Hi, I think our parakeet may be recessive pied, but wanted an expert opinion! Hard to tell from a tiny avatar, I'm sure, but I'm not yet sure how to upload photos into a post! Sorry.

 

Here are some highlights, for the time being:

 

- Eyes are still dark, but "he" is still just a baby. A very faint iris ring is evident if looking closely & in the right light.

 

- Feathers on his back (under wings) are bluish. Not a sky blue, I don't think.

 

- Flight feathers are trimmed, but remaining feathers are primarily a mottled white-with-yellow. Only markings on the wings are near the very tops, and are a faint grayish.

 

- Back of the head does have a patch that's free of bars, and is a pale yellow color.

 

- Face is neon yellow, like highlighter-ink! (On the forehead & area surrounding cheek patches.)

 

- Cheek patches are purple.

 

- Other bars on head are also a faint grayish (as if sketched on by pencil).

 

- Sides of breast, near the top, are tinged with blue and green, kind of mixed together. Almost a pastel-watercolor type effect.

 

- In normal lighting, the overall color appears to be pale yellow. In more direct lighting, you notice the white-with-yellow mottled effect.

 

- Base of abdomen is more white than anything else.

 

- Only one full spot on throat, and it's the faint gray again.

 

Any ideas? I suppose we'll know more if/when his eyes change, but am curious which way you'd lean in the meantime.

 

When we got him, he was caged w/ a variety of "rares", but I noticed there were two all-yellow birds, one with the dark eyes, and the other w/ red. Adding this in case they came from the same parents & this gives you any pertinent info.

 

Thanks!

 

~~~ Kali

Iris ring and the banding on his chest denotes a dominant pied not recessive :hap: Pretty the most white bird in my siggy is a recessive pied.

 

If you have a better picture it sounds like he is a Yellowface Type 2 Dominant Pied he could be a cobalt or if the cheeks patches are really dark a violet.

 

His iris rings can come in between 3-12 months some get them sooner or later. Hate to tell you (Laughing out loud) but pieds recessive or dominants are not rare at all but I love them and are one of my favorite mutations.

If this little guy is the bird in your avatar picture, then I would say that he is a double factor dominant pied. :hap:

l agree with the others , sounds like your budgie is a Yellow Face type II double dominant pied .

 

 

****EDIT****

Kali ,

sorry l forgot to mention , l noticed that this is your first post , Welcome to the forums :hap:

Edited December 22, 200618 yr by birdluv

he looks like a dominant pied to me as well and a yellowface type 2 matches what you spoke about with the patchy yellow and white with blue under the wings and a mix of blue and yellow (making green) on the chest.

 

As to the faint/grey lines he sounds like he has a dilute gene either a greywing or clearwing. A bigger picture could help work that out.

 

Sign up to Photobucket ( http://photobucket.com/ ) and upload your pictures to there (like you did to make a avatar) then you have an option to link the pictures to this site, use the third in the list ( the IMG one) copy and paste into a post here to have them show up.

Welcome to the forums!

 

From the avatar and your description I think you have a single factor dominant pied which is also type 2 yellowface. I also think dilute, as you state the pastel-watercolor effect of coloring. The green on his chest in your avatar reminds me of a bird I had a few years ago...he was a seafoam greenish color on his chest and across the back of his wings, with a pretty slate-blue patch on the rump. The light grey coloring you describe of the cheek spots and head barring also tells me this bird is dilute. Does the barring continue with the same intensity down the back and across the wings, or is the color on the back the same color as on the chest with no barring? If there is a "V" of color where normally there is barring, he is also opaline.

 

In most pet shops, anything other than a normal green or normal blue is classified as a "rare". Some shops will even charge more for "rares" whether they are really rare or not. And I'll bet not too many of them know much of anything about budgerigar genetics...

 

I'm looking forward to pics! He sounds lovely.

Just dropping in to say "hi", Kali, and to welcome you to this great forum.

 

 

Yes Welcome Aboard!! Rainbow I agree with the single factor dominant I didn't state that in my original conclusion but I didn't even think double factor would come up since he has the banding :ausb:.

Welcome to the best budgie site in the world!! I hope you will enjoy your times here and if you learn half as much as I have here...Well let's just say that I knew very little when I got here. :ausb: :(Laughing out loud): Most everyone here is wonderful and willing to help with anything. I am glad you are here. Your bird is beautiful and we will all be looking forward to pics.

Shell

Wow!

 

Hi, everyone & thank you for all the welcomes! Coming from a "general" parrot board, this is like striking a goldmine for me!

 

(By The Way, this isn't to dis' the other site -- the folks there are amazingly nice, but most who have parakeets ALSO have larger parrots, so I was kind of the odd-man out!)

 

Lovey, my bird's cheek patches are not the most vivid I've seen...almost a "slate" purple, if there was such a thing. Kind of toned-down, I'd say. I'd love to get a better picture, but have only a secondhand camera I'm working w/ currently, and I'm still trying to handtame this little "fellow" (pure speculation on gender there), so I have two challenges going against me. Will see what I can muster up though.

 

Cheeta, my avatar is indeed the bird that I'm referencing -- thank you for your opinion. Do you mind me asking what type camera you are using? I saw some of your photos elsewhere on the site (believe they were yours) & they really made me want to break down & finally get a good camera, like I've been wanting for so long.

 

Nerwen, I'll see what I can do for the photos sometime soon. I suspect you are onto something with your thoughts about a dilute gene of some type. I do have one little feather that lofted out of his chest which is a really cool green color, so apparently some of that "green" is more than just blue-over-yellow.

 

Rainbow, here's what I can tell you about the gray bars:

 

- On the top of his head, they run across from eye to eye, roughly.

 

- Behind that strip of bars, there is a roundish "splotch" of the yellow-with-white.

 

- Under the light splotch, there are a few more bars in a strip at approx. the base of his neck.

 

- Underneath this is the yellow-with-white again, then a small area that does have some gray markings again in the center of his back - not a large area - but they really are not "bars". The gray there & on his "shoulders" (forgive me!) does remind me of markings I've seen on an opaline.

 

-I'm uncertain about the "V" pattern, and am not having success pointing a scary camera at his back & getting him to cooperate, so far! The camera reacts fairly slowly, and he's too quick for me (still somewhat skittish).

 

When his wings are out of the way, most of his back (maybe what is technically referred to as rump??) is a pretty blue color -- but not sky. Deeper or more slate, maybe. (I know: Send Pictures! :ausb: )

 

You're right about their method of identifying "rares"! Anything around here but the normal blue or green variety goes into that category. However, they seem to constitute about 1/3 of the available "stock" at most times, and don't cost anything additional, so you have to figure they're not too terribly uncommon!

 

Shellball, Feathers & Birdluv, thank you for your comments, too! Will keep trying for more photos.

 

