Green Cheeked Conure

Green Cheeked Conure

The green-cheeked conure or green-cheeked parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae) is a small parrot of the genus Pyrrhura, which is part of a long-tailed group of the New World parrot subfamily Arinae. This type of parrot is generally called a conure in aviculture. It is native to the forests of South America.

The green-cheeked parakeet is typically 26 cm (10 in) long and weighs 60 to 80 g. It is mainly green, with a brown/black/grey crown, white periophthalmic rings, green cheeks, blue primary wing feathers, a grey beak, and its long pointed tail is mostly maroon. It has short transverse striations on its breast and a red abdominal area. Males and females have an identical external appearance.

Genus: Pyrrhura | Species: molinae

Colourization Adult:

P.m. molinae: Both adults brown crown to nape with green tint; bright green cheeks; pale brown chest barred with either grey/white or dull yellow near centre of breast, with feathers tipped brown; brown/red abdominal patch; scattered blue feathers on hindneck, sometimes forming faint collar; brown/red tail tipped with blue. Bill brown/grey. Eye ring bare and white. Eye brown.

P.m. phoenicura: Both adults as in molinae, but with base of tail green.

P.m. restricta: Both adults different from molinae by having brown/grey breast with white barring; green cheeks with blue tint; very visible blue collar on hindneck; strong blue wash on flanks and undertail coverts.

P.m. sordida: Green morph-both adults as in restricta but with barring on chest barely visible; yellow wash on centre of breast; blue wash on flanks and undertail coverts minimal or absent. Yellow morph-both adults have green cheeks turning yellowish towards back; yellow/white breast, barred with brown; centre of abdomen has orange/red patch; yellow flanks and thighs; yellow undertail coverts with blue suffusion; green rump and upper tail coverts with yellow markings; brown/red tail with blued tips. Bill brown/grey. Eye ring bare and white. Eye brown.

P.m. australis: Both adults paler in general than molinae; brown/red abdominal patch more extensive; dull yellow wash in centre of breast. Smaller bill.

P.m. flavoptera: Both adults as in molinae, but with orange/red bend of wing and carpal edge; alula with blue and yellow/white feathers mixed in.