Green-cheeked Conure Mutations

Several color mutations have occurred in captive populations:

• American Dilute (Recessive): Plumage is a light cream. It looks similar to the Cinnamon, except for the dark bluish beak and dark feet. The eyes are dark. Hatchlings are covered with white down.
• Cinnamon (Sex-linked): Plumage mostly lime green with a lighter, almost pale color to the feathers. The head is tan and the tail feathers are a lighter maroon than in normal Green-cheeked Conures. The beak and feet are light-colored. The eyes are ruby red that tend to fade with exposure to sunlight.
• Yellow-Sided (Sex-linked): From behind this mutation looks like the original (wild) green-cheek conure. It differs in that the chest is a bright yellow, the tail color ranges from maroon to light red. The beak and feet are dark-colored. The eyes are dark. The plumage of subsequent generations lightens and the beaks tend to get lighter. Hatchlings are covered with white down.
• Pineapple: This mutation is a visual Cinnamon and Yellow-sided combination, with the light-colored head of the Cinnamon and the yellow sides of the Yellow-sided mutation. The chest is brightly colored. The head is tan-colored and on the back they have lime green feathers – like a Cinnamon. The tail feathers are the same as a Yellow-sided showing a halo effect. The eyes are ruby red.

Related Web Resources: Green-cheeked Conure Information … Green-cheeked Conure Breeding

• Suncheek (Sex-linked and recessive): A new visual American Dilute/Yellow-Sided Conure/cinnamon mutation. The head is light-colored. It has an orange and golden yellow chest, pastel crown, pastel lime back, platinum-blue flight feathers, and a bright orange-red tail feathers. The wings are a lighter yellow. The feet and beak are white. The eyes are ruby-red. (New mutation bred by Steve Garvin: www.feathert.com/suncheek.html).

• Turquoise (Recessive): Larger in size than other Green-cheek mutations. The plumage is mostly blue-green and green. The chest feathers are greyish and the tail feathers are grey.

Mint – a visual Turquoise – American Dilute. The plumage is a very pastel color, except for the silver head and the platinum-colored tail. The eyes, feet and beak are dark.

  The ‘ Cinnamon‘ or a ‘ Pineapple‘ mutations are easily confused — please refer to the insightful article by Marcy Covaul, President, Pyrrhura Breeders Association, for more information. Is It a “Cinnamon” or a “Pineapple”?

Gaurav Dhir

Gaurav is an animal enthusiast. He lives in beautiful Ontario with his energetic family. As a part of his work at beautyofbirds.com, he has been working with ace parrot trainer, Cassie Malina to understand bird behavior and learn more about how he can train his feathered companions.