Despite their name, they can be found in a variety of different colors with one of the most popular choices being turquoise. The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is the result of mutation and is the result of modern genetics.
In this article, we’ll be taking you through everything you need to know about the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure mutation and how this affects the bird’s behavior and personality.
We’ll also be delving into whether they make good pets and what you should expect if you decide to adopt one.
What Is Mutation?
Before we delve into the specifics of the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure, it’s essential to understand what mutation is and how it works.
A biological mutation is defined as “an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA.” In terms of the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure, this relates to the color of the bird.
A mutation is a term that commonly crops up when researching parrots, so you have probably come across this term before.
Despite how it may sound, it is not always a harmful thing as mutations can be the result of the animal’s environment or characteristics.
How Does The Mutation Happen?
The turquoise coloring mutation happens due to the reduction of psittacine pigmentation which is primarily responsible for red and yellow coloration.
Therefore, due to the lack of yellow, the green hue of the Green Cheek Conure is reduced and there is an increase in the amount of blue which gives the Conure its turquoise color.
What is the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure’s Habitat and Lifespan?
The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is native to a variety of locations in South America including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay, and can specifically be found within forests and woodlands.
They thrive in hot environments where there are high levels of humidity and moisture and are capable of surviving in harsh conditions.
The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is a highly adaptable bird which means that they have become suitable pet options.
This is ideal as many species of parrots have become endangered in recent years due to habitat destruction. The average lifespan of a Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is around 25 years, making them a great companion for the long term.
How Big Is The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure?
Another great advantage that comes with the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is that is a compact size as it is an average of 10 inches long.
This means that it can easily fit in the majority of households as you don’t need to worry about purchasing a large cage. They are one of the smallest species of Conure, and it is their small size that has made them so popular.
How Much Do Turquoise Green Cheek Conures Cost?
The cost of the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure differs depending on location and environment. On average, the Conure tends to cost between $300 and $600.
The reason the price can go up is because of the turquoise coloring whereas the Green Cheek Conure is more commonly found and therefore, tends to be cheaper.
Behavior And Personality
Knowing how the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure behaves and acts is essential, especially if you are considering adopting one.
What is great about these birds is that they are not high maintenance, so they are easy to clean up after and are not the most demanding bird to have.
Bear in mind that they do require a lot of attention due to their emotional needs as a lack of emotional bonding can eventually lead to physical problems in the long run.
Due to their highly sociable nature, emotional bonding is the most important attribute of the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure as they grow very attached to their owners.
This makes them a wonderful addition to families as they love to grow close with children, in particular, although you will need to be on hand to supervise in case they bite.
They are extremely energetic and will seek attention by hanging upside down which has garnered them the nickname, “little clowns”.
They also love to spend some time outside their cage and being held by their owners so taking a bit of time each day to let your Conure have some freedom will be greatly appreciated by them.
Following on from their energetic nature, it’s essential to know that these Conures are highly affectionate, and they love to be petted and cuddled.
The reason it is essential to know this is that you need to make sure that you are taking time out of each day to spend some time with your Conure and give it some attention.
This is because they will suffer if they are provided with the bonding and attention they need. The best way to determine what attention and affection you want to give to your bird is by establishing a set time each day and sticking to it.
This will ensure that they are in a regular routine and can handle being by themselves at other times of the day.
Their sociable personality means that you should position the cage in the area of the house that receives the most traffic and attention.
This will ensure that the Conure will be able to communicate and engage with everyone for the majority of the day and ease itself into its new environment.
The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure needs to be given time to become adjusted to the new environment. Therefore, a great way to do this is by repositioning the bird’s cage every once in a while, so it can get used to new surroundings, while bringing new toys and different people will also keep the Conure engaged and excited.
The last thing you need to know about the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is that you need to stick to the habits and routines that you establish with your bird.
Most parrots rely on a routine because of their high levels of intelligence, so they will know when they can expect attention from you.
