 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(July 2023) |
The science of budgerigar color genetics deals with the heredity of mutations which cause color variation in the feathers of the species known scientifically as Melopsittacus undulatus . Birds of this species are commonly known by the terms 'budgerigar', or informally just 'budgie'.
The wildtype (natural-coloured or wild occurring) budgerigar's color is called Lightgreen. The feathers of most parrot species, including budgerigars, contain both a black type of melanin named eumelanin along with a basic yellow pigment named psittacofulvin (psittacin for short). Some other parrot species produces a third pigment named advanced-psittacin which enables color & tones ranging from oranges, peaches, pinks to reds. When these feathers are exposed to a white light source, such as sunlight, only the blue part of the spectrum is reflected by the eumelanin granules. This reflected blue light passes through the yellow pigment layer, resulting in the green colouration known as lightgreen in only the budgerigar and/or green in any other naturally green coloured parrot species.
The many color variations of budgerigars, such as albino, blue, cinnamon, Clearwinged, the various Fallows, Grey, Greygreen, Greywing, Lutino, Mauve, Olive, Opaline, Spangled, Suffused and Violet are the result of mutations that have occurred within specific genes. There are actually at least thirty-two known primary mutations established among budgerigars. These can combine to form hundreds of secondary mutations and color varieties which may or may not be stable.
As is true with all animal species, color mutations occur in captivity as do in the wild. This has been demonstrated when captive-bred budgerigars have developed mutations that had only been previously recorded amongst wild populations.
Each of the thirty-two primary mutations belong to one of the four basic groups of mutations classified in parrot species genetics:
These mutations are inherited through one of the following dominance relationships.
| Mutation(s) | Common names & varieties | Type | Wild-type symbol (locus) | Allele symbol | Dominance relationship |
| Dark | D Green (Dark Green), D_Blue (Cobalt), DD Green (Olive) & DD_Blue (Mauve) | Structural | D+ | D | A-I-D |
| Blue 1 | Blue-series | color | b+ | b1 | recessive with other b-locus alleles except b2, else A-R |
| Blue 2 | Blue-series | color | b+ | b2 | recessive with other b-locus alleles except b1, else A-R |
| Blue 1-Blue 2 | Yellowface I | color | b+ | b1 / b2 | (Hetero-allelic mutation produced by crossing Blue 1 & Blue 2 varieties) |
| Yellowface | Yellowface II | color | b+ | byf | Dominant with other b-locus alleles except gf , else A-R |
| Goldenface | Goldenface | color | b+ | bgf | Dominant with other b-locus alleles, else A-R |
| Crest-Factor (C-F) | Circular Crested, Semicircular Crested & Tufted | Structural | Cr+ | Cr | A-P-G |
| Dominant Grey | (Australian) Grey & Greygreen | Structural | G+ | G | A-C-D |
| English Grey | English Grey & Greygreen | Structural | g+ | g | A-I-D (rare or extinct) |
| Anthracite | Anthracite | Structural | An+ | An | A-I-D (rare) |
| Recessive Grey & Greygreen | Australian recessive greygreen & grey | Structural | rg+ | rg | A-R (extremely rare or extinct) |
| Slate | Slate (bluish-gray) | Structural | sl+ | sl | S-L-R |
| Violet | SF Violet (SF Violet Green), SF Violet Blue (Violet Skyblue), DF Violet Green (pure Violet Green) & DF Violet Blue (pure VIOLET), SF Violet D_Blue (show Violet), DF Violet D_Blue (VIOLET Mauve) | Structural | V+ | V | A-I-D |
