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RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:53:14 GMT

K&T Dad... Thanks! I'll check it out..

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:46:05 GMT

K&T Dad, from what I've learned, the peachface x eyering crosses usually tend to be sterile (but not always.. maybe they are like ligers and tigons? depending on the sex of the offspring determines whether or not they are fertile... weird, huh? only the females [usually] are fertile...) but the eyering hybrids (to my knowledge) are fertile.

I would suppose that Linda would know more on the subject of hybrids???
http://lovebirdsplus.com/

Either way, Linda says that peachface/eyering hybrids can't reproduce, but eyering hybrids can. She's bred some of the rarer lovebirds, and is quite the expert on them, so she may know more about the wild populations!

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:46:15 GMT

K&T Dad... I just wanted all to know that the Fischer's Lovebird + Masked Love Bird Hybrids "mate" in the wild, though I know breeders also mate the two. I know the "wild" ones are significant & would really like to know more about their status, habits, etc... Are they sterile? Just Interesting stuff to me

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Lorek — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:43:35 GMT

i agree with all posts above esp about the for personal gain hybridization and designer dogs. really... i have the first (and last) of a line of designer dogs... she's my lasky and she's the best dog ever... and she cost me 50 bucks from the local humane society.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:38:21 GMT

And just to be completely random, I found some new emoticons!!!! I never knew we had these ones!!!! I wonder what other ones we have????

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:24:46 GMT

I actually think it's a great way for EVERYONE to learn something new!

Personally, I think the majority of people who hybridize shouldn't... since there are people who hybridize for profit, selling the offspring for more than the purespecies (it would be like selling a mutt for more than what you'd get for it's parents! and that's what we do with "designer dogs"! I'll never understand the sense in that...), people who hybridize because two pets "fell in love" and can't think to separate the pair, and think that just because they mate they *MUST* have a nestbox, or the person thinks that just because it's the same "type" of bird (i.e. two lovebirds, or two conures, or two macaws - yet separate species of each) that it's okay to allow the birds to reproduce, then wonder about the offsprings coloration, or what to breed the offspring with in order to achieve the look of one parent or the other...

If it's all for the love of birds, no personal gain, and not to see what 'pretty colors' one could get, and the person who allowed their birds to hybridized did all that they could to ensure the proper care of those offspring, then I don't see so much harm. I still don't agree with it, since birds don't mate for life and we should, IMO, try and preserve species as is. The adelaide rosellas aren't the only wild hybrid flocks, however, as far as I know, they are the only NATURALLY occuring hybrid flock! Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill... Cherry head/red mask flock. A busy city like San Fransisco is *NOT* their natural habitat. A mitred joined the flock and has had AT LEAST two mates. We've got a bunch of hybrids! There's also a flock of macaws, both pure and hybrids, living in England.
www.cityparrots.com
There's also wild macaws in Costa Rica who are hybridizing on their own. It is still, IMO, something not natural because I doubt this would be happening so frequently in their native habitat... but then again, we can also just look at the Adelaide Rosella!

I have no problems owning a hybrid! There are some gorgeous ones out there, and if one were in need of a home, and the bird fit into the flock, why not? At the same time though, I wouldn't go out looking to *BUY* a hybrid, especially not from a breeder.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:08:49 GMT

K&T Dad... Sundayowner we know you do not agree with the "intentional" hybridizing of parrots Thanks for giving us an interesting topic to reply to I agree what you said about Parrots and prehistoric times. Yes, I do think that throughout natures history there was & is natural hybridizing. These new species that did survive, did so through there own adaption to there environment. There is natural hybridizing happening in the wild today. As already posted by Monica the Rosellas are a great example of this. There is also a Hybrid species that is listed in the book "Parrots of The World" by Joseph M. Forshaw. It is Agapornis fischeri + Agapornis personatus ..or Fischer's Lovebird + Masked Lovebird Hybrid. These are closely related species that mate with each other quite frequently. Who knows? MANY years from now they may become there own species, maybe pretty close now? My problem is with breeders intentionally hybriding parrots for their own gain. I will say, Hybrids often produce beautiful specimens & I have a very big interest in wild Hybrids and the species that can do so

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:28:14 GMT

People often confuse species, breeds, hybrids, and mutations. Once a hybrid, always a hybrid. Some have intentionally hybridized in order to cross over a mutation from one species to another. However, all birds descended from that pair will always be hybrids.

