Green-Cheeked Conure

Pyrrhura molinae

The name green-cheeked conure usually refers to Pyrrhura molinae, a small South American parakeet from forests and woodland edges in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. It has a maroon tail, dark scalloped chest, green cheeks, a gray-brown head, and a slimmer build than the larger, louder conures common in the pet trade. Several subspecies and many captive color mutations are kept, including cinnamon, turquoise, pineapple, yellow-sided, and combinations of those traits.

This species is popular because it is interactive and usually less piercing than many Aratinga conures, but it is still a social parrot with a sharp beak, daily noise, and a lifespan that can reach 20 years or more. Daily care should allow flight or generous out-of-cage time, with toys that can be shredded and training to keep handling cooperative. A varied diet centered on pellets, vegetables, and greens is safer than seed alone. Breeders commonly track mutation genetics and avoid pairing birds only for color at the expense of health and temperament. Rescue birds are common enough that adopters may find adults needing patient rebuilding of trust.