The Green Cheek Conure (Pyrrhura molinae) is a small, colorful parrot species popular as a companion bird worldwide. This species naturally inhabits the forests of South America. Understanding their wild habitat reveals the specific environmental conditions that sustain their populations and influence their behavior.
Native Geographic Range
The Green Cheek Conure’s native territory spans a significant portion of central South America, encompassing four countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. These parrots form a broad distribution across subtropical and tropical zones. The largest concentration of the species’ range is centered in Bolivia, extending from the eastern highlands down into the lowlands.
In Brazil, the conure’s distribution is concentrated in the western states, particularly Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it occupies dry and semi-deciduous forests. Their territory extends southward into Paraguay and into northwestern Argentina, primarily in the provinces bordering Bolivia, such as Jujuy and Salta. The species is complex, with six recognized subspecies, each occupying a slightly different part of this vast geographic mosaic, leading to subtle variations in plumage and size.
Specific Habitat Requirements
Although the Green Cheek Conure’s range is wide, it requires dense tree cover for shelter and food security. These adaptable parrots inhabit various wooded environments, including deciduous lowland woodlands, humid subtropical forests, secondary forests, and gallery forests (patches of trees along rivers).
Conures forage and roost primarily at treetop level, relying on the forest canopy for protection from predators like the ornate hawk-eagle. They thrive from the lowlands up to 2,600 meters in the Andean foothills. Populations at higher altitudes often display altitudinal migration, descending during cooler seasons due to seasonal food availability.
The birds depend on tree cavities for nesting and raising their young. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, flowers, and nectar. They play an ecological role as seed dispersers, consuming fruits and passing the seeds intact, which helps propagate plant life. Their reliance on mature trees makes them sensitive to changes in forest structure.
Population Status and Conservation
The Green Cheek Conure is classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This designation means the species is not facing an immediate, widespread threat of extinction. Despite this secure status, the overall population trend is believed to be decreasing.
The primary threat to wild populations is the loss and fragmentation of native forest habitats. Extensive deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion and logging, reduces available nesting cavities and disrupts foraging routes. Although the species can utilize secondary forests, the continuous removal of mature, primary forest reduces the land’s carrying capacity. Conservation requires protecting the intact, mature forests within their geographic range, particularly the transitional and subtropical forests of Brazil and Bolivia.