All dogs are one species. It's true that mutts may be healthier than purebreds because of the fact that due to all the recessive stuff and then inbreeding, purebred dogs are then thus more likely to show a health problem... but it's also true that the mutt could be less healthy than the purebred due to those same recessive genes, particularly if it appears in both parents, thus increasing the chances that the pup(s) will have the health problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-breed_dog#Health

As for hybrids, the least of our problems are infertility. From there, we also see birth defects (particularly in sun/green cheek conure hybrids), high chick mortality (also in the sun/GC's), and who know's what else! Peachface lovebirds tuck nesting material in their rumps. Eyering lovebirds carry their nesting material in their beaks. When hybridizing the two, the offspring, once ready to nest and reproduce themselves (if they aren't infertile) may become frusterated because they wont know whether to tuck the nesting material or to carry it.... So the big question is, is what unknown problems are we creating within hybrids if we are already seeing some 'minor' problems? I am also beginning to believe that hybrids occur a lot more frequently in nature than many believe...

Here's one example of a self sustaining, wild population of hybrids!

Crimson Rosella

Plus Yellow Rosella

Equals the Adelaide Rosella, which varies from reddish orange, to orange-red, to yellow-orange.

The hybrids do in fact still breed with the crimsons and the yellow rosellas. As far as I know, these Adelaide Rosellas are in no danger of being threatend, but are indeed a wild flock of hybrids!

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Lorek — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:18:20 GMT

you guys are looking at two entirely different topics as well. i agree with both but only in your own ideas... i agree with K&T Dad being more correct. Hybridizing between bird species is bad for the species b/c it actually deteriorates the way the animal has adapted over the long run. It is also important if we are to help retain the species not to mix in other genes. There is much work done on this in relation to the wild hybridization of the red fox and the gray wolf in north america that created the red wolf and in the long run it died out quite quickly due to over competition with the individual species for the same food.

sundayowner, when you start talking about labs and poodles making labradoodles you are talking about the SAME species... yes species! You are talking about how people have already created a creature that could not survive due to so many deformities and would be a sickly animal as is and crossing it with another sickly animal to "introduce" more genes... what you are really doing is out crossing the recessive genes you have bred for over years and returning it to a SLIGHTLY more "wild" form... you cannot use such a humanly engineered model for this discussion. Hybrids are not good in the wild for the most part.

The true definition of a hybrid is between two different SPECIES and usually this results in a sterile offspring or a dead offspring. it is rare for hybrids to create viable offspring and when they do occur more than once it will lead to a blending of the two species in the wild and will tend to form one big group.

So long story short... hybridizing of SPECIES so in this case birds... is infact not good for the keeping of species separate. If these individuals were released back into wild populations of pure birds it would likely never mate or would lead to weaker offspring that would be preyed upon more quickly. So to hybridizing them in captivity leads to weakening of the genetic pool if we ever DID have to use only captive bred birds to release back into the wild to help save a species.

Hope this distinction helps clear up some confusion and not create more.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

KnuffleBunny — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:01:23 GMT

Well, Sundayowner wasn't supporting the idea of intentionally hybridizing parrots...

o-o

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

brilliantfids — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:07:39 GMT

Im going to have to say I STRONGLY agree with K&T Dad here! It is very improtant with dwindling numbers of parrot species to keep the genes as pure as possible. Though Hybrids do occur by accident, or in the wild that does not mean we should be TRYING to breed them for our own pleasure.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:57:26 GMT

K&T Dad... I am sorry to have to disagree with you about the Hybridizing of Parrots. Many, if not most commonly kept Parrots are rare, threatened in the wild, or are endangered. There for, it is extremely important to keep the genes of these Parrots(species) as "PURE" as possible. Keeping the genes of Parrots are important, as there is also a "limited" supply of Parrot species in captivity. So, in keeping the genes of each Parrot species as pure as possible, it is of the MOST importance and security of these feathered beauties survival and future !

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:13:45 GMT

K&T Dad... Monica, Wow! It's amazing what can be done these days with all the Tech! As you stated I am also curious in a way, of what species can actually Hybridize? But also as you stated I really don't want to know, as this goes against my Morals. These practices do more harm than good, as they weaken and "taint" the gene pool of a the species. It does on occasion happen in the wild..but with closely related species. With Parrots on the decline in the wild and in a less capacity captivity, it is best not to "dabble" with this practice of Hybridizing

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:30:38 GMT

Guess I didn't specify well enough! LOL I was speaking of parrots, not ducks! I know that cockatoos aren't 'just' Australian, as they do appear in other countries. Not speaking of parrots in particular, there is a sea bird (I believe albatross, but I could be wrong) where there is a hybridized breeding 'circle' around an ocean, where the species ranges overlap. I can't recall ATM where I read this, however...

