![]() A secondary color mutation is the result of a combination of two or more primary color mutations. “Sometimes, as is the case with pineapple green-cheeked conures, marketing names are given that give no clue as to inheritance.”įor those who aren’t versed in genetics, Cusick explained that a primary mutation is a change in plumage coloration produced by a single mutant gene. However, it is sex-linked and therefore is cinnamon.”Ĭusick said that most misnamed and misidentified mutations involve the cinnamon, fallow, and dilute colors. “If you knew that fallow was inherited recessively, you might have thought the fallow green cheek was a recessive mutation. He said cinnamon green-cheeked conures were originally called fallows and still are by a number of breeders. Not only that but if you understand how cinnamon - which is sex-linked - is inherited, you also understand how sex-linked lutino is inherited and opaline and every other sex-linked color gene in every species.” What Bird Is That?Ĭusick said that misnamed mutations can add to the confusion. “If you understand how the cinnamon gene is inherited in cockatiels then you understand how it is inherited in Indian ringnecks or red rumps or Amazons, etc. “Once you understand how each works, you understand how every color mutation is inherited no matter what species you are talking about.”Īs an example, Cusick said the color cinnamon is sex-linked in cockatiels as well as every other species. “There are basically three types of inheritance - sex-linked, recessive and dominant,” he said. For example, the opaline mutation in the red-rumped parrot is the same as the yellow-sided green-cheeked conure, the rose Bourke’s parrot, and the pearl cockatiel.Ĭusick said there is a tendency to make the inheritance of color genes harder to understand than necessary. Indian Ringneck Parakeets are an extremely popular choice of pet.įurther complicating the issue is the fact that color names may differ by species. Then there’s the new white-headed white-tailed violet. ![]() Here’s a sample: Indian ringneck mutations include dark green, olive, gray-green, aqua blue, turquoise blue, turquoise cobalt, turquoise gray, blue, cobalt, mauve, gray, violet-green, violet turquoise, violet-blue, violet, lutino, aqua-ino, turquoise-ino, albino, cinnamon, edged, grizzled, opaline, misty, pallid, bronze, pied and others. The list of colors can be overwhelming, especially among the Asian parakeets. And for those who like a little “fire” in their bird, Cusick predicted prices for mutations of pied and red sun conures will soon be reasonable for pet owners. “It’s supply and demand,” he explained, but he said most mutations of ringnecks and green cheeks are affordable. Cusick said a pair of turquoise green cheeks originally sold for about $2,500, but, in the last four years, the price has dropped to around $1,400 a pair - and will continue to drop. Prices vary around the country and from breeder to breeder but are often related to the popularity and newness of a color. Although this is the newest mutation, Cusick said the three favorites right now are turquoise, yellow-sided, and cinnamon green cheeks. One of the hottest of these is turquoise and related varieties such as the new turquoise pineapple - a triple combination of turquoise, yellow-sided, and cinnamon green-cheeked conure. “What I get the most calls for is green cheek (conure) mutations,” he said. ![]() ![]() And, he said, the brighter the bird, the greater the demand. Richard Cusick, the owner of Outback Aviaries in California, also loves breeding birds for brightness and color. Some favorites are pineapple green-cheeked and blue green-cheeked conures and violet ringnecks. He also has quaker mutations and even cinnamon Red-lored Amazons. Jordan said Hill Country Aviaries has 27 varieties of Indian ring-necked parakeets and Plum-headed parakeets along with many mutations among green-cheeked, black-capped and brown-throated conures. “Nature starts mutations, not people,” Jordan said, pointing out that mutations have been found in wild-caught birds such as the lutino cockatiel, the blue yellow-naped Amazon parrot, and the red-pied severe macaw. “It’s still a pure species,” he said and pointed out that color mutations occur naturally in the wild. He defined mutation as a genetic change in the visual color of a bird. Rick Jordan, the owner of Hill Country Aviaries in Texas, specializes in color mutations in Indian ring-necked parakeets, conures, cockatiels, and more. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and some color mutations - or varieties as they’re sometimes called - are more popular than others. They just know the bird that’s caught their eye is the brightest, most beautiful bird they’ve ever seen. Most prospective bird owners - other than breeders, of course - probably aren’t all that interested in how a certain color is produced.
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