The color genetics that we are about to discuss applies to budgies, lovebirds, Indian ringnecks, Alexandrines even cockatiels (think of the Whiteface mutation in cockatiels as the "blue" Cockatiel). Blue is always recessive in all these species. Our focus will however remain on budgerigars.
Normal green birds produce two pigments (coloring matter) that is responsible for their green colour. Go back to your childhood days and recall that green color can be made by mixing yellow and blue. This is exactly what makes a budgie appear green. Normal budgerigars produce two types of
pigments. A yellow pigment called psittacine is produced uniformly all over the body. A dark pigment Melanin which is responsible for the blue color and the black markings is present all over the body but not in the face area. When both pigments are produced the bird appears Normal green.
Sometimes a gene in the DNA causes the production of psittacine (yellow pigment) to completely stop. The gene that stops the production of the yellow coloration is called the blue gene. When two copies of the blue gene are present (BB) no yellow color is produced while the blue color is produced normally. This causes the bird to appear blue with a whiteface.
We already know that a bird with only one copy of the blue gene (GB) appears normal green as the production of the yellow pigment is not stopped.
Another type of blue gene also exists. This blue gene does not completely block the production of the yellow pigment but reduces it significantly. The yellow pigment is no longer produced in the body but some is still produced around the face area. Such a bird appear to have a yellow face with a blue body. (see fig 3).
In ringnecks, alexandrines and lovebirds when the production of the yellow color is only partly blocked we call this mutation turquoise. In Cockatiels we call this mutation Creamface. Generally this mutation is known as par-blue.
Let us now introduce the ino gene. We will study the ino gene in greater detail when we discuss sex-linked mutations. The ino gene acts to stop the production of Melanin which is responsible for the blue and black coloration in budgerigars. This causes the bird to appear yellow. (see fig 4) Such a bird is called a lutino. The eye of such a bird appear red as there is no black pigment produced in the birds eye. The red coloration is produced by the reflection of the blood vessels.
Finally, if a bird has both the ino and the blue genes it is unable to produce the yellow and the blue/black colors. Such a bird appears to be white and is called an albino. It is very important to understand here that there is no single Albino gene. The albino is a combination of the blue and the ino genes. (see fig 5).
To summarize, budgies produce 2 types of pigments, psittacine (yellow) and melanin (blue/black). The blue gene blocks (partially or completely) the production of psittacine, the ino gene blocks the production of melanin. The combination of these genes is responsible for the five colors we have discussed above.
Homework.
I have intentionally left out one combination of mutations in the above examples. What is that combination and what is the bird called?
Hey...! I am an artist who has been researching bird color genetics so that I can more accurately understand the whys and hows behind parrot color mutations as I draw them, and I found your site and articles very helpful and insightful! Thank you so much for putting in the time to do this.
ReplyDeleteits is the combination of loutino and albino = creamino
ReplyDeleteBuy parrots online | Parrots for sale | Parrot and Eggs Breeder's
ReplyDeleteContact Us : birdsfarmsales@gmail.com | Call/ Text +1 646-535-7719
We are license to export parrots and eggs to USA, Europe, Asia, United Arab Emirates, Oceania, Middle East. Our parrots are transported in secured cages and live parrots boxes. We also have available fertile parrots eggs for sale.
Now available in stock are the following live parrots and birds for sale. We also have chicks from 1 day old up to 60 days old available in stock. Our parrots are free from the bird flu and vet checked. They are tamed and hand raised. They can serve as good pets and companions.
Contact Us:
Email us :birdsfarmsales@gmail.com
Call/ Text +1 646-535-7719
Buy African Grey Parrots online
Buy Blue & Gold Macaw online,
Buy Hyacinth Macaws online
Buy Cockatoo Parrots online
Buy Toucans online
Buy Caique Parrots online
Buy Conures online
Buy Falcon Birds online
Buy Amazon parrots online
Buy African Grey parrot eggs
Buy Hyacinth macaw eggs,
Buy Black palm cockatoo eggs,
Buy Blue and gold macaw eggs,
Buy Citron cockatoo eggs,
Buy Gang gang cockatoo eggs,
Buy Goffin cockatoo eggs,
Buy Green wing macaw eggs,
Buy Harlequin macaw eggs,
Buy Hyacinth macaw eggs,
Buy Major Mitchell cockatoo eggs,
Buy Rose breasted cockatoo eggs,
Buy Scarlet macaw eggs,
Buy Umbrella Cockatoo eggs,
Buy Scarlet Macaw eggs,
Buy Sollomons Island Eclectus eggs,
Buy Amazon Parrot eggs,
Buy Finches eggs ,
Buy Falcons eggs ,
Buy Canaries eggs,
Buy Conures eggs,
Buy Electus Parrot eggs,
Buy Senegal Parrot eggs,
Buy Parakeets eggs,
Buy Cockatiels eggs,
Buy Hawk Headed Parrots,
Buy Toco Toucan eggs,
Buy Conures eggs,
Contact Us:
Email us :birdsfarmsales@gmail.com
Call/ Text +1 646-535-7719
Armando Peña, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, writes.
ReplyDeleteHello, In the case of the white head, blue body, how can we increase the intensity of the blue color in the body? It happens to me that mine blue is somewhat worn and they don't look the same. Can you guide me?