Greencheek and Sun Conure Hybrid?

[sgoad]

I met someone today that informed me someone had given her daughter a Sun and Greencheek conure mix. I am curious if this is possible and if anyone has a photograph of said hybrid.
THANKS!

[homebird]

(Aratinga solstitialis) Sun Conure (Sun Conure - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

(Pyrrhura Mollinae) Green Cheek Conure

I would think that it would be unlikely, as one comes from the genus Aratinga & the other comes from the genus Pyrrhura .

Green cheeks can mix with close species [sometimes referred to i think, as a subspecies] like Black capped, Pearl,.......

I have heard, in the case of the Parrots of Telegraph hill, of hybrids with the Mitred & other similar Conures

This site might help - AvianBiotech.com - Conure-Hybrid

[homebird]

The Gold-Capped, Jenday and Sun Conures

Are These Conures Conspecific?

In Parrots of the World, Joseph M. Forshaw states that he believes that suns, jendays and gold caps are probably conspecific (of the same species). This means that rather than being three separate species, they would all be subspecies of the same species. Each would be considered the local color variation of the same bird. I would like to examine that possibility in this article, as well as their individual profiles. I'd like to discuss the possible conspecificity of this group, but first let's go over some definitions:

A genus is a group of different living things with common distinguishing characteristics that are related by prehistoric genetic origin.

A species is a group of freely interbreeding individuals that will not interbreed with other members of the same genus in its natural environment.

Subspecies are the local geographical variations of the same species. The variation usually involves size and (or) coloration differences that are consistent in all specimens from a particular region.

In order to be classified as a subspecies rather than a separate species, the variation must be willing to freely interbreed with other variations of the same species if the populations were brought together in their natural environment. A subspecies is a step toward the development of a new species. When the differences between subspecies becomes so great that they cease to recognize one another (in their natural habitat) as possible mates, then a new species has been created.

...

We are short one criterion that needs to be satisfied if we are to consider them subspecies of one another at this time. That is the necessity that when different groups come together, they will freely interbreed. This is not the case with the gold cap, jenday and sun triad. Mixed groups of wild caught adults remain segregated and only pair with their own kind. True, they readily hybridize, but this is under unnatural conditions (i.e., when the three are hand-raised together). When adult, unpaired, wild caught specimens are housed together, they will pair with their own kind whenever possible.

This indicates that the triad has evolved past the point of being subspecies of one another. As stated previously, the development of a subspecies is a step in the evolution of a new species. When the differences become so great between subspecies that they no longer will interbreed by choice, they can be considered separate species within a single superspecies. This is the classification that seems most appropriate when all current knowledge is considered. The theorized progression from gold-capped to sun conure can easily be seen by viewing the photographs accompanying this article.

I thought you might find this interesting so I took this out of the article for a quick read....

[Eliza]

Here's a similar discussion (re: sun x green cheek hybrid) from another forum:

Sun/Green Cheek Conure Hybrid

While not impossible I'd imagine that it is an uncommon hybrid. In many cases people are just not informed about different bird species.

-e-

Here are some conure links that might be helpful:

Conures - You Just Gotta Luv 'Em

Pyrrhura Conures

[Monica]

I personally would love to see a picture of the bird to really see if it's a hybrid or not.

[homebird]

Good point Monica - lets see the critter. Maybe someone can find a photo. Track down this 'story'.

[raddaughter]

Yea, photo here too please! Monica, did you read on BC about the severe and caique hybrid? What do you think of that?

[Monica]

Illigers... and caique... lol did you read?