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The green-cheeked parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae), also sometimes known as the green-cheeked conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots.<ref name=IOC13.1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.<ref name=SACCcountries>Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023</ref>
Taxonomy and systematicsEdit
The green-cheeked parakeet has six subspecies:<ref name=IOC13.1/>
- P. m. flavoptera Maijer, Herzog, Kessler, Friggens & Fjeldsa, 1998
- P. m. molinae (Massena & Souance, 1854)
- P. m. phoenicura (Schlegel, 1864)
- P. m. hypoxantha (Salvadori 1899)
- P. m. restricta Todd, 1947
- P. m. australis Todd, 1915
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Subspecies P. m. hypoxantha was previously known as P. m. sordida and was sometimes treated as a separate species. However, by the principle of priority the older name hypoxantha replaced sordida.<ref name=GCPA-BOW>Collar, N. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Green-cheeked Parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.gncpar.01 retrieved March 7, 2023</ref> The green-cheeked parakeet has also been treated as conspecific with the maroon-bellied parakeet (P. frontalis).<ref name=GCPA-BOW/><ref name=SACClist>Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 30, 2023</ref><ref name=Juniper>Template:Cite book</ref>
The green-cheeked parakeet is most closely related to the maroon-bellied, pearly (P. lepida), and crimson-bellied (P. perlata) parakeets.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/><ref>Ribas, C.C., Joseph, L. and Miyaki, C.Y. (2006). Molecular systematics and patterns of diversification in Pyrrhura (Psittacidae), with special reference to the picta-leucotis complex. Auk 123(3): 660–680</ref>
DescriptionEdit
The green-cheeked parakeet is Template:Convert long and weighs Template:Convert. The sexes are the same sizes. Adults of the nominate subspecies P. m. molinae are dull brown from forehead to nape and have green cheeks, ashy brown ear coverts, and a creamy white ring of bare skin around the eye. Their upperparts are green. Their chin, throat, and the sides of their neck are a scaly brown and whitish. Their belly is dull reddish and their lower flanks and vent area are green. Their wing is mostly green, with bluish flight feathers. Their tail is dull reddish. Immatures are similar to adults but without the red belly.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/>
Subspecies P. m. phoenicura is green on the upper surface of its tail's base. P. m. restricta has a blue collar, a blue tinge on its cheeks, and a smaller red belly patch than the nominate. P. m. hypoxantha has a paler crown and less distinct scaling on the breast than the nominate. P. m. australis is paler than the nominate and has a larger red belly patch.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/><ref name=vanPerlo>Template:Cite book</ref> P. m. flavoptera is orange to red at the bend of the wing and on the carpal edge and is otherwise like the nominate.<ref name=WPT>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
A small number of individuals of P. m. hypoxantha have mostly yellow underparts.<ref name=vanPerlo/>
Distribution and habitatEdit
The subspecies of the green-cheeked parakeet are found thus:<ref name=IOC13.1/><ref name=GCPA-BOW/>
- P. m. flavoptera, west-central Bolivia in southeastern La Paz and northwestern Cochabamba departments
- P. m. molinae, Bolivia between La Paz and Chuquisaca departments
- P. m. phoenicura, northeastern Santa Cruz Department in northeastern Bolivia and southwestern Mato Grosso in Brazil
- P. m. hypoxantha, eastern Santa Cruz Department in extreme eastern Bolivia, western Mato Grosso do Sul in southwestern Brazil, and northern Paraguay
- P. m. restricta, central Santa Cruz Department in east-central Bolivia
- P. m. australis, from southern Bolivia's Tarija Department into northwestern Argentina as far as Tucumán Province
The green-cheeked parakeet inhabits lowland woodlands and forest (chiefly deciduous), secondary forest, and gallery forest in the lower elevations of the Pantanal and humid subtropical forest as high as Template:Convert.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/><ref name=vanPerlo/>
BehaviorEdit
MovementEdit
The populations of green-cheeked parakeet breeding in higher elevations move to lower ones in winter.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/>
FeedingEdit
