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Note: Color Mutations are still "pure" birds. They occur in nature, but often do not survive if the "new color" is too vibrant and they are easily spotted by predators. Color mutations in captivity are perpetuated by breeding like colored birds to like colored birds (of two birds that carry the color gene). The resultant offspring will often be the color that is desired. After many generations, a color mutation can be "magnified" or combined with other colors if they are available in that species. All the color mutations on this page are "pure birds" bred from "pure" species stock.
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The Cinnamon Wagler's Conure NO LONGER AVAILABLE Probably one of the most beautiful conures in the World! Recessive inheritance mode.
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Red Pied Severe's Macaw- This is a new mutation at Hill Country Aviaries. We have not bred this bird yet, but we have high hopes that it will prove to be a sex-linked inheritance mode since this is a female. Hopefully it will be reproduced here at the ranch in the near future. |
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The "Voren's" Mutation of the Black-capped conure varies alot in color. Here at Hill Country Aviaries we are trying to increase the red color throughout the inside wings and lower abdomen. We have others available with more yellow as well. All are equally as beautiful and they can produce both color forms when bred together. This color mutation was first bred by Howard Voren of Loxahatchee, Florida. |
More Voren's Mutation Black-capped Conures |
 Other
Voren's Mutations Produced in 2003 |
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Lutino Plum-headed Parakeet Pictured is a male (photo by Roger Bringas). Split males are now available. Sex-linked inheritance mode.
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Blue Mutation Yellow-Naped Amazon The blue mutation of the yellow-naped Amazon is a most incredible bird. Found naturally in the wild (Honduras) about 15 years ago, only a few birds were ever imported into the United States, but breeding has been fairly successful and young birds are available from time to time. This mutation remains extremely expensive and desirable. Still a talented talker and mimic, this blue mutation may someday be the "elite" pet bird owner's bird. The breeding pair here at Hill Country is on loan from our good friend Kathleen Szabo of "Luv Them Birds Inc."
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Cinnamon Yellow-Sided Green-cheeked Conure Probably one of the most colorful of the smaller "pet" type birds, this Conure is sure to be popular with the pet owners of tomorrow. This color is still quite "rare" in aviculture, but more and more aviculturists will be producing it now that we understand the genetics behind its production. This color is called "Pineapple" by Steve Garvin of California, but the bird is a combination mutation of Cinnamon and Yellow-sided. It doesn't matter what you call it...she is a real "beauty" of a bird!
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Yellow Sided Mutation of the Green-cheeked Conure Originally thought to be a species of its own, Yellow sided mutations of the Green-cheeked conure can be found in the wild. In captivity, through selective breeding we now know that this color form is a mutation, and not a species. Pictured here is the normal Green-cheeked conure (Left), and the Yellow Sided mutation (Right).
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Cinnamon Mutation of the Green-cheeked Conure Mistakenly called the "Fallow" mutation, this color is actually a sex-linked Cinnamon of the Green-cheeked Conure. Now readily available in captivity, this color has formed the basis for many other "lighter" colors of this species, including the beautiful double mutation "Cinnamon Yellow-sided" shown above.
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Turquoise
(Blue) Mutation of the Green-cheeked Conure We don't actually know what to call this mutation. Its not a true blue, as you can see, it has some green mixed in the plumage. Since Richard Cusick calls it a turquoise, that's good enough for us too! It is a nice looking bird, and will soon be available to the public. We have also mixed this color with "Cinnamon" to make a lighter blue bird. Hopefully next year!
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Cinnamon Mutation of the Brown-throated Conure New at Hill Country
Aviaries in 2004 |
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Hybrid Macaws and Other Parrots |
Important Note: The Following Section depicts photos of "Hybrid" parrots. Hybridization of parrots is done for several reasons in aviculture, but usually to offer an "unusual" colored bird to the pet owner that seeks something "different". We at Hill Country Aviaries do not advocate that "all" birds be hybridized, and we are very discriminate in what we do. All our hybrids are closed leg-banded and recorded to assure that they are not mistaken for a "pure blooded" species. Hybrid macaws are NOT mutations, they are purposefully created for color (as are most color mutations), but they are Not pure stock and are bred by crossing two species of parrot together. The parent stock, if pure to start with, remains pure and can be repaired later with a bird of its own species...thus no harm is ever done to the gene pool. But, once a hybrid offspring is produced, this bird can never be pure and can never produce pure offspring in the future. Therefore, the act of breeding hybrids should not be done haphazardly....there is an implied responsibility to maintain good records and to educate the public about this act. Some hybrid macaws are among the most beautiful of all the parrots! (But beauty is in the eye of the beholder). Here at HCA, we do not breed first generation hybrids, we only take in homeless hybrids and allow them to reproduce with other hybrids. In that way we are not dirtying the gene pool any more than it already has been. NOTE: In virtually all other sciences, hybridizers and purists are at each other's throats until the hybrids themselves pave the way to new science!
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Catalina Macaw-1st Generation Hybrid- For pet purposes, we breed a select few hybrid macaws. This is a photo of a first generation hybrid often called the Catalina Macaw. This macaw is created by crossing a Blue and Gold Macaw with a Scarlet Macaw. |
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3rd Generation Hybrid- We are not sure what to call this bird as the names of hybrids are usually not a "recognized" taxonomic descriptions. These birds are produced by crossing hybrid to hybrid for three generations from the original cross of pure birds. |
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4th Generation Hybrid- We are now four full generations from the "wild" forms of macaws here at Hill Country Aviaries. With each generation, more and more yellow and orange color seems to appear. As well, personalities are becoming more calm and feather problems are less likely to occur. |