Hello from a new & paranoid bird mom

[kiwismom22]

Thank you for allowing me to join here. I’ve been to this site multiple times googling questions and decided I should join. My name is Sara and this is my Green-Cheeked Conure, Kiwi. He will be 2 on March 7th. We adopted him on February 18, 2023. I’m new to the bird world, but looking forward to learning as much as I can. This forum has helped me so much already!

 

[greys4u]

Cutiepie, looks like he is saying, what?

 

[MommyBird]

Welcome Sara and Kiwi!

 

[kiwismom22]

Thank you! He’s most likely saying: “I’m trouble, but it’s okay because I’m cute.”

 

[Shezbug]

Welcome to the Avenue

 

[Mizzely]

Welcome! Green cheeks are fantastic little birds!

 

[Xoetix]

Hello and welcome!

 

[Emma&pico]

And welcome gcc are amazing little birds

 

[Icey]

to the Avenue

 

[Clueless]

Welcome!

 

[ConureDad]

He looks to me kind of like my maroon-bellied conure. What color is his tail?

 

[kiwismom22]

He looks to me kind of like my maroon-bellied conure. What color is his tail?

Here is some better pictures of him. Is a maroon-bellied conure different than a green-cheeked conure?

 

[ConureDad]

He has a head like a maroon belly and a tail like a green cheek. Maroon bellieds are a different, but similar, species. They have green heads (like yours) and tails. I wonder if he's a hybrid?

 

[kiwismom22]

Wow, I never knew that! Thank you for telling me! I was only told that he was a green-cheeked conure.

 

[Pixiebeak]

 

[ConureDad]

Wow, I never knew that! Thank you for telling me! I was only told that he was a green-cheeked conure.

I asked someone who is more knowledgeable, and they confirmed that it looks like a hybrid. They think probably a first generation cross between a gcc and mbc

 

[kiwismom22]

That is incredible. Thank you so much for the information. It’s very exciting!

 

[Shezbug]

@Monica may be able to help with ID

 

[Monica]

I agree with the hybrid statement!

BABY green cheeks can look like maroon bellied conures until they molt into their adult plumage.... being that he's already two, he's got his colors!


Actually, just about EVERYTHING about Kiwi says "maroon bellied" - except the tail. There *ARE* maroon bellied with very red tails... but.... not red like a green cheek. The base is still green. I do see some speckling of black on the head, that says green cheek... and the tail.... but otherwise the rest of the head, the chest, even the flights - all says maroon bellied!


Here's an image that compares the two

https://flic.kr/p/2cqR9V5

And a couple of images of the two species together

https://flic.kr/p/4oKSCR
https://flic.kr/p/6oa755

 

[kiwismom22]

Thank you so much for all this information! I don’t think I’ve ever even heard of maroon-bellies before being told about them here. And yes he will be two the beginning of March.

The top of his head is about the same green as the rest of his body with orange underneath it looks like and on the sides. What’s crazy to me is in some lights the speckles on his head look blue sometimes, but I’ve never been able to capture it in a picture.