Moon Cheek Conure: The Rare Green Cheek Mutation Explained
If you have searched for Moon Cheek Conure, chances are you saw a photo of an unusually pale, softly colored small parrot and wondered what species it was. The good news is that the answer is simple once you understand how conure color genetics work: a Moon Cheek is not a separate species at all. It is a Green Cheek Conure carrying a very specific, deliberately named combination of color mutations. This guide explains exactly what makes a Moon Cheek a Moon Cheek, why it looks the way it does, and what to expect if you want to add one to your family.
Is a Moon Cheek Conure a real species?
No. Every Moon Cheek Conure is a Green Cheek Conure (Pyrrhura molinae), the same species behind the wild type green birds, Pineapples, Turquoises, and Suncheeks covered in our full Green Cheek Conure colors and mutations guide. Moon Cheek is a combination name, similar to how Pineapple and Suncheek are combination names, given to a specific stacked set of mutations rather than to a different bird entirely.
For the complete picture of the 6 main Green Cheek Conure mutations and how they compare in price and availability, see our Green Cheek Conure colors and mutations guide.
What mutations make up a Moon Cheek Conure?
A Moon Cheek Conure carries four separate mutations stacked together in one bird: Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, Turquoise, and American Dilute. Each of these mutations exists individually and can be bred on its own, but when a breeder successfully combines all four in a single chick, the result gets its own name, Moon Cheek, because remembering four separate genetic terms every time is impractical for buyers and breeders alike.
- Yellow Sided: reduces green pigment on the body sides, replacing it with bright yellow.
- Cinnamon: softens the dark head and body color into a warmer, lighter brown-green tone.
- Turquoise: shifts the normally maroon tail and green tones toward blue.
- American Dilute: lightens overall pigment intensity across the whole bird, producing a pastel, washed out effect.
Stacked together, these four mutations produce the pale, almost ethereal coloring that gives the Moon Cheek its name: a soft glowing quality reminiscent of moonlight rather than the bright saturated colors of a wild type Green Cheek.
What does a Moon Cheek Conure look like?
- Head and crown: pale pastel grey to soft cream, much lighter than a Normal’s dark brown to black head
- Back and wings: soft lime to pale green
- Chest and belly: pale yellow to golden, from the Yellow Sided component
- Tail: pale blue to platinum, from the Turquoise component, rather than the normal maroon
- Flight feathers: pale blue
- Beak and feet: often lighter horn coloring than a wild type bird, sometimes with a pinkish cast
No two Moon Cheek Conures look perfectly identical, since the exact expression of four combined mutations varies somewhat bird to bird, but the overall pale, glowing, pastel effect is the consistent identifying feature.
Moon Cheek vs Suncheek: what is the difference?
These two combination names are the ones most often confused with each other. Both are combination mutations of the Green Cheek Conure, but they combine different base mutations and produce different results.
| Attribute | Moon Cheek | Suncheek |
| Base mutations | Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, Turquoise, American Dilute | Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, American Dilute |
| Overall tone | Pale, pastel, blue tinted tail | Warm, bright yellow and orange, red tail retained |
| Tail color | Pale blue to platinum | Bright red, similar to a Sun Conure |
| Rarity | Very rare | Rare |
| Price 2026 | $600 to $1,200 | $600 to $900 |
In short, Suncheek keeps warm sun colored tones and a red tail (the source of its name, resembling a small Sun Conure), while Moon Cheek trades that warmth for a cooler, paler, blue tinted effect across the whole bird.
How much does a Moon Cheek Conure cost?
Hand raised Moon Cheek Conures cost $600 to $1,200 in the US in 2026, well above the $275 to $500 range for a Normal Green Cheek Conure. The price reflects genuine rarity: producing a Moon Cheek requires a breeder to already have established lines carrying all four component mutations and then successfully combine them in one clutch, which can take years of planned breeding. For the full pricing picture across all Green Cheek mutations, see our Green Cheek Conure colors and mutations guide.
Does the Moon Cheek mutation affect personality or care?
No. A Moon Cheek Conure has identical personality, size, noise level, and lifespan to any other Green Cheek Conure. It is the same cuddly, quiet, playful small parrot underneath the pale coloring. Choose a Moon Cheek because you love the look, not because of any behavioral difference from a Normal, Pineapple, or Turquoise Green Cheek.
For care requirements, noise level honesty, and comparison against other small conures, see our Sun Conure vs Green Cheek Conure guide and our Green Cheek Conure noise level breakdown.
How long do Moon Cheek Conures live?
Like every Green Cheek Conure regardless of color mutation, Moon Cheeks typically live 20 to 30 years in captivity with proper care. For the full lifespan picture across parrot species, see our how long parrots live guide.
Where to find a Moon Cheek Conure
Because the Moon Cheek requires four stacked mutations, availability is limited to specialty Green Cheek Conure breeders who have invested years into building the right genetic lines. At Mo’s Birds we hand raise Green Cheek Conures across several color mutations. Browse the current lineup on our Green Cheek Conure product page or contact Mo directly for waitlist information on rare mutations like Moon Cheek. If you are located in Southern California you are welcome to visit the aviary in person, and buyers across Texas can have a bird shipped safely via Delta Cargo.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moon Cheek a different species from Green Cheek Conure?
No. Moon Cheek is a combination color mutation name for a Green Cheek Conure carrying four specific mutations together: Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, Turquoise, and American Dilute. It is the same species as any other Green Cheek Conure.
What is the difference between Moon Cheek and Suncheek?
Moon Cheek combines Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, Turquoise, and American Dilute, producing a pale, cool toned bird with a blue tail. Suncheek combines Yellow Sided, Cinnamon, and American Dilute without Turquoise, keeping a warm red tail similar to a small Sun Conure.
How much does a Moon Cheek Conure cost?
$600 to $1,200 for a hand raised baby in the US in 2026, reflecting the rarity of successfully combining four mutations in one bird.
Are Moon Cheek Conures harder to care for than Normal Green Cheeks?
No. Color mutation has no effect on care requirements, personality, or health. A Moon Cheek needs exactly the same diet, cage, and enrichment as any Green Cheek Conure.
Can breeding two Moon Cheek Conures produce more Moon Cheeks?
Generally yes, since both parents already carry all four component mutations, though exact outcomes depend on whether each mutation is dominant, recessive, or sex linked. A specialty breeder can explain the specific genetic odds for a given pairing.
How long do Moon Cheek Conures live?
20 to 30 years in captivity with proper care, identical to any other Green Cheek Conure color mutation.