An Introduction to Green-cheeked Conures as Pets

Green-cheeked conures, Pyrrhura molinae, are one of the most popular pet parrots. They're small birds, a bit smaller on average than a cockatiel, but have all the big conure personality in a little package.

Wild green-cheeked conures are found in parts of west-central Brazil, Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and northern Paraguay. They are still common throughout most of their range, and aren't considered under threat. Like most parrots, though, they haven't been well-studied. Most often seen in small flocks, probably family groups, but occasionally also in larger flocks where food is plentiful. They are woodland birds and feed in the treetops, eating a variety of fruits, flowers, seeds, plant matter, and probably grubs and other small invertebrates.

As pets, green-cheeks are popular for several reasons, but perhaps the most important is their relatively quiet voices. Note the term "relatively!" All the small Pyrrhura conures have fairly soft voices compared to their larger, screechier Aratinga cousins, but they are not silent. They still make a variety of squawky, talky and sometimes obnoxious sounds, which may be enough to bother some people or some neighbors. Of all parrots, green-cheeks are among the most likely to work well in an apartment, but there are no guarantees. If possible, spend some time around these birds -- at a breeder's or at rescue organizations -- and listen to the sounds they make to get a feel for whether they'd work in your home.

For those looking for a talking parrot, green-cheeks probably aren't ideal. They can and do talk, but most individuals don't say more than a couple short words or phrases, and have a soft, whispery talking voice. There are exceptions -- a very few green-cheeks become excellent talkers -- but as a species, green-cheeks are better known for their big personalities than their big vocabularies.

In the U.S., green-cheeked conures are one of the more common pet parrots, and readily available in most areas for around $150-$350, or a bit higher from retail pet shops. Besides the normal green "wild" coloration, there are now also several color mutations available for somewhat higher prices. Because they're so readily available, there should be no reason not to do some shopping around to find a physically and emotionally healthy bird. If buying from a breeder, look for someone that spends quality time with the young birds, and offers a guarantee. Baby green-cheeks are rarely shy unless they've been poorly raised -- look for a youngster that isn't afraid to greet new people. Young green-cheeks can be a bit mouthy, sometimes painfully so. This is just how young green-cheeks explore the world! With time and training they become gentler, and this is no indication of whether the bird will bite later in life. Older green-cheeks, from people giving up their pets or from rescue organizations, can be a good option, too. Green-cheeks usually settle into new homes readily, and bond just as closely with their new family as a baby would. Adult green-cheeks offer the advantage of already being what they are -- if you find a sweet, even-tempered adult green-cheek, he's very likely to stay that way the rest of his life.

It's a mistake to think that because green-cheeks are small birds, they only need small cages. Most green-cheeks are very active, and will use as much space as they can get. I consider a decent, minimally-sized cage for a green-cheek to be about 18" x 18" x 30". Cages with some width are better than tall, narrow cages, in terms of usable space. Bar spacing for green-cheeks should be no wider than 3/4". Green-cheeks normally love toys, and these are a requirement. Most green-cheeks will use a variety of toys, ranging from cockatiel toys with small beads and rope to nibble, to larger toys sized for Amazons for climbing and swinging. Toys should be rotated and replaced on a regular basis, so your bird always has something new to play with.

Feeding green-cheeks is no more complicated than feeding other parrots, but isn't as simple as breaking open a box of seed or pellets. Their diet in the wild consists of many dozens of different foods from different species of trees, and the wide variety of nutrients they need can't all be found even in the best pellets. Pellets and dry seed are fine for snacking, but the bulk of a parrot's diet should be made up of fresh foods, especially fruits, vegetables, and ideally sprouted seed as well. Green-cheeks often love to share meals with their family, and this is fine if you offer them only healthy foods such as the vegetable dish and whole grain products. Parrots seem to love junk foods as much as we do, but really shouldn't be fed those empty calories at all.

As parrots go, most green-cheeks make decent family pets, but they are parrots and parrots tend to have some behavioral traits that make them difficult pets for inexperienced keepers. By far the most common behavior problem in green-cheeks is biting. Once they get past the "teething" stage newly weaned green-cheeks often go through, it's only a few months before they hit the "terrible two's" -- which in green-cheeks, actually occurs around the age of one year or a bit later. This is when these birds hit sexual maturity -- in reality, they're not toddlers, but teenagers! Like human teenagers, they're gaining independence and will sometimes fiercely defend it. This is normally just a phase -- with training and correct handling, green-cheeks ease out of it as they grow past the teenager stage and into adulthood. Biting doesn't often become a serious problem unless the humans in a bird's life accidentally train him to think biting will get him what he wants. With different training techniques and general persistence, even the worst biting can be worked through. However, because of the likelihood of biting at some point in any green-cheek's lifetime, I don't recommend green-cheeks as pets primarily for young kids, or for adults who can't confidently deal with a nip or two. Not all green-cheeks bite -- many never do -- but it's a fairly common problem.

If the thought of being bitten gets you down, just remember this is just an aspect of a green-cheek's BIG personality! These little guys are all parrot, with personalities similar to those of their much bigger cousins, the macaws. Although they may nip on occasion, most are also expert cuddlers, and love to be held close and have their heads gently rubbed. Many green-cheeks like to snuggle in their human's hands, or under their hair, wherever they can get closest to their favorite people. If they're socialized to everyone in the family from a young cage, green-cheeks are not often one-person birds and will accept handling from everyone... although they may still have their favorite. Given the option, a green-cheek would spend all day with his chosen person. One of the most important requirements green-cheeks have is just time with their people.

Fairly inexpensive and readily available compared to most parrots, green-cheeks are one of the most likely to be bought on a whim. The newly-weaned youngsters are all too cute and easy to fall in love with. However, these tiny pets are a huge commitment, requiring daily time, effort, training and affection. Although they don't need walking three times a day, in other ways they require as much effort as a dog. And they may live even longer. Sadly, the majority of green-cheeks die young from accidents and poor nutrition, but if they don't meet these fates, they can live as long as 20-30 years.