Recessive Mutations
01
When people first hear of the Olive Cockatiel an instant image comes to mind of an olive-green coloured bird. Unfortunately in most cases this is not what you will find and people are often very disillusioned by the true appearance of this mutation. Emerald is another term used for this mutation and as is the same as with using the term Olive, it is very misleading. A more correct term that describes this mutation more accurately is ‘Suffused’.
02
The Pastelface Cockatiel gene is a member of the ‘Blue’ family of genes or better known as the Whiteface family in cockatiels. It is known in the bird world as the Parblue mutation. It effects the production of the yellow family of pigments as does the Whiteface gene but has only a partial effect hence the name ‘parblue’. Some yellow pigment is still present but a more diluted version. This gives us a stunning bird with paler more peachy coloured cheek patches and a lemon colour instead of yellow.
03
The Pastelsilver Cockatiel is known technically as a ‘Dilute mutation’ because it basically reduces the amount of grey family pigments or melanins that are produced. This effect gives a gorgeous silver colour that is stunning combined with whiteface. The beak and legs are also slightly lighter in colour than the normal grey but still remain dark. This mutation does not alter the level of yellow pigments on the bird at all, only the melanin.
04
The Pied Cockatiels gene has the effect of disrupting the placement of body colour pigments in a random pattern. The pattern can vary greatly from bird to bird and also the amount of pattern will differ greatly also. The pied gene takes away the main body colour so it is actually the yellow or white areas that are the result of the pied genes actions.
05
Silver Spangle Cockatiels or the Spangle Cockatiel or Edged Dilute Mutation is a colour that has been around for quite some time. It was first discovered in Australia over 20 years ago but its popularity has been minimal. Question has arisen as to the fertility of visually spangle hens over the years but breeders have different opinions on this. Some breeders have claimed to have successfully bred from visual spangle hens of late but at this stage I have not been able to prove or disprove this from my own breeding efforts.
06
Whiteface Cockatiels are a stunning sight that stands out from most other colours in that it contains no orange cheekpatch or yellow colouration at all. The male is the most eyecatching of the 2 sexes having the true white face that gives this mutation its name. Hens of this mutation retain the greyish colour of the juvenile bird and do not ever get the brilliant contrasting white face against the very dark grey body colour.
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