Something is weird is happening to my budgie. The black feather patterning on Milly's wings are fading more with each moult. Here's what I mean:

 

Comparing last year with this year:

 

 

 

Is this supposed to happen? I never worried about it before because she has been lively and well, no signs of sickness at all. But she is going through another moult right now:

(Sorry about the quality)

Black's almost gone

 

Is it normal or not? I've never heard of it happening before. Could it be genetics like the Mottled budgie (see this site) or maybe she is sick?

Edited August 17, 200618 yr by Chrysocome

I would say that her pattern is changing with each moult. My budgie Blinkie got a black spot in his wing pattern after one moult, and i think i remember Una's budgie Apple's tail colour changing from yellow to blue. I wouldn't worry about the change.

I'd say its just the moulting...or maybe your bird just likes a change of look for each season to keep up in the budgie fashion stakes? My Smudge seems to appear a different colour every day!! He's a yellowface type II (and also opaline with it)...when I first got him his body was very blue, but now most of his chest is turquoise and he has a very green patch on his back and a blue patch around his bum! I think its fun having a bird that changes colour or pattern.

interesting I've heard of the mottle gene that adds black over the years but not a reverse. But it's nothing ot worry about it wouldn't affect her health