Pineapple Green-Cheek Conure: Personality, Pictures, Care & Food Guide


The Pineapple Green Cheek conure comes from the genus Pyrrhura, part of the subfamily of Arinae, which is part of the long-tailed group of the new world parrot. The bird came about due to a variation of the Green Cheek conure, which is a mutation of the Yellow Sided conure.

The bird has a colorful appearance making it an attractive commodity in the market. It also has a smaller stature than most, not to mention playfulness, intelligence, and quiet nature, making it even more endearing to the owner.

The Green Cheek Conures loves to hang upside down and clamor on their cage. They are also quite mischievous birds and will need you to keep a constant eye on them.

Conures are mono-phonic which means they are quite hard to tell which gender they belong to physically.divider-birdcage

Species Overview

Common Names: Green Cheeked Parakeet
Scientific Names: Pyrrhura molinae
Adult Size: 10 Inches
Life Expectancy: 10 – 30 years

Origin and History

The birds are native to the South American wilderness, in the forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. The birds are mainly social animals and will congregate together depending on how much food is available.  The more the food, the more the birds you will find.

They are fairly cheap in their originating countries and can even be acquired from the forest for free.

Temperament

Green Cheek conures are popular birds, not only for their small stature and beautiful colors but also for the way they carry themselves.  They are affectionate, playful, and enjoy spending time with their owners.

However, they can also be disturbing and a nuisance at times, but compared to most birds, they are generally considered to be quite accommodating, with their uncooperative nature not being a constant thing but small bursts.

They are also easy to train and are known to be fast learners. However, they are not known to talk, but their big personalities will make up for the speech. It is also generally quiet, meaning you will have a peaceful time in the house, free from the constant noise that other birds are known to make.

Pros

  • They have different colors
  • There is no difference between male and female birds
  • They can mimic other sounds
  • They are generally not loud or irritating
  • Intelligent, playful and loving birds
  • The life span of 10-12 years
  • Strong immune systems
  • Smaller stature

Cons

  • They are not readily friendly with other breeds of pet
  • They are not very good with words
  • They require a lot of attention

Speech and Vocalizations

The Green Cheek Conure is generally a quiet bird with little irritating noise. However, they are also known to be quite noisy and may even cause some problems with the landlord. This is not a common thing with the birds, and if it happens, it will be short-lived.

The bird is also not a good talker, but they are known to mimic voices, and you may find your bird producing some voices, maybe the way you sigh.

Colors and Markings

The Pineapple Conureattains at least 10-inch full growth size and a weight of between 60 and 80 grams. The birds’ color results from a mutation between yellow-sided and cinnamon conures, which results in a tan-colored yellow bird, the dominant color in the pineapple conure series.

The bird may also have a reddish-orange color which is usually around their beaks and lower feathers.  You may also find a hint of red above their cere, with the tail feathers coming in a light red to maroon color with a kind of halo effect.

  • Their eyes have a red color similar to the Cinnamon conures
  • Tan colored head and yellow sides
  • Lime green colored feathers
  • Bright red and yellow chest
  • Lower beak feathers have a reddish-orange color
  • Reddish color on their cere
  • Light red to maroon tail feathers

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Caring for the Pineapple Green Cheek Conure

The Conure may seem like an amazing bird, but they require a certain level of research and commitment to take care of the bird properly. They require daily exercises, socialization, fresh food, and water daily, plus a sizeable cage and a safe environment where they are not at risk of, say, trampling while outside their cages.

Conures are quite the active birds that will need bigger cages where they can fit and move around, plus the addition of enough toys to keep them busy and enough accessories to keep them entertained and comfortable. The toys should be chewable, with some bells and rattles to keep their senses alert.

You should also ensure you keep a clean bird by providing enough water to bathe and clean out their environment by removing and replacing the litter. Replace old toys, and ensure you repair any damages that may be on the cage.

You will also need to spend enough time with them and train them, teaching them a few tricks, which will also go a long way in keeping them energized and entertained.

Common Health Problems

  • Feather picking
  • Proventicular Dilatation Disease (PDD)
  • Psittacine beak
  • Feather disease
  • Psittacosis
  • Beak malocclusions
  • Aspergillosis

Pineapple Cheek conures have a huge problem with feather picking, which may see them spoil their feathers and create bald patches on their body. One of the big reasons for feather picking is boredom, hence the reason for ensuring you keep your bird entertained. Another reason for this may be the diet, which may not be sufficient to keep the bird healthy.

Pineapple Cheek conures are also prone to Proventicular Dilatation Disease (PDD), psittacine beak and feather disease, psittacosis, beak malocclusions, and Aspergillosis.

You should ensure you take your bird to an avian vet regularly to keep them healthy and keep diseases at bay.

Diet and Nutrition

The Pineapple Cheek conure takes a variety of different foods which help keep the bird in tiptop condition. Provide a balanced diet of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds. You should also add fresh fruits and vegetables and some commercial pellets to their diet.

The bird loves apples corn on the cob(they pick it out themselves), sprouted seeds, and a well-cooked mix of peas and corn.

Some of the food you should avoid giving the bird include chocolate, alcohol, onions, and avocado ear.

Exercise

Pineapple Cheek conures are active and they will fly for miles in search of food and water, meaning even when in captivity, they should enjoy some form of exercise to keep up with their active lifestyle. Ensure you get the birds as much time as you can outside the cage.

You can also take your time to train the bird, helping it burn some energy as it learns some new tricks.

Where to Adopt or Buy a Pineapple Cheek Conure

Pineapple Cheek conures are readily available from several places, including breeders and shelters. You can also get the bird for free from people who can no longer afford to take care of it.

As a rule of thumb, ensure you have enough interactions with the bird before adopting it, and if possible, get it checked by a vet first.divider-birdcage

Conclusion

Bird lovers will fall in love with their pineapple conure based on their social behavior and lovable tendencies. Ensure you are sure about adopting the bird as it can live up to 12 years, which will require a lot of commitment. If you buy the conure, ensure it is healthy and comes with good temperament as a troublesome bird may be a source of hectic days for you.


Featured Image Credit: Meet Abbi! My new Pineapple Conure!, Lisa Armstrong, Flickr, Attribute CC 2.0





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