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Green-cheek
Conure
Common Names: Green-cheek
Conure & Green-cheeked Conure
Scientific
Name: Pyrrhura
molinae
Origin: South
America
Relative Size: Small 90-100 grams
Average Lifespan: 15 – 25 years.
Pet Aspect:
The
Green-cheek Conure is a popular parrot to keep. This is mainly due
to their natural characteristics such as being cuddly, playful, and
outgoing. These conures always seem to be the center of attention
and just watching one will prove it. Their antics are hilarious.
Watching these creatures climb ropes, swing from toys, or hang
around is very entertaining and amusing.
Along with
being playful Green-cheek Conures are very affectionate. They can
easily enjoy hours of being petted or enjoy long sessions of
snuggling. Most owners report their Green-cheek Conures climbing
through their hair or finding pockets to cuddle in.
A good number
of these parrots enjoy interaction by all family members. These
particular conures will easily be content with kids or spouses
handling them. They are not prone to only allowing one person to
handle them if proper socialization and taming techniques are used.
These birds are rarely shy and can often be lured to friends or
family through food.
Another reason
for their popularity is their trait of not being noisy. Most owners
wish to own a conure; however, many are discouraged because of their
shrill calls. Green-cheek Conures are the alternative to owning a
true conure without the noise. Owning a Green-cheek Conure has all
the benefits of conure characteristics and personality traits
without the loudness. Because of this, they can be housed inside an
apartment.
Tricks:
These conures are great at performing tricks. There is nothing they
cannot do. They can climb up ropes and rings bells, fly and receive
objects, or turnaround. Simple tricks such as waving, opening of
their wings, or dancing can be taught. The conure’s ability to do
tricks is only limited to your imagination. If you wish to train
him use positive reinforcement to mold desired tricks or behaviors.
Talking:
Green-cheek Conures can talk. Though they do not talk as well as
some conure species, they can still learn. Their voices are gravely
and can be difficult to understand. Most owners report their
conures speaking a few words.
If you wish to
train your conure you need patients, repetition, and an enthusiastic
attitude. Once they do learn to speak you need to listen closely
and you might hear a few phrases.
Appearance:
Green-cheeked conures are very attractive birds. The coloring of
the bird is made up of many combinations of greens that range from
dark to light. The bird has earthy colors and the stomach has red
marks on the breast. A grey bib is around the neck and each feather
looks like lace. It is comprised of light and dark grey. The
cheeks, like the name implies, are green. Around the eye a white
ring can be seen. The tails are maroon and the tips of the wings are
blue as well.
This conure is
very unique because unlike most conures, it comes in quite a few
mutations. Among the more popular are the Maroon-bellied and
Cinnamon Green-cheek Conure.
Males and
females are not dimorphic, which means they look similar. If you
wish to sex your parrot, the only reliable way is through DNA
sexing. Most kits cost as little as 20 dollars and a certificate
will be sent to confirm the sex.
Diet:
Your conure’s diet needs to be a mixture of seeds and pellets.
Fruits and vegetables need to be offered on the side daily. Most
Green-cheek Conures will readily eat up cubed apples or sliced
bananas. Tropical fruit such as papaya, mangos, or figs are enjoyed
as well. Offering fresh cuts of broccoli, spinach, kale, or
dandelion should be offered too.
Your parrot
needs a source of protein as well. If you scramble eggs or offer
cuts of chicken, turkey, or beef; remove it from the cage after an
hour. It can quickly spoil and make the bird sick.
The key is to
give your parrot a variety of foods. If you do this your conure can
live 20 or more years.
Cage:
The cage of your conure needs to be large enough to house his toys,
his food bowls, and his perches. It should be large enough to allow
the conure to hang upside down and swing from side to side. These
conures are active and their cage needs to be large enough to
accommodate their activity.
Ensure the
cage has a grill and a tray to catch the parrots waste or cracks
seeds. Having a grill is important because it will keep the parrot
away form poop. |
