Green-cheeked Conures can be ideal companions for bird lovers. These little cuties are spirited, loyal, and even shy sometimes. They tend to take very well to their humans, even though they can be friskily independent and mischievous.
Owning a Green-cheeked Conure will be quite an entertaining experience since you never quite know what they’ll come up with next. These parrots are attractive because of their small size and larger than life attitudes. Let’s learn more about these tropical sweethearts.
Species Overview
| Common Name: | Green-cheeked parakeet, green-cheeked parrot |
| Scientific Name: | Pyrrhura molinae |
| Adult Size: | 10 inches, 3 ounces |
| Life Expectancy: | 30+ years |
Origin and History
The Green-cheeked Conure is a parrot native to South America. These family-oriented birds usually form tight-knit flocks of up to 20 birds, fluttering through the treetops of tropical forests and wooded areas.
Most conures inhabit Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. In the bird-owning world, they’re ever-growing in popularity, but there is still much debate on how these parrots fare in captivity.
Temperament
Green-cheeked Conures can exhibit quite a wide variety of personality traits that are individual to each bird. However, they tend to be affectionate, smart, playful, and sassy. They thrive on interactions, as they are social and don’t like being alone for long periods.
They can be quite particular about their surroundings, not liking certain stimuli—whether it be sounds, other creatures, or even certain people. They can bond with one person and show distaste for others. Some might be the opposite, curiously interacting with strangers and even showing off.
Green-cheeked Conures are typically very gentle, loving to groom and be groomed by their people. They love melodious tunes like singing and whistling—and they might even bop around happily to music, humming along.
These birds are often found playing with shiny objects, and they even love looking at their own reflection. Having lots of stimulating toys in their cage space or things for them to play with while free-ranging will also keep them occupied so they don’t get too bored—which can be a recipe for mischief.
If your Green-cheeked Conure doesn’t like something that’s going on, they won’t hesitate to tell you about it. While these birds aren’t the most vocal of parrots, they can get quite loud when they are irritated, upset, or overwhelmed.
Speech & Vocalizations
Green-cheeked Conures can sometimes be very chatty, but they don’t have extensive vocabularies like some other parrots. They tend to be less noisy than other conures.
Green-Cheeked Conure Colors and Markings
Though your Green-cheeked Conure can have certain color patterns that are slightly different from like-birds, their overall look is the same. Traditionally, they are mostly green with some red. On their chests, they have almost a barred pattern of gray and black.
- Find more Conure info here: How Much Does a Green Cheeked Conure Cost?
Caring for the Green-Cheeked Conure
Giving your Green-cheeked Conure a suitable environment is one of the core elements that will make a chipper bird.
Pairing
Green-cheeked Conures are very social birds, but they don’t necessarily need a mate. They might even be territorial with same-sex situations. If you have a pair that doesn’t always get along, keeping them close but in separate enclosures might work out best.
If you have a lot of time to spend with your conure, they can be happy in an only-bird household. But if they will spend a lot of time alone, having a buddy might be the answer.
Grooming
Bath time will be a favorite activity for your bird. Providing a shallow bowl of lukewarm, chemical-free water for your bird to splash around in will keep them clean and make them happy.
While bathing can be done at home, you will need some help with flight feathers and nails unless you’re very experienced in clipping. It’s best to let a professional groomer or veterinarian do this.
Cage
Green-cheeked Conures should be in a tall cage that sits up off the ground. A good rule of thumb is the larger the cage, the better. They love having space to move around, so the bigger enclosure they have to explore, the happier your conure will be.
Activity
You should also have lots of toys and perches for them to enjoy, creating different levels to explore. Conures are very active parrots, so you should always keep them occupied. They benefit from stimulation of all types, and they should have plenty of things around to keep them entertained.
Socialization
It’s important to socialize your bird with as many situations as you can. If a bird isn’t used to other creatures or people, they can be withdrawn or even aggressive. Bonding with your conure is one of the most important factors of proper care.
Common Health Problems
Green-cheeked Conures can be very healthy birds, especially with appropriate care. Neglect leads to more issues than anything else.
Common health issues are:
Healthy birds are alert, interactive, and interested. If you notice that your bird is acting differently, there might be something going on under the surface that isn’t quite right. You won’t want to wait to contact a vet if something is wrong, as the life of your bird could be at stake.
Warning Signs
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian:
Diet and Nutrition
You should offer your conure a pellet diet, making up 70% of their daily intake. The other 30% should be comprised of fresh fruits, veggies, and fortified seeds.
They also need fresh chlorine-free water changed daily. Green-cheeked Conures can be especially sensitive to chemicals in some water, which can make them very ill.
Exercise
You probably won’t have to coax your conure into play. They will always be ready to go and love when you play games with them.
For optimal health, your conure should have a minimum of two 15-minute play sessions per day where they can solve puzzles, climb around, and stretch their wings.
If you don’t offer enough exercise and activities for your conure, it can lead to aggressive behavior and even depression.
Where to Adopt or Buy a Green-Cheeked Conure
Because many don’t realize what a long commitment bird-owning is, you can likely find someone who is trying to rehome their bird—supplies included. Some rescues might also have adoptable Green-cheeked Conures.
If you go this route, you can expect to pay $75 or more, depending on what’s included.
Buying a conure from a pet shop or breeder usually costs between $150 to $350, which is for the bird only.
Conclusion
If you still have your heart set on a Green-cheeked Conure, or you just wanted to learn about these amazing birds—hopefully, you’ve found what you were looking for. These sweet, spunky little parrots have so much love to give their human counterparts.
If you do decide to buy a Green-cheeked Conure, remember to choose responsibly, so you own a healthy bird that will live a long life.
Featured Image Credit: bluepaints, Pixabay