| Dilute | Suffused Green (Dilute Yellow) and Suffused Blue (Dilute White) | Dilution | dil+ | dils | A-R |
| Clearwing (CW) | Clearwing Green (Yellowing) & Clearwing Blue (Whitewing) | Dilution | dil+ | dilcw | A-Co-D with dilgw allele, A-D over dild allele, else A-R |
| Greywing (GW) | Greywing Green & Greywing Blue, | Dilution | dil+ | dilgw | A-Co-D with dilcw allele, A-D over dild allele, else A-R |
| Greywing-Clearwing | Fullbodied-Greywing Green & Fullbodied-Greywing Blue | Dilution | dil+ | dilcw / dilgw | (Hetero-allelic mutation produced by crossing Clearwing & Greywing varieties) |
| ADMpied a.k.a. Recessivepied | Anti Dimorphic Pied, Danishpied, Harlequin, | Local-Leucism | s+ | s | A-R |
| Piebald Australian Pied | Australian Pied, Banded Pied | Local-Leucism | Pb+ | Pb | A-C-D |
| Piednape | Continental_Dutchpied & Clearflighted_Dutchpied | Local-Leucism | Pi+ | Pi | A-C-D |
| Clear-Pied | Black-Eyed-Clear (a.k.a. Dark-Eyed-Clear) | Total Leucism | Pi+ ; s+ | Pi / s | A-Co-D Clear Yellow & White morphs produced by combining SF &/or DF Clearflighted_Dutchpied with Homozygous ADMpied a.k.a. Recessivepied |
| Spangle-Factor (Sp) | SF Spangled (showtype / typical mutation) & DF Spangled (clear white &/or clear yellow pure mutation) | Total Leucism | Sp+ | Sp | A-I-D |
| NSLino | Non-Sex-Linked Ino a.k.a. Recessive Ino | NSL Complete Albinism | a+ | a*a | A-R (extremely rare or extinct) |
| Bronzefallow | German Fallow | NSL Incomplete Albinism | a+ | abz | A-R |
| Brown &/or Sepia | Brownwinged | NSL Incomplete Albinism | b+ | b | Presumed A-Co-D with only a-Locus alleles, else exclusively/inclusively A-R (extremely rare or extinct) |
| Faded | NSL Incomplete Albinism | fd+ | fd | A-R (extremely rare) | |
| Palefallow | Australianfallow. Beigefallow, Palebrownfallow | NSL Incomplete Albinism | pf+ | pf | A-R |
| Dunfallow | English Fallow | NSL Incomplete Albinism | df+ | df | A-R |
| Scottish Fallow (a.k.a. Plumeyed Fallow) | Scottish Fallow | NSL Incomplete Albinism | pl+ | pl | A-R |
| Cinnamon | Cinnamon | SL Incomplete Albinism | cin+ | cin | S-L-R |
| Ino | Albino, Lutino | SL Complete Albinism | ino+ | ino | S-L-R |
| Cinnamon-Ino | Lacewing | SL Incomplete Albinism | cin+ ; ino+ | cin / ino | S-L-R cross-over (3% frequency) between Cinnamon & Ino Loci |
| Sex-linked Clearbody | Texas Clearbody | Partial-Albinistic (Par-ino) | ino+ | inocl | SL-Co-D with other ino locus alleles, else S-L-R |
| Blackfaced (BF) | Melanism | bf+ | bf | A-R | |
| Darkwinged (DW) | Modifier | dw+ | dw | A-Co-D (only noticeably expressive in combination with dil-Locus alleles and with Greywinged & Suffused) | |
| Dominant Clearbody | Easley Clearbody | Pigment redistributing | Cl+ | Cl | A-C-D |
| Opaline | Opaline | Pigment redistributing | op+ | op | S-L-R |
| Saddlebacked (SB) | Local-Leucism | sb+ | sb | A-R (extremely rare or extinct) |
In the first few decades of the 1900s, especially in-between World War I and II, the keeping and breeding of the budgerigar had become very popular all around the world. Consequently, various mutations occurred and were soon established during this period.
It is possible that the Greywings mutation survived as the ancestor of all actual Greywings. However, it could be that the mutation lay dormant in asymptomatic mutant specimens until it was re-established between 1918 and 1925. Blue Greywing specimens were produced later on in 1928.
