Green Cheek Conure

The Playful and Affectionate Mini Parrot

The Green Cheek Conure (Pyrrhura molinae) is a small, colorful parrot, it is admired for its playful energy and affectionate personality. Its plumage is predominantly green, highlighted with a greyish head, scalloped chest, blue flight feathers, and a maroon-red tail, along with a distinct maroon patch on the belly.

Due to their beauty, lively character, and wide range of color mutations such as cinnamon, pineapple, turquoise, and yellow-sided, the Green Cheek Conure is highly popular both as a pet and in aviculture worldwide.

Appearance

The Green Cheek Conure is a small yet striking parrot species known for its colorful plumage and compact build. Measuring about 10 inches (25 cm) in length and weighing 60–80 grams, it has a slender body with a relatively short tail compared to other conures. Its overall plumage is predominantly green, complemented by a greyish head, white eye rings, scalloped grey chest, and a maroon patch on the belly. The wings display beautiful blue highlights on the flight feathers, while the long tail feathers are mostly maroon-red, adding to its appeal.

Selective breeding has produced several attractive color mutations such as cinnamon, pineapple, turquoise, yellow-sided, and suncheek, each enhancing the bird’s visual charm. The Green Cheek Conure’s vibrant colors, combined with its playful expressions and bright eyes, make it a visually delightful parrot, admired both in aviaries and as a companion bird.

Personality and Temperament

Green Cheek Conures are intelligent, curious, and full of energy. They love to climb, explore, and play with toys, often showing their clownish side through funny antics. Social and affectionate, they form strong bonds with their owners and enjoy spending time perched on shoulders or cuddling in hands.

Though smaller than many parrots, they have big personalities. They are highly trainable, capable of learning tricks, and some can even mimic simple words and sounds. Their gentle and playful nature makes them ideal pets for families or individuals seeking an interactive companion.

Mutations of Green Cheek Conures

Selective breeding has introduced several beautiful color mutations of Green Cheek Conures, expanding their appeal among bird lovers. Some popular mutations include:

- Normal (Wild Type): Classic green plumage with maroon tail and grey chest scalloping.

- Pineapple: A striking blend of yellow, red, and green tones with bright chest coloring.

- Cinnamon: Features a softer, lighter green body and reddish tail.

- Turquoise: Blue-green plumage replacing the normal green, with a cooler overall tone.

- Yellow-Sided: Bright yellow and red chest with vibrant highlights, creating a colorful appearance.

- Suncheek & Mint: Rare mutations that display pastel shades and lighter tones, highly prized among breeders.

Each mutation retains the same affectionate personality and playful spirit, differing only in their plumage and visual appeal.

Care and Diet

Like all parrots, Green Cheek Conures require a balanced and varied diet to maintain good health. A high-quality seed mix or pellets should be supplemented with fresh fruits, vegetables, and leafy greens. Providing cuttlebone or mineral blocks ensures they receive essential calcium for strong bones and beak health.

Enrichment is equally important. Green Cheek Conures thrive on mental and physical stimulation, so offering chew toys, swings, and climbing opportunities helps prevent boredom and encourages natural behaviors. Regular out-of-cage exercise and daily interaction are vital for their wellbeing. With proper care, these birds can live 20-25 years.

Why Choose a Green Cheek Conure?

Green Cheek Conures are ideal for bird lovers seeking a small, affectionate parrot with big character. Their quiet nature, playful behavior, and wide range of mutations make them a delightful choice for both new and experienced bird owners. With their loyalty and charm, these little parrots bring joy, companionship, and endless entertainment to any home or aviary.

Green Cheek Conures (Pyrrhura molinae) are small-to-medium parrots with playful personalities but slightly lower energy requirements compared to Sun Conures. Their diet should still be nutritionally dense, with moderate protein and fat to support feather health, immunity, and breeding vitality.

Nutritional Requirements

Green Cheek Conures have specific nutritional needs that differ slightly from smaller parrots like budgies and lovebirds, mainly because of their medium size, longer lifespan, and breeding capacity. Below is a detailed breakdown of the nutritional values required for maintaining their good health:

Macronutrients

Protein

- Maintenance (pet/companion): 12-14% of diet.

- Breeding pairs & chick-rearing: 16-18%.

- Molting season: 14-16% to support feather regrowth.

Fat

- General health: 5-8% of diet.

- Breeding & high activity: Up to 10% (short-term).

- Indoor/pet Green Cheeks: Keep closer to 5-6% to prevent obesity.

Carbohydrates & Fiber

- 50–55% of diet. Supplies steady energy and aids digestion.

Vitamins

- Vitamin A: Essential for immunity, skin, feather brightness, and reproductive health (carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes).

- Vitamin D3: Crucial for calcium absorption and strong bones/eggshells (natural sunlight or supplements).

- Vitamin E: Supports fertility and breeding performance.

- Vitamin K: Important for blood clotting and skeletal health.

- Vitamin B-complex: Improves metabolism, nerve function, and feather quality.

Minerals

- Calcium: 0.8-1.2% of diet (higher in breeding females).

- Phosphorus: Balanced with calcium for skeletal and eggshell health.

- Trace minerals (Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Iodine, Iron): Required in small amounts for immunity, metabolism, and reproductive success.

