual result of a bird expressing cinnamon and yellow-sided at the same time. The combination was nicknamed pineapple because the colours on the birds are similar to that of a ripe pineapple. This colour form is kind of the best of both worlds in a cinnamon and yellow-sided. The belly is a canvas of reds, yellows, and oranges with the soft transitions between colours of a cinnamon. Overall, these birds look like a cinnamon green-cheeked conure had a yellow-sided's belly copied and pasted onto it. The tail margins due tend to be slightly lighter like in the yellow-sided mutation, and the beak is pink. Also like the yellow-sided, these birds can be produced in a "high red" variant.
Turquoise
Turquoise mutation is pretty much as it sounds. A bird that is almost blue with a tinge of green. The birds colour distribution is the same as the wildtype, except all the green parts are now a bluish colour. Some feathers will be bluer than others, and the overall colour can vary greatly by the direction of light hitting the bird. The maroon patch on the belly becomes burgundy. The tail becomes a burgundy-grey colour.
Turquoise Yellow-Sided
As described in the "Turquoise" variant, all green regions are bluish-green. The beak is still a midtone grey, and the feet and legs are still pink. The yellows in the belly become more of a creamy, off-white and the reds and oranges are a peach tone. The tail feathers are peach on the margins and burgundy in the center.
Turquoise Cinnamon
Pet Profile
Green-cheeked conures are extremely playful and personable. They are quite smart and readily trainable. Green-cheeked conures work extremely well with people who have some prior bird experience, but can certainly make a first pet bird for many people and households. Green-cheeked conure ownership can be compared to having a toddler in the house. The antics and attitude of these parrots are forever entertaining. These conures are a great blend of snuggle and play, and each individual has their own unique personality. Read More...
Diet
Green-Cheeked conures should be fed a pellet-based diet supplemented with lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. Seeds and tree-nuts can be used as treats, but should be fed in moderation. As a theme, sunflower seeds are very harmful for the health of Pyrrhura conure species, and so they should never be fed. Green-Cheeked conures will benefit from additional vitamin K and vitamin A in their diet, consider this when choosing fresh vegetables to feed.
Housing
Green-Cheeked conures should be housed in a cage that is no smaller than around 4 sqft footprint. The bars should not be spaced wider than ⅝” (1.6 cm). Being birds of high activity level, a larger cage would be better. Length is more valuable than height when picking a cage for your bird. Green-Cheeked conures love toys, and so offering a variety is necessary. They will benefit from access to foraging toys, as well as toys that they can destroy and chew apart. A rope perch is recommended for them to be able to sleep on. It is important to have a variance in the diameter of perches in the cage to avoid complications with the feet and toes.
Breeding Information
Age of Maturity |
14 months
|
Breeding Aviculture |
Very Common |
Average Clutch Size |
4 - 6 Eggs |
Nest Box |
14" x 7" Inch L-Box |
Breeding Life |
15+ Years |
Green-Cheeked conures are bred commonly by many avicultural enthusiasts. They tend to prefer L-boxes that measure 7” x 14” (18 cm x 35 cm) or square boxes measuring 10” x 12” (25 cm x 30 cm). A layer 2” - 3” (5 cm - 8 cm) deep of aspen shavings is necessary to stabilize the eggs, absorb the chick's droppings, and prevent splay-leg. Green-Cheeked conures can be protective parents, and so it is not recommended to disturb the nest any more than needed. In the wild, these parakeets breed in late January-early March. In captivity, the conditions can be manipulated to induce breeding at any time of the year. For the health of the parent birds, as well as the offspring, it is not recommended to breed them for more than 3 consecutive clutches without a rest period. Clutch sizes are usually 4-6 eggs. Green-Cheeked conures can begin to reach sexual maturity as soon as 6 months of age, however, 12-16 months is a more common age.
Genetics
Green-Cheeked conures are available in a variety of colour mutations, many of which look very different from the wildtype colouration. These mutations are;
(D: dominant, R: recessive, ZL-x: Z-linked ___, iD: incomplete dominant)
Yellowside (ZL-R)
Cinnamon (ZL-R)
Pineapple (Yellowside / Cinnamon)
Turquoise (R)
Turquoise Yellowside (Turquoise / Yellowside)
Turquoise Cinnamon (Turquoise / Cinnamon)
Turquoise Pineapple (Turquoise / Yellowside / Cinnamon)
Dilute (R)
Dilute Yellowside (Dilute / Yellowside)
Dilute Cinnamon (Dilute / Cinnamon)
Suncheek (Dilute / Yellowside / Cinnamon)
Mint (Turquoise / Dilute)
Opamint (Turquoise / Dilute / Yellowside)
Cinnamint (Turquoise / Dilute / Cinnamon)
Mooncheek (Turquoise / Dilute / Yellowside / Cinnamon)
Dominant Red (D) (can apply to any mutation)
Violet, Single Factor and Double Factor (iD) (can apply to any mutation)
Misty, Single Factor and Double Factor(iD) (can apply to any mutation)
Wild Status
Decreasing - Least Concern
Last assessed in August 2018 for the IUCN Red List