Green-cheeked Conure

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Green-cheeked Conure
1888 painting by Philip Lutley Sclater
1888 painting by Philip Lutley Sclater
A Green-cheeked Conure family
A Green-cheeked Conure family
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Pyrrhura
Species: P. molinae
Binomial name
Pyrrhura molinae
Massena & Souance, 1854
Approximate range:Yellow – known rangeLined area – possible range
Approximate range:
Yellow – known range
Lined area – possible range

The Green-cheeked Conure (Pyrrhura molinae), in aviculture also known as the Green-cheeked Parakeet, is a small parrot of the genus Pyrrhura. It is primarily green, with a grey breast, dark head, maroon tail and blue flight feathers. Its normal weight is about 70 g; its average length (including tail) is 25 cm (10 inches).

It occurs in west-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, through northern and eastern Bolivia to northwestern Argentina. Its habitat is forests and woodland, where it forms big flocks at treetop level. It eats various seeds and fruits and probably other kinds of vegetable matter.

Green-cheeked Conures are common in captivity. They are playful, affectionate and intelligent, known as having a "big personality in a small body". They can learn to talk, albeit with a limited vocabulary and a gravelly voice. They like to be held (although some like it more than others) and can learn tricks such as lying on their backs and "kissing." Along with other Pyrrhura conures, they are only moderately loud, therefore making acceptable pets for apartment dwellers. They can be prone to biting, particularly when young, but an owner can cure this behavior with patience and time. They love fruits, (especially bananas and raisins), and seeds such as sunflower, safflower and hemp seeds; all things found in their natural environments. Green-cheeked Conures also love table food; they are flock animals and love to eat with their family. They can eat potatoes, carrots, corn, well cooked meat, bread, pasta, plain popcorn, and even eggs. It is advised not to feed them oil seeds such as sunflower seeds because they are addictive[citation needed] and do not contain the proper nutrition. Sunflower seeds and peanuts contain high amounts of fat. While this is helpful for birds in the wild, a clipped and/or caged bird can develop health problems from eating too much fat. A bird-pellet diet with a calcium supplement will give them the proper nutrition, but should not be used exclusively due to the presence of trace chemical additives and bonding agents not found in the conure's natural habitat.[citation needed] A good rule of thumb is 30% pellet diet, 10% seeds, and the rest being fresh foods- fruits, vegetables, or cooked food. Some conures with health problems related to the kidneys[citation needed] should not be fed pellets. Green-cheeked conures can live to 30 years with proper care, though the average lifespan is typically 10 years due to owner neglect[1].

The average clutch is 4–6 eggs. Average incubation is 24 days, varying from 22 to 25 days.

[edit] Subspecies

A yellow-sided green cheek conure, Pyrrhura molinae sordida. Note the lighter coloration.
A yellow-sided green cheek conure, Pyrrhura molinae sordida. Note the lighter coloration.

Green-cheeked conures consist of several subspecies including:

  • australis
  • molinae
  • phoenicura
  • restricta
  • sordida: yellow-sided green-cheek

Most subspecies vary in coloration and range. Pyrrhura Phypoxantha was once considered to be a separate species, but is now classified as a mutation of the sordida subspecies. Greencheeks are very similar to the Maroon-bellied Conure (P. frontalis) and there is some speculation that they may be conspecific, though this has not been confirmed[2].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Green Cheeked Conure, Central Pets Educational Foundation
  2. ^ Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World p 462. ISBN 0-300-07453-0

[edit] External links