What could it mean that Oliver's beak is off color?

[sofiaee]

Is this just a result of bad breeding? By which I mean straying from the 'norm' of what yellow sideds are known to look like. Or could it signify that he has a split? I'm pretty sure splits aren't usually 'visible' though. I did get him from someone who I suspect was a bird broker (way back when I didn't know what I was doing) so his parentage is a mystery.

The only reason I ask is because most yellow sided green cheeks have completely black beaks while his is mostly a pale color with some black on the edges.

Here's a picture:

 

[Cobuscus87]

Doesn't look to different from mine... How old is he?

 

[sofiaee]

I don't know exactly but he was about a year old when I got him so by now 4, going on 5 this year

 

[Cobuscus87]

Ranger's around a year and a half give or take a month or so... I'm guessing its not an age thing

 

[sofiaee]

Perhaps I'm wrong but in your picture it looks like your birds beak is black? Or a dark grey color? They don't look the same to me but it's hard to tell with that picture
Here's like a general google search picture of a yellow sided in comparison.

But actually it seems it's not that uncommon after all? I'm mostly just curious if it means anything, probably not I guess.

 

[Cobuscus87]

Genetic mutation at best? Lol his is a bit darker than Oliver's but still not the 'normal' black... I guess I am comparing the Ranger's grey to my Sun's black

I doubt it means much as far as coloration or clues to genetics, suck as a family of brunettes as that random blonde or redhead child, gotta love the possibilities of nature lol

 

[sofiaee]

Haha okay you're probably right! Welp just wondering

 

[Cobuscus87]

Never hurts to wonder lol.

Just wondering myself, how has the molts hon with Oliver? Change in color when he started? And mood changes?

Range has had one very light molt since I had him.

 

[sofiaee]

He's pretty much always been about the same color, in the beginning his feathers became nicer with better food. He was moody when I first got him as he was going through hormonal stuff

 

[K4rest]

My Loki's beak is light colored too. I just figured it was because his father was a Yellowside/Cinnamon split and his mother was a Pineapple. I worried too about the color, but when he had his first visit with his avian vet and the vet said his beak looked good and was nice and hard as it should be, i stoppped worrying.

 

[MonicaMc]

Not an abnormality or anything! Different mutations may change the color of the beak. It could be a full color change or a partial one.

Although not the same mutation or species, I have a [light] pied cockatiel that has two dark stripes down the sides of her beak. Another hen is a cinnamon pearl [heavy/saddleback] pied and her beak is clear.

As there are different degress of pied, there are also different degrees of opaline (aka yellowside) in green cheek conures. Some opalines are more yellow than others, while other opalines are more red. The extra colors don't mean anything in particular other than the fact that someone has bred for these colors.

The turquoise green cheeks are an even better example of a "degree" in a mutation. They can range from a blue-green color to a turquoise color. I prefer the more blue colored turquoises myself! Tails on a turquoise are *usually* grey, but I've seen a couple that were red!


In short, it just gives extra characteristics!