Therefore, as stated before, make sure that you schedule a specific time each day to tend to your Conure as this will ensure that it has a high quality of life and is happy in its new environment.
What Are The Differences Between male and female Turquoise Green Cheek Conures?
The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is known as a monomorphic species meaning that telling males and females apart is difficult as there is only one form of this Conure.
There are some particular tell-tale signs that you can be aware of such as the behavior, foot color, and hand shape, but this is not 100% reliable meaning that you can never be completely sure whether your Conure is male or female.
The best and only way to be 100% sure of your Conure’s gender is to have it undergo DNA testing which will be able to determine whether your bird is male or female.
Bear in mind that the downside to this is that it costs extra money to have this procedure done.
Bird DNA testing can cost as much as $149 which is a phenomenal amount, so it’s advisable to only get the testing done if you absolutely must.
Can the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure talk?
As one of the most common species of parrot in the world, it’s only natural to inquire whether the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is capable of talking.
Compared to other species of parrot, the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is actually quite quiet and doesn’t make as much noise, making them a great choice for those who live in a smaller space.
Since the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is a type of Conure, it’s important to know that this species is not known for talking. They are capable of learning a few words, but they don’t have the same level of capability as other parrots, meaning that this isn’t the right bird for you if you want a parrot that is going to talk to you.
The Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is a well-trained parrot meaning that you can train the bird to minimize the amount of noise it makes. However, even though it can’t really talk much, they are still lovable and social creatures that are known to bond with their human owners.
Are Turquoise Green Cheek Conures good pets?
Now that you know everything there is to know about the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure’s behavior and personality, you may be wondering if they even make a good pet.
The good news is that they are an extremely popular choice for potential adopters due to their calm and sweet nature.
Another great thing about Turquoise Green Cheek Conures that make them such a good option for a pet is that they are easy to train and tame as they are good-natured and not as mischievous as other species of parrots.
Their small size makes them a great choice for those with smaller apartments as they don’t require a huge cage meaning that they are suitable for the majority of houses.
Bear in mind that the larger the cage you can get, the better it is for your bird as it will have more movement.
How are Turquoise Green Cheek Conures bred?
You may have decided that a Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is the right option for you, but it’s important to understand how they are bred due to their unique mutation.
Although there are challenges when it comes to breeding any kind of pet, the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure is actually quite easy to breed meaning that they are not the hardest kind of bird to come across.
A Turquoise Green Cheek Conure hen will usually lay between 4 and 6 eggs per clutch with an incubation period that can last between 22 and 25 days. It is more common for the incubation period to last the full 25 days.
On average, a Turquoise Green Cheek Conure hen will typically have either three or four successful clutches per year meaning that there are frequent opportunities to breed the bird.
What Cage Should I Get For My Turquoise Green Cheek Conure?
If you decide to adopt a Turquoise Green Cheek Conure, you need to ensure that you have plenty of space and room to accommodate the bird as it is a large species.
Not only should the cage be large enough to house it, but there also needs to be additional space available for plenty of movement, so your Conure can be free to fly around when needed.
Therefore, the advised minimum cage size is approximately 25 × 21 × 29 inches. This needs to have ½ an inch in wire spacing to ensure that your Conure is safe and secure.
The larger the cage, the better life will be for your Conure as it will have more space to move around. Bear in mind that a larger cage does require more maintenance and cleaning.
Conclusion
So that’s everything you need to know about the Turquoise Green Cheek Conure.
Knowing how the mutation works with this particular species and how to ethically source one will ensure that if you do decide to adopt one, you’ll be giving it the best quality of life.
Harlan Derricks, nice to meet you. I created this online resource in the hopes of educating more people about the wonders of parrots, including their species, sizes, and more.
But I don’t just want to stop with parrots. I want to give every bird an opportunity to be marveled at and rescued by my education. If just one of my readers learned something valuable about budgies, cockatiels, or parakeets, then I’d be happy with my success.
