The green-cheeked parakeet, 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. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Region
Gran Chaco and Pantanal
Typical Environment
Occurs in central South America across eastern Bolivia, western Brazil (including Mato Grosso), northern Argentina, and Paraguay. It inhabits dry and semi-humid forests, gallery forests, savanna woodlands, and forest edges, often using secondary growth and agricultural mosaics. The species thrives in broken canopy and along watercourses and can persist in lightly disturbed areas. Communal roosting sites are typically in cavities in mature trees or palms.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
Also called the green-cheeked conure, this small parrot is popular in aviculture for its playful personality and relatively softer voice compared to many conures. Several subspecies are recognized, differing subtly in head and belly coloration. It nests in tree cavities and often roosts communally outside the breeding season.
P. m. australis in Jujuy, Argentina
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs, family groups, or small flocks that may merge into larger groups at feeding or roost sites. It is monogamous and nests in natural tree cavities, where both parents attend the young. Outside breeding, it forms communal roosts and maintains contact with frequent calls.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are high-pitched chirps and chattering trills, often given in quick series during flight. Compared with many conures, its calls are relatively soft but carry well over the canopy.
Plumage
Mostly green with a brownish crown, grey-scaled barring on the chest, and a maroon belly patch; flight feathers show blue highlights and the tail is maroon.
Diet
Feeds primarily on fruits, seeds, berries, and flower buds, with occasional leaf and nectar consumption. It forages methodically through foliage and often hangs acrobatically to reach food. It may visit agricultural areas to take cultivated fruits or grains when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the upper to mid-canopy of forests, along forest edges, and in gallery forests. It also uses secondary growth, palm stands, and wooded savannas, moving between fruiting trees and shrubs.