- Cuttlebone/mineral blocks: Should always be available.

Breeding Season Requirement

- Protein: Increase to 16-18% for better fertility and chick growth.

- Fat: Allow 7-10% for energy-demanding periods.

- Calcium + Vitamin D3: Very important to prevent soft eggshells.

- Fresh soft foods: Sprouted seeds, soaked grains, vegetables, and egg food should be provided daily.

Water

Fresh, clean water must always be available. Even mild dehydration causes stress, poor digestion, and reduced breeding performance.

Breeding Care

Breeding Green Cheek Conures requires proper preparation, nutrition, and attentive management to ensure healthy offspring. Only mature, bonded pairs (1–2 years old) should be selected, as young or unrelated birds may not breed successfully. A spacious cage or aviary is important to allow natural bonding and courtship, along with a secure nesting box (about 10” x 10” x 12”) lined with clean wood shavings to provide comfort and safety for eggs and chicks.

During the breeding season, nutrition plays a vital role. A diet rich in proteins, calcium, and fresh vegetables supports fertility, egg formation, and chick development. Supplementing with sprouts, legumes, and cuttlebone helps maintain the health of both parents. The female typically lays 4–6 eggs per clutch, with incubation lasting 22–25 days, mostly carried out by the female while the male provides food and protection.

After hatching, both parents feed the chicks with regurgitated food, but it is essential to provide soft, protein-rich foods like sprouts, boiled eggs, and soaked seeds to support chick growth. Regular monitoring is necessary to ensure the chicks are being fed adequately; hand-feeding may be required if parents neglect them. A clean, stress-free environment is crucial to reduce the risk of infections and stress-related breeding failures.

With attentive care, Green Cheek Conures can successfully raise multiple clutches per year, making them both rewarding for hobbyists and commercially valuable for breeders.

1. Pre-Breeding Preparation

- Choose healthy, bonded pairsat least 1–2 years old.

- Conduct health checks to rule out infections or parasites.

- Provide a spacious cage or aviary(minimum 24” x 24” x 24”) to encourage natural courtship.

- Begin a nutrient-rich conditioning dietbefore breeding, including pellets, seeds, fresh vegetables, leafy greens, sprouts, and calcium supplements (cuttlebone/mineral block).

2. Nesting Setup

- Offer a nesting boxmeasuring around 10” x 10” x 12” with a concave base.

- Line the box with clean wood shavings or untreated sawdust.

- Place the nest in a quiet and stress-free location to encourage breeding.

- Ensure the environment has proper ventilation, natural light cycles, and stable temperatures.

3. Egg Laying and Incubation

- The female usually lays 4–6 eggs per clutch.

- Incubation lasts 22–25 days, with the female primarily incubating while the male provides food.

- Provide extra calcium-rich foods (dark greens, broccoli, cuttlebone) and protein sources like sprouts or boiled egg to support egg production and chick development.

- Avoid unnecessary disturbances during incubation to reduce stress.

4. Chick Rearing

- After hatching, both parents feed chicks with regurgitated food.

- Supplement parents’ diet with soft, high-protein foods (soaked seeds, sprouts, mashed vegetables, boiled egg, legumes).

- Monitor chicks daily to ensure proper feeding and growth.

- If parents neglect or underfeed chicks, be ready to hand-feed using specialized formulas.

- Keep the nesting box clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections.

5. Post-Breeding Care

- Chicks are usually weaned by 8–10 weeks and can be transferred to a separate cage.

- Allow breeding pairs a rest period between clutches to avoid exhaustion.

- Continue providing a balanced diet and enrichment activities to maintain adult health.

Socialize chicks early to improve their temperament and make them more desirable as pets.

With attentive care, Green Cheek Conures can reliably produce healthy offspring, and their color mutations - add commercial appeal, making breeding both rewarding and profitable.

Commercial Breeding of Green Cheek Conure

Breeding Green Cheek Conures carries strong commercial potential due to their rising popularity as companion birds. They are highly sought after for their manageable size, quiet nature compared to larger conures, and affectionate temperament, making them appealing to families and first-time bird owners. Their relatively low noise level, combined with playful behavior, has significantly increased their demand in the global pet trade.

From a breeder’s perspective, Green Cheek Conures are productive and consistent breeders when provided with proper care. A healthy pair can produce multiple clutches annually, with an average of 4–6 eggs per clutch, ensuring a steady supply for the market. Additionally, their color mutations—such as pineapple, cinnamon, turquoise, yellow-sided, and suncheek—enhance their commercial value, with rare mutations fetching higher prices among hobbyists and collectors.

With their long lifespan (up to 20–25 years) and strong adaptability to captive conditions, Green Cheek Conures hold long-term appeal for bird lovers. Breeders who maintain high standards of nutrition, biosecurity, and socialization can establish sustainable businesses while meeting the increasing demand for these charming parrots.

Why The Aviarist Seed Mix?

To maintain good health, Green Cheek Conures need 12-14% protein (up to 18% during breeding), 5-8% fat (up to 10% in breeding), and a diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and clean water. With their playful and affectionate nature, they thrive on a safe, balanced diet like The Aviarist - seed mix, ensuring vitality, fertility, and stunning plumage all year round.