It is possible that all Suffused mutation specimens and their varieties are descendants from the first captive mutant specimens. This would mean that Suffused is the oldest sudden captive-bred color mutation of the Budgerigar species.
The budgerigar, also known as the common parakeet, shell parakeet or budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot. Budgies are the only species in the genus Melopsittacus. Naturally, the species is green and yellow with black, scalloped markings on the nape, back, and wings. Budgies are bred in captivity with colouring of blues, whites, yellows, greys, and even with small crests. Juveniles and chicks are monomorphic, while adults are told apart by their cere colouring, and their behaviour.
The Recessive Pied budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Danish Pied variety, aka Harlequin. It is believed by Inte Onsman of MUTAVI to be the same mutation as the Anti-dimorphic Pied found in some parrots. The Dark-eyed Clear variety results when the Recessive Pied and Clearflight Pied characters are combined.
The science of cockatiel colour genetics deals with the heredity of colour variation in the feathers of cockatiels, Nymphicus hollandicus. Colour mutations are a natural but very rare phenomenon that occur in either captivity or the wild. About fifteen primary colour mutations have been established in the species which enable the production of many different combinations. Note that this article is heavily based on the captive or companion cockatiel rather than the wild cockatiel species.
The Blue budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is part of the genetic constitution of the following recognised varieties: Skyblue, Cobalt, Mauve and Violet.
The Yellowface I budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars.
The Yellowface II budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. In combination with the Blue, Opaline and Clearwing mutations, the single factor Yellowface II mutation produces the variety called Rainbow.
The violet budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is one of the constituent mutations of the violet variety.
The Dilute budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is one of the constituent mutations of several recognised varieties: the Light, Dark, Olive, Grey and Suffused Yellows and the Grey and Suffused Whites.
The Clearwing budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Clearwing variety, often known as Yellowwings in the green series and Whitewings in the blue series. When combined with the Greywing mutation the variety is known as the Full-bodied Greywing. When combined with the Yellowface II and Opaline mutations the Rainbow variety is produced.
The Greywing budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Greywing variety. When combined with the Clearwing mutation the variety is known as a Full-bodied Greywing.
The Opaline budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour or appearance of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Opaline variety. When combined with the Yellowface II and Clearwing mutations the Rainbow variety is produced.
The Cinnamon Budgerigar Mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Cinnamon variety and, with Ino, a constituent mutation of the Lacewing variety.
The Ino budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Albino and Lutino varieties and, with Cinnamon, a constituent mutation of the Lacewing variety.
The Dominant Clearbody budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Easley Clearbody variety.
The Sex-linked (SL) Clearbody budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Texas Clearbody variety.
The German Fallow budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. At least three types of Fallow, the German, English, and Scottish, all named after their country of origin, have been established, although none of these types is common. They are superficially similar, but adult birds may be distinguished by examining the eye. All have red eyes, but the German Fallow shows the usual white iris ring, the eye of the English Fallow is a solid red with a barely discernible iris and the iris of the Scottish Fallow is pink.
The English Fallow budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. At least three types of Fallow, the German, English and Scottish, all named after their country of origin, have been established, although none of these types is common. They are superficially similar, but adult birds may be distinguished by examining the eye. All have red eyes, but the German Fallow shows the usual white iris ring, the eye of the English Fallow is a solid red with a barely discernible iris and the iris of the Scottish Fallow is pink.
The Scottish Fallow budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. At least three types of Fallow, the German, English and Scottish, all named after their country of origin, have been established, although none of these types is common. They are superficially similar, but adult birds may be distinguished by examining the eye. All have red eyes, but the German Fallow shows the usual white iris ring, the eye of the English Fallow is a solid red with a barely discernible iris and the iris of the Scottish Fallow is pink.
The Clearflight Pied budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Continental Clearflight and Dutch Pied varieties. The Dark-eyed Clear variety results when the Recessive Pied and Clearflight Pied characters are combined.
The Australian Pied budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Banded Pied variety.
| This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(February 2008) |
