Dominant Red is an uncommon color variety that can greatly change a Green-cheeked Conure’s plumage. Birds with only the Dominant Red mutation are akin to wild-types, being mostly green with a red tail and blue flight feathers, but also with a green forehead, pinkish ears, an orange or yellow-orange breast, and a larger red belly patch. However, the variety is almost always bred with Yellow-sided, resulting in especially intense reds and yellows throughout.
One of the best ways to identify Dominant Red over similar varieties like High Red Yellow-sided is to look at the cap and ears; Dominant Reds lack a dark gray cap and have red-orange ear coverts that may appear somewhat wet. Unlike Maroon-bellied Conures, the tail is always completely red or gray depending on the color mutations it’s mixed with.
Unfortunately, Dominant Red is associated with several genetic flaws, including the infamous “weepy eye” (large watery eyes) and thin feathering across the face. Though these traits often disappear as the bird matures, significant effort is currently going towards the their removal through selective breeding.
Yellow-sided with thin head feathering & minor weepy eye.
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