Green Cheek conure

General Information
Size:	12 in. (30 cm.)
Weight Range:	100-130 grams
Life Expectancy:	25 years
Talking Ability:	fair
Noise Level:	Relatively noisy.
Minimum Cage Size: Bar Spacing:	18"x18"x18" 5/8" to 3/4"
Natural Diet:	Seeds, fruits, berries, and flowers.
Captive Diet:	Fresh fruits, veggies, pasta, legumes, pellets, seeds, nuts and grains.
Special Dietary Needs:	Conures are very active and have an elevated need for fat. They should be fed a modest amount of seeds or nuts daily as supplementation to a healthy and balanced diet.
Characteristics:	Active, comical, gregarious, affectionate, and very clever.

Latin: Pyrrhura molinae
English: Green-cheeked Conure
German: Grünwangen-Rotschwanzsittich

Origin: West-cental Brazil, Mato Grosso; northern and eastern Bolivia; north-west Argentina; possibly also norhern Paraguay.

Status: Fairly common in a variety of habitats, at various altitudes.

Aviculture: Almost uknown until late 1970s; fairly common and free-breeding.

Description: The Green-cheeked has coloring very similar to the Maroon-bellied Conure, but can be distinguished by the reddish upper surface of its' tail feathers. It has a green body with blue primary flight feathers and a maroon tail. The scallop feathers on the chest and upper neck are fringed with white. There is purple on the belly and the beak and the ear covers are brown.

Care: A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend most of their time on a play pen or parrot perch.

Social Behaviors: These birds tame very easily and are very sociable. The Pyrrhuras are a quieter conure than the Aratinga species making them an easier pet to live with. However, they are not known to be great talkers. In the wild they are very sociable with other green-cheeks. Often they forage in groups and spend the night sleeping together.

Potential Problems: This bird is not nearly as noisy as most Aratinga species.

Activities: Loves to climb and play. Provide lots of toys.