Green Cheeked

GREEN-CHEEKED CONURE ( Pyrrhura molinae) General plumage green; reddish-brown forehead; crown and nape brown tinged with green; cheeks green; ear-coverts greyish-brown; sides of neck, throat and upper breast pale brown sometimes tinged with dull green, each feather broadly margined with pale greyish-buff or dull yellow and tipped with dark brown thus giving a barred appearance; some blue feathers on hindneck, rarely forming an indistinct collar; brownish-red patch on centre of abdomen; under tail-coverts green lightly washed with blue; primary-co verts and outer webs of primaries blue; outer webs of secondaries greenish-blue; tail above brownish-red tipped with blue and slightly marked with green at base, below dull brownish-red; bill grey; iris brown; legs dark grey.

Distribution: West-central and southern Mato Grosso, Brazil, northern and eastern Bolivia from La Paz to Tarija and north-western Argentina (Pyrrhura molinae molinae) The nominate species is described above. This race is restricted to the highlands of eastern Bolivia.

Pyrrhura molinae phoenicura like molinae, but upper side of tail broadly marked with green. Confined to west-central Mato Grosso, Brazil, and neighboring north-eastern Bolivia

Pyrrhura molinae sordida similar to molinae, but general plumage duller; crown paler brown; green of cheeks paler and less extensive; barring on breast indistinct because of paler centres to feathers; brownish-red abdominal patch paler and less prominent; outer webs or primaries paler blue; under tail-coverts suffused with blue. Occurs in southern Mato Grosso, Brazil and in neighboring easternmost Bolivia.

Pyrrhura molinae restricta like molinae, but green of cheeks tinged with blue; blue collar on hindneck always prominent; feathers on sides of neck, throat and upper breast very broadly margined wi th greyish-white instead of greyish-buff; brownish-red abdominal patch duller in color and less extensive; flanks and under tail-coverts strongly tinged with blue. Known only from Palmarito, Chuquitos, Bolivia, the type locality.

Pyrrhura molinae australis similar to molinae, but with more pronounced brownish-red abdominal patch; underparts duller green and under tail-coverts green with little blue. Occurs in Tarija, southern Bolivia, and in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy and occasionally, north-western Argentina.

The Green-cheeked conure is a forest bird and is generally seen in large flocks in the tops of trees. It feeds on seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and probably vegetable matter. Pictured are mutations of the Green-cheeked conure; the Fallow and the Yellow-sided. Until recent years the Yellow-sided was thought to be a totally separate species. However, tests have proven it to be a mutation of the Green-cheeked. (Photo courtesy of Martin and Sandi Brennan) photo's to be added soon.