Cockatiel Mutation Project
The color in Cockatiels is derived from two pigments:
- Melanin - Provides the Grey color in Normals. It is also present in the eyes, beak, and feet.
You will notice some cockatiels have darker beaks and feet than others. The Lutino mutation occurs because of a complete
lack of melanin. This is why the eyes appear red, from the blood vessels showing, and the feet and beak to be lighter.
Melanin is the stronger color and overrides Lipochromes when both are present.
- Lipochromes - These provide the yellow on the face and tail and orange seen in the cheek patch.
As males mature the melanin pigments in the face become weaker allowing the Lipochromes to be visable while in the tail the
melanin increases in the tail make the tail more of a solid color. The Whiteface Cockatiel lacks Lipochromes, hence
the white face with no yellow or orange present which are replaced by white.
Sex linked mutations are carried on the X chromosomes. Cocks have 2 X chromosomes and while Hens have an X
and a Y chromosome. Sex-Linked mutations must be carried on both X for cocks, and the single X on Hens, for a mutation
to be visible. Hens cannot be split to Sex-Linked mutations because if the mutation is on their X chromosome then it
is visible. So, what you see is what you get with Sex-Linked mutations on hens. A male is split when only one X chromosome
carries the Sex-Linked mutation.
The Lutino is a white bird with an orange cheek patch, some yellow pigment, pink feet and red eyes. Some individuals
vary with a light to heavy yellow wash over part or most of the body. Sometimes baldness occurs behind the crest. This
occured during the development of this mutation. Your ideal Lutino has no bald
spot. It is very hard to distinguish mature
cocks from hens. A common combination is the Lutino Pearl Hen where you find Yellow Pearling over the wings and back.
The Cinnamon gets it name from it's Cinnamon color which is has been described as a brownish grey or cocoa
color. You should not see any Grey and can notice a yellowish tinge to the feathers. The Grey color in a Normal is produced
by the melanin pigment which is reduced in the Cinnamon. Some hens may have more yellow, lipochrome pigment, on the face than
their Normal Grey counterparts.
The male Cinnamon Cockatiel develops a bright yellow face (also know as the mask) and
bright orange cheek patches after it's first molt. Young and female Cinnamon cockatiels retain their dull orange cheek patches,
their faces do not turn yellow, and they have white or yellow barring on the underside of their tails.
The Pearling are lacings or pearl spots of Yellow or White on the backs, nape, and wings. Yellow Pearls are
sometimes called Golden Pearls. White pearling is sometimes called Silver Pearl. Pearling in a Whiteface is always white.
The lacings should be extensive and consistent. Small yellow or white marks may be on the breast of heavier marked pearls.
Typically adult pearl males lose their Pearling after the first molt due to hormonal changes as they mature. There are
some who retain some degree of pearling though. A mature male sometimes has very light colored pearling on the grey or cinnamon
Yellow Cheek is one of the newer mutations and is unique in that there are Sex-Linked and Dominant versions
of this mutation. Where a Normal Grey has an Orange cheek patch, the cheek patch of the Yellow Cheek is Yellow. The
cheek patch of the Dominant Yellow Cheek seems to be a little more orange than the Sex-Linked version. When breeding
Yellow Cheeks it is important to never breed Dominant with Sex-Linked. It would take years of test breeding to determine what
the offspring really are. It is also not recommended to breed Yellow Cheeks with Whiteface.
The Platinum is seen in Australia. In general it is a light, smoky grey back, flights and tail, with flights
sometimes almost a grey - brown color with an off white colored chest. Flights and tails are typically always a darker
color to other feathers. The underside of tail feathers in mature cocks is usually a brown or chocolate color with l