Cockatiels Colour Pigments

*THE COLOUR OF A COCKATIEL IS DERIVED FROM TWO PIGMENTS*

*Melanin:* Provides the grey colour in normal cockatiels. It is also present in the eyes, beak, and feet, which can vary between mutations. For example, some cockatiels may have more melanin heavily deposited on the shoulder, causing this area to be darker and less melanin to the chest and abdomen, causing it to appear lighter.
The Lutino mutation is devoid of any visual melanin. This affects the eyes, which will appear red from the blood vessels showing, and the beak and feet will be lighter.

*Lipochrome:* Provides the yellow on the face and tail and *Psittacin (psittacofulvin)* to the orange of the cheek patch. As cocks mature, the melanin pigments in the face become weaker, allowing the Lipochrome to be visible. The melanin increases to cause the tail to be a darker, solid colour.

The Whiteface mutation lacks lipochrome/psittacin, thus the white face with no yellow or orange. Areas that would be yellow or orange are replaced with white. On the side of the wing is a white area, which is known as the wing bar. This will always be white because it lacks melanin and lipochrome pigments. The wing bar is unchanged/unaltered and present on all mutations. *Below are some significant changes from the normal. When a mutation of a gene occurs, the melanin and lipochrome may also be altered as follows:*

*Melanin-altering Mutations:*
Also, called Albinistic genes, which include dilution and Leucistic genes, will alter the entire colour of the mutation. Lutino
Cinnamon
Recessive Silver
Fallow
Emerald

*Dilution Gene:*
Dominant Silver Emerald

*Leucistic Gene:* Pied Cockatiels from melanin altering and dilution gene mutations should not be paired together because this can alter (lighten or darken) the respective mutation. In doing so, the mutation is harder to identify. Breeders may want to selectively breed out undesirable splits and/or mutations to go back to the respective mutation. Many times, cross mutations can make it harder to identify the basic mutation. Therefore, working backwards towards a pure visual form of each mutation is a good direction to consider.

*Psittacin-altering Mutations* act to alter the colouration of the facial mask, specifically the cheek patch and specific areas of the body that would have lipochrome.

Whiteface
Pastelface
Sex-Linked Yellow Cheek Dominant Yellowface
Gold Cheek
Creamface

As with the melanin altering mutations, when two different psittacin-altering mutations are paired together, it is hard to determine what the mutation of the offspring is. Many cockatiels are sold as one mutation when, in fact, they may be another mutation due to inexperienced breeders that do not understand or recognize mutations. To clarify: The DYC and SLYC mutations should never be paired with Whiteface. Pastelface and Creamface should not be paired together. Whiteface can be paired with Gold Cheek, Pastelface, and Creamface.

Courtesy: *Sussane Russo*