Origins of Green cheeked parakeet

Pyrrhura Molinae, also known as the Green-cheeked Conure or Green Cheek Conure or Green Cheeked parakeet or Green cheek parakeet is part of the Family Psittacidae.

This bird is found in the wild in Argentina, America, Bolivia, and Brazil where the five subspecies that subdivide Pyrrhura Molinae are distributed: Pyrrhura Molinae australis, Pyrrhura Molinae Molinae, Pyrrhura Molinae Sordida, Pyrrhura Molinae Sordida, and Pyrrhura Restricta.

These five subspecies are difficult to identify, details on the dresses are the only clues. In its natural environment, it lives in colonies in forests.

Physical characteristics

Weight and size

Weight: Its weight is around 80-100 grams.

Size: It measures 20 and 30 cm approximately, which makes it a medium-sized bird.

Dress and feathers

Also called green-cheeked conure, this bird benefits from shimmering colors with green as the base color. Its wings are often cyan blue. As for his chest and tail, they sport cherry red hues. A festival of colors!

General Appearance

Green cheeked parakeet is recognizable by its hooked beak, its colors (with a predominance of green), and its red tail. His eyes, round and black, are hemmed in white. The conure is slightly stocky. There is no dimorphism between males and females and only a DNA test will differentiate them.

There is a debate about the difference between parrot and parakeet that we find difficult to decide.

Green cheeked conure

Characters of the Conure Green cheek

The character of the animal

This bird is particularly known for its character traits that will make it an exceptional friend. Indeed, the conure is affectionate: she will not hesitate to come and curl up in your arms and ask for your caresses. This bird lives both in your company and alone, and it will enjoy playing for a long time in its aviary: hence the interest in putting at its disposal many toys.

Green-cheeked parakeet

Indeed, this bird is dynamic and sparkling and likes to exert itself. If you keep it in an aviary it will have to be of a consequent size otherwise your friend will end up bored and sometimes even become aggressive.

The conure is of a curious nature, so it will be necessary to be vigilant and check that it is not likely to be injured. As for their screams, everyone may be annoyed or on the contrary seduced by their vocalizations.

Color variations

The conure color varieties have been selectively bred in aviculture:

• Cinnamon
• Yellow-sided
• Pineapple
• Turquoise
• Green/red/blue 

The health of Green Cheek Conure

Life expectancy

The green cheek conure life expectancy of this species is between 25 and 30 years.

Common health problems

Initially, it is advisable to make an appointment with the veterinarian to check that your bird is not a carrier of diseases. Of course, it will also be necessary to quarantine it as soon as it arrives in order to protect the other inhabitants of the aviary from any contamination.

The most common diseases:

• Chlamydiosea, this contagious disease for humans is certainly the one that all bird lovers know. The symptoms you will observe in your bird are diarrhea, runny eyes, breathing problems, it will hardly eating anymore, and vomiting.
• PBCD, commonly known as beak and feather disease, is a deadly disease generated by a virus. The beak during its regrowth takes anomalous forms and the feathers will become dull and fall.
• Pacheco’s disease is caused by herpes and can affect all parrots and parakeets. The main symptom observed will be the urine of an avocado green color caused by the attack of the liver; the general condition of your bird will also alert you: it will become amorphous.
• PDD is characterized by dilation of the preventable (pouch located before the stomach). The bird no longer digests its food and loses weight, its droppings smell particularly bad. The origin of this disease can be explained by the fact that, in freedom, your bird may have ingested lead paints that are still found on our walls or railings.

We remind you that you must have your bird examined in order to screen for these diseases as soon as it arrives, they are fatal and contagious. Only a screening by the veterinarian will make it possible to make the diagnosis.

Contamination occurs in several ways: by sneezing, and by breathing in the dust released by feathers and droppings.

Green-cheeked parakeet

Maintenance of the Green Cheek Conure

Lifestyle

Green cheek conure is fabulous. He will adapt very easily to his environment and to all members of the family. It could be that he shows more affection towards a family member which will not prevent him from being very sociable with the whole family.

The conure likes to play and have fun, do not hesitate to offer him many toys rather in wood, rope, or leather. Pet stores are full of them.

It is a bird that loves water, so it is essential to offer it containers in which it can bathe. It should be emphasized that the conure likes to keep its environment clean, it will throw out of its cage all the seed waste and droppings. This, therefore, requires maintenance of the outside of the cage.

Feeding

Parrot feeding: Balanced food is a must. It should therefore not be based solely on seeds that are sometimes too high in fat. There are adapted mixtures rich in vitamins in pet stores. It is necessary to leave at its disposal a bowl with clean food because your bird will feed all day.

Your conure, very greedy will also appreciate sweets based on millet or honey.

The permanent presence of clean water in its bowl is essential, a lack of water can have dramatic consequences for your bird.

In nature, conures feed on seeds, berries, fruits, flower nectar, and other various vegetation.

In captivity, the types of diets are varied: seeds, extruded, fruits and vegetables… For more information on proper nutrition, I advise you to refer to the corresponding articles!