~~~ Kali

KaLi, How close is the backside of your bird this one? Not necessarily the same colors but are the markings and intensity similar?

 

Kali

I use Fuji finepix S7000. it's a great camera. I love it. I has a lot of functions. AlthoughI must say though it is a very bulky and chunky camera.

 

now with you budgies, can I please ask where any of the blue are on it? from what I have gathered, on the rump and also a few patches of blue/green on the breast area.. how big are those patches? are they like a full band across the chest or just little patches.

I'm still going to say that it is a double factor dom pied from the small avatar photos and from your description. a yellowface definitely.

that is a different picture then before and from the side I agree now Cheeta df dominant pied the front shot looked like she has the banding more.

Hi,

 

Here's an attempt at my first photobucket image... It's unclear & quite small, but I noticed we'd happened to catch him preening in the background of another photo, so I cropped it out as best I could.

 

 

Rainbow, this should give you some idea of the way he appears in back, at least so far as coloring goes. I saw your bird's photo above -- he's really pretty! (As is his buddy!) You'll notice we don't have nearly as many of the gray markings in back (again, going mostly by the overall color impression you'll get). The yellow and blue on your bird closely resemble that of ours, however.

 

Cheeta, thanks for passing on the info. about your camera: It's officially on my b-day list! The blue I'm seeing is most prominent on the rump. The next-most blue is on the chest, where it's fairly faint, splotchy & irregular. So to answer your question, it's more like little patches than a full, strong band.

 

Lovey, I did change the avatar yesterday, hoping that another angle might be helpful, even if it was a microscopically tiny view! Sounds like it did provide some information.

 

Thanks again, everyone & I will still try to come up w/ some additional photos later. At the very least, some larger versions of the ones that I do have. No time at the moment -- gingerbread cookies need baked!

 

To be continued!

~~~ Kali

Edited December 26, 200618 yr by KaLiMaZu

Kali

I use Fuji finepix S7000. it's a great camera. I love it. I has a lot of functions. AlthoughI must say though it is a very bulky and chunky camera.

 

l know this is but , that is almost the same camera that l have except mine is a S602Zoom

Edited December 24, 200618 yr by birdluv

Merry Christmas, to all who celebrate! :angel1:

 

Here is another photo. I apologize for how grainy this is. The camera kept focusing on the cage bars instead of the bird! (I know, "Can you say 'user error'?!".)

 

 

What I wanted to ask (and wasn't sure what other folder to ask this in), is whether any of you are inclined to guess male or female with this bird. Is there even enough here for you to tell anything? It's driving me nuts, not having a definite name for him yet.

 

I can say that his vocal behaviors seem different from a female parakeet I have been around. He does a lot more "trilling" and goes on more drawn-out spells of it than I ever remember hearing her do. However, I imagine there's variation between personalities, and he also makes the so-called mad noises periodically, which I read was more common in females.

 

He has only displayed the tendency to bite when being physically restrained. He eats seeds from my hand, and does not otherwise act aggressively.

 

I've seen more head-bobbing than I remember w/ the female (seems to be when he's anticipating a meal, is hungry, or excited), but I'm wondering if this could still be a "baby trait" of sorts.

 

If you have any ideas, I'd be happy to hear them!

 

Thanks,

~~~ Kali

 

By the way, here's a much better view of his back!

