Please notify any corrections or suggestions to ‘ stephanie AT insightmatters DOT com ‘.

© Stephanie Thompson 2006

 

Green

= Normal

Inheritance:  Dominant.

Details:

   - Rich mid-green, with slight iridescence in the male.

   - Female slightly duller.

   - All Normal markings present.

 

Blue

Inheritance:  Autosomal Recessive.

Details:  

   - All Green feathers are replaced by Blue.

   - Red and Orange head feathers are replaced by Beige.

   - Yellow belly feathers are replaced by Cream or Beige.

Notes: 

   - Babies fledge Grey-blue.

- Split Blues can sometimes be identified by those with good colour vision (more often women) by a subtle Blue/dull wash through the Green feathers.

 

Seagreen

Inheritance:  Uncertain: Possibly Autosomal Recessive. Appears to be a Parblue. May be Acquired.

Details:  

   - Green feathers replaced by a compromise between Blue and Green.

   - Red and Orange head feathers are slightly reduced in intensity. 

   - Yellow belly feathers are slightly paler.

 

Pastel, sex-linked

= Yellow-back, Single & Double Factor

Inheritance:  Co-dominant, sex-linked. The Pastel gene causes dilution of any back colour, be it Green, Blue or other variations.

Details: 

Hens are always Single Factor (SF):

- SF Pastel Green hens appear Yellow.  Black markings are replaced by extremely pale Grey or White.  Blue markings are replaced by extremely pale Blue-grey or White.

- SF Pastel Blue hens appear White or Silver-white.  Black markings are replaced by extremely pale Grey or White.  Blue markings are replaced by extremely pale Blue-grey or White.

Cocks can be Single Factor or Double Factor (DF): 

- SF Pastel Green cocks range from pale Green to Yellow-green.  Black markings are replaced by Grey.  Blue markings range from pale Blue to extremely pale Blue-grey.

- DF Pastel Green cocks appear Yellow.  Black markings are replaced by White. Blue markings are replaced by extremely pale Blue-grey or White.

- SF Pastel Blue cocks are powder Blue.  Black markings are replaced by Grey. Blue markings range from pale Blue to extremely pale Blue-grey.

- DF Pastel Blue cocks are Silver-white.  Black markings are replaced by White. Blue markings are replaced by extremely pale Blue-grey or White.

Variations:

- White-breasted SF or DF Pastel Green birds display purer Yellow than Purple-breasted birds (similar to Australian Yellow).  Blue markings become pale Blue or Blue-grey in SF, and White in DF.

- White-breasted SF or DF Pastel Blue birds appear more Silver or White than Purple-breasted birds.  Blue markings become pale Blue or Blue-grey in SF, and White in DF.

Notes:

A ‘lethal factor’ exists.  Do not breed DF cocks with SF hens or you will lose chicks in the nest.

 

Dilute

Inheritance:  Autosomal Recessive.

Details: 

- Visually very similar to SF Pastel cocks, although usually a slightly lighter lime Green. 

- Breast and belly colours are the same as Normal birds. 

- Black head feathers and pencil lines become Grey to very pale Grey. 

- Blue markings become extremely pale Blue.

Variations:

Due to the confusing action of the two genes, White-breasted Dilutes show Black pencil lines and Black head feathers approximating 85% of Normal colouring – i.e. Much a darker Grey than Purple-breasted Dilutes!

Notes:

- Babies have reddish eyes – an Albinism trait, rather than true ‘Dilute’.  Eyes darken with age.

- Juveniles are pale Cream.

- Rare mutation. Believed to be found in Australia only.

 

Yellow

= Australian Yellow

Inheritance:  Autosomal Recessive.

Details: 

- Visually similar to White-breasted Pastel.

- All Black markings are replaced by White.

- Purple breast is replaced by White. (Unrelated to White-breasted gene.)

- Mature birds have pure Yellow backs.

- Young birds sometimes have Green variegation across their shoulders and back, and some Grey markings.

Notes:

Considered to be unknown outside of Australia, although some birds rumoured to have been found in Europe and the US.

 

END

 

© Stephanie Thompson 2006