Green-Cheeked Conure

Pyrrhura molinae

Species:

Pyrrhura m. molinae (Green-cheeked Conure)

 
Description

Pyrrhura m. molinea (nominate species): general plumage green; reddish-brown forehead; crown and nape brown tinged with green; cheeks green; ear-coverts greyish-brown; sides of neck, throat and upper breast pale brown sometimes tinged with dull green, each feather broadly margined with pale greyish-buff or dull yellow and tipped with dark brown thus giving a parred appearance; some blue feathers on hindneck, rarely forming an indistinct collar; brownish-red patch on center of abdomen; under tail-coverts green lightly washed with blue; primary-coverts and outer webs of primaries blue; outer webs of secondaries greenish-blue; tail above brownish-red tipped with blue and slightly marked with green at base, below dull brownish-red; bill grey; iris brown; legs dark grey.

Pyrrhura m. phoenicura: Like molinae but upper side of tail broadly marked with green.

Pyrrhura m. sordida: similar to molinae, but general plumage duller; crown paler brown; green of cheeks paler and less extensive; barring on breast indistinct because of paler centers to feathers; brownish-red abdominal patch paler and less prominent; outer webs or primaries paler blue; under tail-coverts suffused with blue.

Pyrrhura m. restricta: Like molineae, but green of cheeks tinged with blue; blue callar on hindneck always prominent; feahters on sides of neck, throat and upper breast very broadly margined with greyish-white instead of greyish-buff; brownish-red abdominal patch duller in color and less extensive; flanks and under tail-coverts strongly tinged with blue.

Pyrrhura m. australis: Similar to molinae, but with more pronounced brownish-red abdominal patch; underparts duller green and under tail-coverts green with little blue.

Natural Range

Pyrrhura m. molinea: Restriced to the highlands of eastern Bolivia.

Pyrrhura m. phoenicura: Confined to west-central Mato Grosso, Brazil, and neighboring north-eastern Bolivia.

Pyrrhura m. sordida: Southern Mato Grosso, Brazil and in neighboring easternmost Bolivia.

Pyrrhura m. restricta: Known only from Palmarito, Chuquitos, Bolivia the type locality.

Pyrrhura m. australis: Occurs in Tarija, southern Bolivia, and in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and occasionally Tucuman, north-western Argentina.

 Status

Green cheeks are very common in aviculuture. They are very popular for their gentle demeanor and their reasonable purchase price.

Personality

The Green-Cheeked Conure, being of the Pyrrhura genus are amoung the conures with softer voices.  They are sweet and loveable.

 Breeding

Green-Cheeked Conures are extremely prolific breeders in captivity. They should breed no sooner than one year of age.  The breeding cage should be large enough to allow wing flapping. A wooden nest box no larger than one sold for cockatiels and no smaller than one for exhibition budgerigars should be provided with pine or aspen shavings.  A good environment with fresh air, light, and protection from wind, rain, excessive heat and cold, predators and rodents. A nutritionally balanced diet also is required.  They will lay all year round if proper conditions are maintained, laying two to three clutches back to back followed by four to six months of resting.  Clutches of four to six eggs are layed and incubated for twenty-three to twenty-four days.

Photos

Visit the Conure Photo Album to see some Green-Cheeked Conures. 

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