 

 

~~~ K.

Edited December 26, 200618 yr by KaLiMaZu

He is a cock. Yellow faced. possibly type two due to the yellow on his back.

He is a ressive pied. (Orange Beak)

 

A young bird with the banding less than 3 months old. Irus ring is fake not pure. He is a blue series bird, Blue Cheek Patches (to my computer)

 

Need a clearer photo with out the flash to see the colours.

in my experience with this forum, all we need is a few good pictures and we can tell you most anything about your birds mutation.

Kali, after looking at your pics, I'm thinking that there's some sort of dilute factor in him. He's probably a dilute boy as well. and after seeing the pics, I'm still going to stick to my original opinion may be until I see a clearer shots of the front as well.

 

 

He is a cock. Yellow faced. possibly type two due to the yellow on his back.

He is a ressive pied. (Orange Beak)

 

 

Daz, Orange beak doesn't indicate recessive pied. My dom pied (Quake) and double factor dom pied (Spirit) both have orange beak as well.

Edited December 25, 200618 yr by Cheeta

Hi, Everyone -

 

Thanks for the great help!

 

Daz, I've had mediocre luck without the flash on this camera, as the photos appear a bit dim and washed out. Here's one:

 

 

And another, in somewhat better lighting:

 

 

Cheeta, here's a clearer shot of his front, but was taken with the flash.

 

 

I was interested to read about his beak coloration, irises & age. We've had him for 5 weeks, so he must've been quite young when we brought him home.

 

If any of the photos are helpful, I'll look forward to an update. Thank you again!

 

~~~ Kali

Edited December 26, 200618 yr by KaLiMaZu

aawwwww... what a sweet looking bird!!! :glare: very nice!!

 

yes the pics definitely help.. and I think they are great pics!! AND I'm still sticking to my very original opinion. only this time I'm going to say that he is a yellowface II doublefactor dominant pied skyblue.

 

Oh, it may or may not happen for your little ones, but sometimes the double factor dominant pied only gets one iris ring. so one side will have the white ring, and the other will seems to be dark/black. though if you look really really closely, you can sort of see a very very faint ring on the dark eye. :ausb: have fun. :budgiedance:

Edited December 26, 200618 yr by Cheeta

Mmm I might change my call to Female after that last Photo. She is either a recessive pied or Dould factor dominate... I didn't know DF Dominents have orange Beaks as well.. You learn something every day here :glare:

Very nice budgie, I think the one thing we can all agree on is he is a type 2 Yellow face (the darkness in his face gives this away).

 

As far as a double factor goes, the reason so many think he is a double factor, is because of the few markings on his wings, however his shoulder does have bars on it which makes me cautious, I believe him to be a double factor spangle which will become more evident once he reaches maturity(9-12 months), meaning that he will have markings, unpronounced on his wings.

Also with the moults his colours will change dramatically and alot of the mottled look now, will smooth out, you will have to wait to see what the end result will be.

 

He is definitely a cock, a dominant pied will retain the blue cere as is the case in your bird. (a hen at this age (12 weeks approx) will have pronounced white rings around her nostrils)

 

As far as recessive or dominant go, I have a similar bird and I believe it to be dutch dominant pied, the pupil will be black and may or may not have a white iris ring in one or both of its eyes, cheek patches are violet, Legs and feet are flesh-pink. Very similar to your budgie... (By the way a recessive pied or Harlequin usually have white cheek patches.)

 

Either way it is a really pretty bird.

 

Are you planning on breeding with him?

Andrea very interesting thoughts I enjoyed reading them for sure :glare:, genetics is fun.

 

Why do you say this statement thought? (By the way a recessive pied or Harlequin usually have white cheek patches.)

 

I have seen most with blue my Pretty has blue check patches and he is a recessive pied :ausb:. just curious on your thoughts.

Andrea very interesting thoughts I enjoyed reading them for sure :glare:, genetics is fun.

 

Why do you say this statement thought? (By the way a recessive pied or Harlequin usually have white cheek patches.)

 

I have seen most with blue my Pretty has blue check patches and he is a recessive pied :ausb:. just curious on your thoughts.

 

Howdy, my sincere apologies, I had read this in a book, i have a couple of danish recessive pieds with the white cheek patches, however you are more accurate, nowadays, with the inbreeding of pieds the majority of recessive pieds have got blue patches.

 

Here is an example of a recessive danish pieds with a white cheek patch... not mine!

http://www.freewebs.com/budgerigarplanet/Sunset.jpg

 

 

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l247/morgie2/a413.jpg

 

 

 

A good quality harlequin pied also has white cheek patches (the white shows through blue, this is normal and tolerated in show stock):

http://www.freewebs.com/budgerigarplanet/Echo.jpg

 

 

 

the majority of recessive pieds do have blue cheek patches - as you can see from this example:

http://birds.newflight.net/albums/birds/14...ce_Rec_Pied.jpg

 

I hope I have explained this enough?

 

Sorry for the confusion.

 

Kindest regards Andrea

Edited December 26, 200618 yr by lovey