The green-cheeked parakeet has a varied diet that, in the wild, consists of fruits, seeds, flowers and, to a lesser extent, nectar and leaves.<ref name=Benavídez2021>Template:Cite journal</ref>
BreedingEdit
The green-cheeked parakeet's breeding season in Argentina includes February, but its season elsewhere has not been defined. It nests in tree cavities.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/> In captivity the clutch size is four to six eggs, the incubation period is 22 to 25 days, both sexes incubate the clutch, and fledging occurs about seven weeks after hatch.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/><ref name=WPT/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
VocalizationEdit
The green-cheeked parakeet's flight calls "comprise rather high-pitched notes with a grating quality and usually given in fast series, e.g. "krree krree krree", but also single "kuree" notes." From a perch it "utters high-pitched, more melodious notes, such as a bisyllabic "rrekeet" or "keew"." However, perched birds are often silent. Flocks in flight "call frequently and simultaneously, producing a noisy, harsh and piercing chattering."<ref name=GCPA-BOW/>
StatusEdit
The IUCN has assessed the green-cheeked parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range but its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.<ref name=IUCN/> It is considered common in much of its range.<ref name=GCPA-BOW/>
In avicultureEdit
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Green-cheeked parakeets are common in aviculture and are popular companion parrots. They are playful, affectionate and intelligent, known as having a "big personality in a small body". They can learn to talk, albeit with a limited vocabulary and a gravelly voice.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They like to be held (although some like it more than others) and can learn tricks such as lying on their backs, "kissing", shaking, hanging upside down, minor tool use, and even can be potty trained. Green-cheeked parrots are not very loud at most times, so even an apartment dweller can enjoy their companionship.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They are the quietest of the conures and can learn tricks and have a limited vocabulary, with extensive training.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=WPT/> They can be prone to biting, particularly when young, but an owner can cureTemplate:Citation needed this behavior with patience and time.
When cared for properly, captive green-cheeked parakeets can live 25–30 years. However, their average lifespan in captivity is closer to 10 years, due to frequent neglect and/or an incorrect diet.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Color variationsEdit
In addition to the natural color forms, color varieties have been selectively bred in aviculture:
- Cinnamon are lime green and have a lighter, paler coloring. The head is tan and the tail feathers are a lighter maroon compared to normal green-cheeked parakeets.
- Yellow-sided have bright-colored breasts that graduate from red to yellow and dark gray heads. Rarely, they also possess a bright yellow feather on each side of the upper wing. This is a rare recessive character of which only one hatchling in approximately 10 clutches can be found to have. This feature often increases their valueTemplate:Citation needed.
- Pineapple are a combination of the cinnamon and yellow-sided variations. They have a breast of bright colors, a tan head and lime green feathers on the back like a cinnamon green-cheeked parrot. The tail feathers are the same as a yellow-sided, providing a halo effect.
- Turquoise have a body with some blue-green and green feathers. The end of the wing feathers have a highly iridescent quality if left unclipped. The breast feathers are grayish and the tail feathers are gray.
- Green/red/blue apple varieties are less common, but have been seen.
- Pyrrhura molinae (cinnamon) -KL Bird Park-6a.jpg
Cinnamon variety
- Pyrrhura molinae -pineapple mutation -50 days old-6b.jpg
Pineapple variety (juvenile)
- 2008-02-10 Uroko-vivi.jpg
Turquoise variety (wing-clipped adult)
- Yellow Sided Conure.jpg
Yellow-sided green-cheek variety
- Hatch the green-checked conure after a bath.jpg
Turquoise variety (unclipped) after a bath
- Pyrrhura molinae -pet with corn cob-8a.jpg
Scratching the neck with a corn cob, an example of tool use
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Green-Cheeked Conures Lucky Feathers Aviary – Species Profile, Green-Cheeked Conure Care, breeding and Diet Information