Yellow-sided / Opaline Green-cheeked Conure

Yellow-sided, a mutation first bred in the United States in the 1980s, is a very common color variety of Green-cheeked Conure. Though somewhat similar to the wild form, Yellow-sides have more yellow, red, and salmon color on their face, collar, chest, and belly, which are more intense in young birds than adults. Additionally, part of the bill is a slightly lighter gray while the feet are pink with darkish nails.

Also known as Opaline, Yellow-sided can be found in both the molinae and hypoxantha subspecies of Green-cheeked Conure. For a time, the variety was thought to be the natural form of hypoxantha.

The selective breeding of brightly-colored Yellow-sides can result in a “High Red” Yellow-sided Green-cheeked Conure, where even more red is present on the bird’s face, chest, and wing edges. Younger birds tend to have more intense coloration than adults. Compared to Dominant Red, High Reds are more common and aren’t associated with any negative health problems.

Pineapple Green-cheeked Conures, another very common variety, are produced when a bird expresses both the Cinnamon and Yellow-sided mutations at once. Pineapples are visually similar to Cinnamons but have a fully pink bill & feet, more yellow on the cheeks and abdomen, and a larger red belly patch. Unfortunately, Cinnamon Green-cheeks are often incorrectly sold as Pineapples due to their popularity.

Yellow-sided, Cinnamon, Turquoise, and Dilute may be bred together to produce a variety of combinations. Many of these have unique common names, such as “Suncheek” (Yellow-sided + Cinnamon + Dilute) and “Opamint” (Turquoise + Yellow-sided + Dilute). It’s important to recognize that, like Pineapple, these varieties are not separate mutations, but combinations of existing ones.

---

	Yellow-sided	Cinnamon	Dilute	Turquoise
Cheeks	Green with bits of yellow and red.	Brownish-green.	Yellow-green.	Blue-green.
Ears	Salmon-colored.	Salmon-colored.	Salmon-colored.	Light gray.
Beak	Gray, lighter towards the base.	Pink with hints of brown.	Gray.	Dark gray.
Cap	Dark gray.	Light brownish-gray.	Light silver.	Dark gray.
Chest	A mix of white, salmon, and yellow that strengthens to red at the belly. Many feathers have a darker centerline.	Yellowish-brown with a yellow-green and red belly.	Yellowish with a red belly patch. Young birds may have a salmon-colored patch on the breast.	Gray and blue with a faded gray belly patch.
Wings	Green with bright cerulean blue flight feathers.	Warm brownish-green with lighter blue flight feathers.	Light yellow-green with silver-blue flight feathers.	Blue-green with bright cerulean blue flight feathers.
Tail	Red.	Red.	Red.	Gray.
Feet	Pink.	Grayish-pink.	Gray.	Dark gray.
Nails	Gray.	Brownish.	Gray.	Dark gray.

---

	Cinnamon + Yellow-sided (Pineapple)	Dilute + Yellow-sided	Cinnamon + Dilute	Turquoise + Yellow-sided	Turquoise + Cinnamon	Turquoise + Dilute (Mint)
Cheeks	Brownish-green with bits of yellow and red.	Yellow-green with bits of red.	Yellow.	Blue-green with bits of yellow and orange.	Dry blue-green.	Aqua.
Ears	Salmon-colored.	Salmon-colored.	Salmon-colored.	Light peach.	Light peach.	Light peach.
Beak	Pink.	Mixed gray and pink.	Pink.	Dark gray, lighter towards the base.	Pink with hints of brown.	Gray.
Cap	Light brownish-gray.	Light silver.	Off-white.	Dark gray.	Light brownish-gray.	Light silver.
Chest	A mix of white, salmon, and yellow that strengthens to red at the belly.	A mix of salmon and yellow that strengthens to red at the belly.	Yellow with a red belly patch.	A mix of white and pale yellow that strengthens to salmon at the belly. Many feathers have a darker centerline.	Brownish-gray with a dry blue-green and salmon-colored belly.	Pale yellow with a salmon-colored belly patch.
Wings	Warm brownish-green with light blue flight feathers.	Light yellow-green with silver-blue flight feathers.	Yellow with silvery flight feathers.	Blue-green with bright cerulean blue flight feathers.	Dry blue-green with light blue flight feathers.	Aqua with silver-blue flight feathers.
Tail	Red.	Red.	Red.	Gray.	Dark brownish gray.	Brownish gray.
Feet	Pink.	Gray.	Pink.	Pink.	Grayish-pink.	Gray.
Nails	Pink.	Brownish.	Pink.	Gray.	Brownish.	Gray.

---

	Yellow-sided + Cinnamon + Dilute (Suncheek)	Turquoise + Cinnamon + Yellow-sided (Turquoise Pineapple)	Turquoise + Dilute + Cinnamon (Cinnamint)	Turquoise + Dilute + Yellow-sided (Opamint)	Turquoise + Dilute + Yellow-sided + Cinnamon (Mooncheek)
Cheeks	Yellow with bits of red.	Dry blue-green with bits of yellow and orange.	Pale yellow.	Yellow with bits of pale orange.	Yellow with bits of pale orange.
Ears	Salmon-colored.	Light peach.	Very faint yellow.	Pale salmon-colored.	Pale salmon-colored.
Beak	Pink.	Pink.	Pink.	Pink, gray towards the base.	Pink.
Cap	Off-white.	Light brownish-gray.	Off-white.	Light silver.	Off-white.
Chest	A mix of salmon and yellow that strengthens to red at the belly.	A mix of white and pale yellow that strengthens to salmon at the belly.	Very faint yellow with a faded salmon-colored belly patch.	A mix of white and pale yellow that strengthens to pale salmon at the belly.	A mix of white and pale yellow that strengthens to pale salmon at the belly.
Wings	Yellow with silvery flight feathers.	Dry blue-green with light blue flight feathers.	Light aqua with silvery flight feathers.	Greenish aqua with silver-blue flight feathers.	Light greenish aqua with silvery flight feathers.
Tail	Bright red.	Brownish gray.	Light peach.	Light peach.	Light peach.
Feet	Pink.	Pink.	Pink.	Pink.	Pink.
Nails	Pink.	Pink.	Pink.	Brownish.	Pink.

---