It would be interesting to know of all the species that *CAN* hybridize, with pictures! But then, I'm not recommending anyone to actually see what birds can hybridize.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:34:47 GMT

I wouldn't have even suggested photoshop if I thought it could be done. I could be wrong, but as far as I've learned thus far, parrots from different continents (so to speak - some species have a rather large range!) cannot hybridize. I can't say I recall seeing a link on this forum either to such a hybrid, but maybe I ought go take a look around!

Here's some photoshop parrots to give you an idea of just how well people have become at changing photos! (if it works)

A macaw was sitting in the middle of this image. Someone editted him out!

Like I said, I could be wrong! I never thought a cockatiel could hybridize, and never even thought a princess parrot and a scarlet chested 'keet could hybridize! In the Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World, there is a report of an African Grey and a Senegal hybridizing.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:55:35 GMT

Interested to see a duck hunter from my area.... actually, I find it quite intriguing that so many people are hunting wild hybrid fowl, and yet people say that hybrids RARELY occur in nature! I've seen some interesting pheasants as well!

Sundayowner, do you think you could perhaps describe what the grey/macaw looked like? I'm thinking it's probably some graphic artists hybrid instead of a true hybrid... (unless I see a picture to proove otherwise, among other details...)

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

zimbasmom — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:41:52 GMT

Yeah I would love to see what a grey/macaw looks like I have never heard of that.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:37:36 GMT

Sundayowner, I'd be interested in seeing pics of a caique/conure or grey/macaw!

I've seen pictures of a Nanday/GCC hybrid as well! Little Miracle (as the particular hybrid was named!) looks much like Cola (sun/gcc), only a little more green, and a funnier lookin beak, cause it's smaller and just doesn't quite fit Miracles body! But then it makes him/her cuter lookin, too!

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

savetheanimalsx — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:10:36 GMT

I researched for the hybrid and here is a pick of a Sun/Green Cheek Baby.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Kito&TupisMom&Dad — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:21:20 GMT

K&T Dad... This has been a very interesting and entertaining topic to read! It is fascinating about the GCC and Sunny. I just can't wait to see pics! I tend to frown upon breeders that breed hybrids as it taints the gene pool, but this was not done on purpose. Hybridization does occur in the wild(usually close relatives) and maybe this has happened more than we think between 2 species that were not closely related. Besides adapting to different habitats, Etc.. maybe this was another reason for the many Parrot species to have evolved over time? Who knows..

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:11:14 GMT

I don't think most people will go as far as DNA reports on their pet birds, or breeders.... why are you interested in such?

Here's some pictures when he was young!

I have another picture somewhere, a newer one, but I'm not sure where ATM.... Sorry about that! And the owner may or may not reply to one of their posts.... they are rarely ever on here!

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

KERMITROCKS — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:37:41 GMT

anything is possible... but i'd like to see photos and dna reports.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Thu, 10 May 2007 22:48:28 GMT

There were two topics... http://board.birdchannel.com/Topic143943-13-1.aspx?

The article I read mentioned that it was an illigers and a caique who hybridized... although without pictures I'm a bit skeptical... why? An illigers macaw is an Ara (there are 3 genus's of macaws... Ara, Anodorhynchus, and Cyanopsitta... with Ara and Anodorhynchus being closely enough related to hybridize but supposedly only to create sterile offspring), where-as a caiques are a Pionites. They do both originate from South America, but in short if a caique can hybridize with a mini-macaw, so can it with an aratinga conure, considering the fact that aratinga conures and ara macaws are close enough to hybridize, and quite possibly enough to create fertile offspring.

There's quite a few odd hybrids out there... including a few between aratinga conures and ara macaws, a scarlet chested keet and a princess parrot, or even a cockatiel and a galah cockatoo. Indeed it seems strange for a Pyrrhura and an Aratinga to hybridize, but then again, with as strange of hybrids as we already have, why not? It may just indicate that these animals are much closer in family genetics than we thought.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

raddaughter — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:42:14 GMT

Parrotperson (5/9/2007)

Mfids,you once told me that you didn't think they could hybridize, but I remember reading about a caique and a severe macaw breeding together. Anyway,(to orginal poster) I want to see pics of the sun/GGC conure baby. I love suns and I have a GGC. I hope he doesn't have any problems!

Hmmm... I thought a caique was of another species to... Well, I suppose nothing is impossible, thought I do think that is unlikely or just someone who was a severe and a caique and the caique just laid eggs.

