Green-cheeked Parakeet as a pet

Pyrrhura molinae

In short

This species may suit you if you can live with noise level ‘moderate’, have room for an enclosure in class ‘medium’ and can care for the bird for up to about 40 years [S4, S17, S18, S35]. Biggest trade-off: suitable for inexperienced keepers only after thorough preparation [S4]. The perfect parrot doesn’t exist: a species profile is no guarantee about your bird.

This information was compiled with AI from public sources and may contain errors. Always check legal rules with the competent authority. Not buying, veterinary or legal advice.

Talking

Sometimes a few words; usually not a strong talker. [S4]

Noise

Generally less noisy; excitement can lead to screaming [S4]; ‘the quietest of the conures’ (secondary) [S17].

Lifespan

With good care 25–30 years is possible; the average in captivity is closer to 10 years [S17].

Space

No species minimum (S18). Flemish parakeet guideline for a larger species 150 × 150 × 80 cm per pair [S35], applied here conservatively: the page does not name the species.

Suitable for beginners?

LICG, on inexperienced keepers who are willing to study behaviour and needs thoroughly beforehand: “then P. frontalis and P. molinae are the most suitable.” The green-cheeked conure is P. molinae. This is conditional advice (only with thorough preparation), not a general recommendation for beginners. That is why ‘suitable for beginners’ is marked unknown here. [S4]

Costs

From €240 per year per bird. Flemish Huisdierwijzer pet guide (parakeets S35 / lovebirds S36): about €20 per bird per month × 12. Price level unknown; not a full budget or quote.

Paperwork and rules in Belgium

EU Annex B (CITES II). Ask the seller for proof of legal origin (invoice, transfer declaration; EU model recommended) and keep it [S40]. According to the FPS, anyone who buys, sells or breeds these birds keeps a register of arrivals and departures and keeps it for at least 5 years [S39]. Status as of 27 September 2026; check the current rules for your bird with the Belgian FPS Public Health [S39].

Adoption and availability

‘Pyrrhura Pineapple’ (a colour mutation of P. molinae) on adopteereendier.be [S71].

What you have to accept

Suitable for inexperienced keepers only after thorough preparation [S4].
Still unknown in the sources: suitability for beginners. That is not a ‘yes’.
EU Annex B: ask the seller for proof of legal origin and keep it [S40].
Noise class ‘moderate’ is not the same as quiet [S4, S17].

Compare with

Bourke's Parrot: quieter according to the sources (‘quiet’ versus ‘moderate’), shorter commitment (‘up to about 20 years’) [S4, S17, S56].
Bourke's Parrot · Compare with Bourke's Parrot
Sun Parakeet: a similar profile on the known criteria, but louder (‘very loud’) [S4, S17, S54].
Sun Parakeet · Compare with Sun Parakeet
Blue-headed Pionus: a similar profile on the known criteria.
Blue-headed Pionus · Compare with Blue-headed Pionus

Source basis

Pyrrhura group knowledge

Guideline sizes, costs and adoption listings come from Flemish sources; different rules may apply in Brussels and Wallonia. Foreign housing rules are not Belgian rules.

Sources

S4 · LICG — Pyrrhura's · read 2026-09-06
S17 · Wikipedia — Green-cheeked parakeet · read 2026-09-07
S18 · Windy City Parrot — minimum cage size green cheek · read 2026-09-07
S35 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Parkieten · read 2026-09-19
S36 · Vlaanderen — Huisdierwijzer Dwergpapegaai (Agapornis) · read 2026-09-19
S39 · FOD Volksgezondheid — CITES-regels: Papegaaien · read 2026-09-24
S40 · FOD Volksgezondheid — Beschermde soorten bezitten · read 2026-09-19
S54 · Wikipedia — Sun parakeet · read 2026-09-19
S56 · Wikipedia — Bourke's parrot · read 2026-09-19
S71 · adopteereendier.be — Volièrevogels · read 2026-09-19

Sources checked as of: 2026-09-24

Frequently asked questions

Which papers do you need for the Green-cheeked Parakeet in Belgium?

EU Annex B (CITES II). Ask the seller for proof of legal origin (invoice, transfer declaration; EU model recommended) and keep it. According to the FPS, anyone who buys, sells or breeds these birds keeps a register of arrivals and departures and keeps it for at least 5 years. Status as of 27 September 2026; check the current rules for your bird with the Belgian FPS Public Health.

How long does the Green-cheeked Parakeet live?

With good care 25–30 years is possible; the average in captivity is closer to 10 years.

How loud is the Green-cheeked Parakeet?

Generally less noisy; excitement can lead to screaming; ‘the quietest of the conures’ (secondary).

Can the Green-cheeked Parakeet learn to talk?

Sometimes a few words; usually not a strong talker.

How much space does the Green-cheeked Parakeet need?

No species minimum (S18). Flemish parakeet guideline for a larger species 150 × 150 × 80 cm per pair, applied here conservatively: the page does not name the species.

What does the Green-cheeked Parakeet cost per year?

From €240 per year per bird. Flemish Huisdierwijzer pet guide (parakeets S35 / lovebirds S36): about €20 per bird per month × 12. Price level unknown; not a full budget or quote.