Yellow-Sided
GREEN-CHEEKED Conure
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photo by Gail J. Worth
(Pyrrhura
molinae/Pyrrhura hypoxantha)
In
the mid 1980s while working in a quarantine station in Los Angeles,
Ca., I first came upon the Yellow-Sided Conure. I was banding
a group of Green-Cheeked Conures imported from Argentina when
I noticed two brightly colored conures in the group with the others.
After referencing these birds in Parrots Of The World, I learned
that Forshaw questioned if the Yellow-Sided were a separate species
and not just a sub-species of the Green-Cheeked Conure.
The Yellow-Sided Conure, while similar in color to the Green-Cheeked
on the back and tail, differs greatly in the coloration of the
breast feathers, feet and facial feathers. The term "yellow-sided"
is actually in reference to the sides of the breast area. Brightly
colored yellow and green, they differ from the solid green of
the normal colored Green- Cheeked. The center of the breast and
abdomen area is a bright red to yellow variation of color and
the throat and facial feathers are a light, white gray color.
The feet are pink in juveniles, turning gray with age.
I purchased these two birds, which I learned were females. To
prove that they were in fact naturally occuring color mutations
of the Green-Cheeked, I paired one bird with a Green-Cheeked male
and the other with a male Painted Conure. I had previously seen
offspring producd from a Green-Cheeked/Painted Conure cross and
used this as my comparison. The
offspring produced by the Yellow-Sided/Painted Conure cross resembled
these exactly. The Green-Cheeked/Yellow-Sided cross produced visually
normal colored Green-Cheeked Conures. Interestingly enough, all
offspring produced by both crosses were determined to be female.
I separated my pairs and put the project aside until years later
when fellow aviculturist Denna Ferris began her breeding research.
She had also purchased two Yellow-Sided females at the same time
as I had with the same results in her offspring production. Visually
normal colored, female Green-Cheeked Conures. After several generations
of line breeding, Denna was successful in producing visual Yellow-Sided
females. But it took several more generations of line breeding
to produce visual Yellow-Sided males. At this time I purchased
from her to visual males and the rest, they say, is history. I
n addition to the Yellow-Sided, Fallow Green Cheeks and European
blood lines that are split to blue have been added to the breeding
collection creating an enormous variety of new and exciting
color variations.
We eagerly awaitthe feathering of each new baby to see just what
color he or she will be! I must also note that these birds are
some of the most gentle I have
worked with. Birds held back for breeding are still very easy
to handle even months after weaning. Birds kept as companion animals
are said to be sweet, social, intensely animated, and good talkers. NEW
MUTATION COLOR "American Dilute)! babies will be available
in 2009! Click
here to see our newest mutation colors the American Dilute,
American Dilute/Yellow-Sided, and the Suncheek!
click here for more images!
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The Feather Tree.