What the bird in the picture appears to be (from my perspective) is a GCC. It has the coloring and the only thing that I can see may be different about this bird is that it seems a little big, but I havn'tspent much time around GCC's, excpet babies.

Now, if this baby is a GCC/Sun Conure, it will probably be mostly green. I would think that is may have a few traces of other colors and will probably take after one parent or the other rather than look like a complete cross.

Now, with these birds being different in nearly every way, it seems a little odd to me. I mena, macaws for instance. There are many hybrid macaws out there, but they are the same family and therefore it doesn't seem so impossible. However, ot have a sun and GC bredd is a little out of the ordinary. Anyhow, do we get to see some pics???

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Wed, 09 May 2007 21:46:11 GMT

Thought it was a caique and another species? Oh well. Would be nice if there was actual proof (i.e. photo) of said bird.

What is surprising is a report by Sick in the Birds in Brazil of a hybrid bird from a pairing of a black-headed caique (P. melanocephala) with an Illiger’s macaw [Propyrrhura (Ara) maracana], a very different species.

http://www.baywood-pets.co.uk/bhcaique-info.html

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Parrotperson — Wed, 09 May 2007 06:33:57 GMT

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Eliza — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:46:31 GMT

bird_n_hand: I have to agree w/ Monica: your conure looks like a regular green cheek to me as well, esp. in the second picture.

Here's a link that you might find interesting. Tt shows some of the different GCC mutations : http://www.feathert.com/greencheek.html.

To the OP: I hope that the sun/gcc hybrid baby is doing well! I'm anxious to see pictures :)

-e-

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:04:56 GMT

He is either a green cheek, or a maroon bellied hybrid... I doubt he has any aratinga in him. There are green cheek mutations with orange cheek patches, and picking on feathers can create discolored feathers... I'm thinking though that he may very well be a normal green cheek with some odd discoloration.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

bird_n_the_hand — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:22:12 GMT

I have what is believed to be this same hybrid. We bought him as part of a pair of green cheeks and the more I talked to the woman the more suspicions grew. When at the lady's house there was very low lighting and bad conditions and so we couldn't leave them there and ended up with a love bird to boot:). We didn't notice until we got them home that he has suspiciously orange-red-yellow spots at the top of the wings. as well as having pineapply yellow on the breat feathers. He is mostly green cheek coloring and no noticeable differences in any way from a normal bird other than this color variation and a high probability of sterility as he is six and was paired since two and they never produced fertile eggs together. I do not want to make it out like this chick will turn out wrong as this bird is fine but I would suggest removing any potential nesting sites as there must be a high probabilty for defects with this kind of cross. I am posting two pics of him, one is the condition he was in when I purchased him, note the bad feather plucking the other is the condition he is in now, he is just getting most of the feathers back as he is molting, not sure if all will grow back. Unfortunately he is scrunched just enough to hide the orange feathers at tips of wings in the recent pic, it covers very little area, but that just goes to show haw little comes across.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Birdiegirl07 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 13:42:14 GMT

I never encouraged this pair to breed. My husband brought home the green check one day. He rescued it from a horrible pet store who should not have been allowed to even breed mice. We did not think that the two birds would get along and put them in different cages. But as soon as they got a look at each other it was love a first sight. We tried to keep them separate but all they would do was make these horrible screams until we let them be together. The vet and breeders I talked to said to just let them be as there was little chance they could reproduce. Little did they know. I guess love and nature always finds a way.

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

ladyhawke50 — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 07:13:34 GMT

Wow, I really hope you will be able to post some photos of this little guy when he gets older. Good luck to you with this new little fid!

RE: Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Monica — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 15:39:57 GMT

Wow... speechless! I hadn't thought that pyrrhuras and aratingas could hybridize! But then again some d0 look pretty closely related! I don't know of any reports of hybridization between these two types of conures, thus your not likely going to find any information.

Although you shouldn't have encouraged them to breed, let alone lay eggs, I'd be interested in seeing what the chick(s) turns out to be! Most likely it will be predominantly green... but other than that no clues!

There was recently a conure hybrid 'discussion' going on at http://conuresandmore.proboards20.com/

Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

Birdiegirl07 — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:16:04 GMT

I have a female Sun and a male Green Cheek Conure that have been a bonded pair for about 9 years. They lay 2-3 clutches of eggs a year. This time on April 4 one of the eggs hatched. Something my vet said would almost never happen. I am hand-feeding the baby and he is doing well. Has anyone out there ever seen this hybrid? I would like to know what to expect... health problems... what he might look like... anything you can tell me???