The newest mutation of the green cheeked conure: the lutino & crème-ino
The suncheek and the lutino: two totally different mutations
Until recently the suncheek was the most yellow-tinted mutant of the pyrrhura molinae. This suncheek arised in the United States and got this bizarre name there.
This previously yellow tinted molinae is in fact a dilute cinnamon opaline bird ( read also : dilute pineapple) with black eyes. The distinction is therefore very clearly visible on the attached photos.
The main differences are:
| Lutino | Suncheek |
|---|---|
| 100% pure yellow | yellow-tinted with green shine |
| red eyes | black eyes |
| white feathers in the wings | light turquoise feathers in the wings |
| standalone mutation | combination of mutations |
The origin of the lutino green cheek
The lutino of the pyrrhura molinae is a 100% pure green cheek conure and not a hybride ! Several years ago accidentally born by mister Jozef Slechten from Belgium. The parents were : an opaline / cinnamon X opalinecinnamon (pineapple). The grandfather from the first lutino was from my own breedingcenter : green / cinnamon & opaline. The grandmother was a cinnamonopaline (pineapple) from his region. Apperently then he linked a son and daughter from this pair which have given the first lutino. I advised him to risk not the sexing by endoscopy and have taken myself some feathers to send them for DNA sexing.
Great was my surprise when I discovered that the first lutino was a male bird ! So the heredity of the lutino is recessive and not sex-linked !
Later he linked the grandfather with the granddaughter (= sister of the first lutino and therefore possible split lutino) and the grandmother with the grandson (= brother of the first lutino and also possible split lutino). The combination with the grandfather and granddaughter have given also a lutino youngster. The origin of the lutino bloodline is due to the grandfather who was bred in my breedingcenter.
Now also te creme-ino: a beautiful pastelmutant
This extremely recent mutant is in fact a turquoise lutino. Because we don’t have yet a 100% pure blue mutant at the pyrrhura molinae, we can not breed an albino green cheek yet (= blue lutino )!
But we have the turquoise (=aquamarine) molinae. The combination of lutino with turquoise results in this beautiful pastel mutant : the creme-ino!
Since this is a combination of two recessive mutations, it is not so obvious and easy to grow creme-inos.
In the first phase it is possible to breed from the combinations lutino X turquoise and from turquoise X lutino only double split birds. This means birds that are split for lutino and split for turquoise.
Then you can breed from the combination double split X double split on the one hand lutinos that are POSSIBLE split for turquoise, and on the other hand also turquoise molinaes that are POSSIBLE split for lutino and… exceptionally even a creme-ino.
A combination of lutino X split lutino & turquoise is not very interesting because they grow lutinos that are POSSIBLE split for turquoise and give no creme-inos.
Also a combination of turquoise X split turquoise & lutino is not optimal because you breed then turquoise birds who are only POSSIBLE split for lutino. Also in that combination , the growth of creme-inos is not possible.
Conclusion
Breeding creme-ino molinaes is not so evident by the combination of two recessive mutations (lutino & turquoise). Only once you have turquoise / lutino and lutino / turquoise birds growing creme-inos is easier and more successful!
Important note :
In the red-eye mutations, it is highly recommended to combine them always with a split bird (with black eyes ) and to breed in timely other bloodlines !