The Genetics of Colour in the Budgerigar and other Parrots
This page created 26th November 2000



Links

 to

Breeders

 by

Species


Work in progress


Sites vary in the quality of information provided; particularly with regard to the names given to colour varieties. It is always advisable to crosscheck where possible.


•   Budgerigars
Melopsittacus undulatus (monotypic)

•   Cockatiels
Nymphicus hollandicus (monotypic)

•   Hawkheads
Deroptyus accipitrinus (monotypic)

•   Lineolateds
Bolborhynchus Lineola (Barred parakeet)

•   Lovebirds
Agapornis roseicollis (Peach faced)
Agapornis fischeri (Fischer’s)
Agapornis personata (Masked)
and others

•   Neophemae
Neophema bourkii (Bourke’s parakeet)
Neophema splendidi (Splendid or Scarlet Chested Parakeet)
Neophema pulchella (Turquoisine parakeet)
Neophema elegans (Elegant parakeet)
and others

•   Quakers
Myiopsitta monachus (monotypic)

•   Parrotlets
Forpus coelestis (Pacific Parrotlet)
and others

•   Redrumps
Psephotus haematonotus

•   Ringnecks
Psittacula krameri (Ringneck or Rose-ringed parakeet)

•   Rosellas
Platycercus eximus (Eastern or ‘Gold Mantled’ Rosella)

 

Stud ME 24 Didier Mervilde

Budgerigars

Stud ME 24

Didier Mervilde of Belgium has an interest in the ‘Rare’ varieties and breeds Texas Clearbodies, Slates, and Spangles; besides also keeping Lovebirds in variety. There is a very interesting article with accompanying photographs on the Blackface budgerigar variety which came to light in 1998.

Down Under Aviaries

From Perth in Western Australia come the extensive and informative pages of Brett and Sharon; a committed partnership with a particular interest in the ‘Rare’ varieties and the genetics which lie behind them.

Phil Hodgkins’ Budgie Index

Website of a British breeder, newly returned to the exhibition scene, with pictures and information on the new stud he has assembled together with some excellent pages on genetics.

PHT’s Budgerigar World

Maintained by a Danish threesome of exhibition Budgerigar breeders, this site features a good introductory section on basic genetics followed by a discussion on how to relate this to selective breeding for desirable exhibition features.

Budgerigars Galore

Originally developed by Dolores Noonan in the UK, these pages are now maintained by Joy... This is a large site containing a wide range of interesting articles previously published in various journals, but remember that many are by exhibition breeders who do not always distinguish between fact and fantasy.

Clearwing Budgerigars

Pages of John W. Evans a successful British breeder of exhibition type Clearwings with an extensive illustrated article outlining his methods.

Blue Chip Exhibition Budgerigar Society
Hamilton & District Cagebird Society

Two lively societies, the first Cincinnati, Ohio, and the second from Ontario, Canada, which feature a range of articles and links.

Budgerigar Council of Victoria
Geoff & Marilyn Lowes Home of Budgerigars

From the state of Victoria in Australia, the pages of an area society and two of its leading lights.

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Cockatiels

The American Cockatiel Society

These pages include a listing of the basic varieties with links to photographs of examples. There is also an introductory Cockatiel Genetics page which, I feel, attempts to introduce the subject too simplistically.

The National Cockatiel Society (of America)

This society’s pages also include a listing of the basic varieties with links to some excellent photographs.

The North American Cockatiel Society

Another American National? society whose pages (slow to download) once again include a listing of the basic varietieswith accompanying clickable thumbnail photographs. There is also a genetics page but be aware that standard genetic symbolisation is not followed.

Australian National Cockatiel Society

From down under this site features a range of articles including one by Mike Anderson outlining his views on the relationship between the Platinum and Lutino (Ino) after many years breeding these varieties together: Platinum and Lutino: Genetic Interaction.

Rick Solis’ Cockatiel World

Nicely designed pages by a leading American exhibition breeder with much information for the Cockatiel breeder.

Peter and Waita's Birdie House (Bakla Aviaries)

Brought to you by Peter Klapwijk of British Columbia in Canada these pages belie the cute name and include some good photographs, information, and articles. Through no fault of the author the chaotic state with regard to naming some colour varieties and their composites is brought into sharp relief.

Elsie’s Cockatiel Mutations (ugh)

Elsie Burgin and husband Herschel produce this site which includes photographs of a wide range of varieties; in particular, some of the ‘Olive’ variation together with brief notes.

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Hawkheads

Hawkhead Haven

An excellent introduction to this less commonly bred species in which, at present, no colour variants have been reported.

Hawkheaded Parrot FAQ

A monograph on this species by Deborah Wisti-Peterson of the University of Washington. (Those interested in Lories will find links to a number of articles by the same author at Nyneves's Bird Preserve.)

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Lineolateds

[Note that the variety referred to as Blue on most sites retains some yellow and is technically a parblue or Turquoise]

Lineolated Parakeet

Very informative introduction to this species by Belgian breeder Carlos Rugo who is a native French speaker, but makes his pages available to a wider audience in this English version.

Visual Wings

Nice pages of Anne-Marie Larzelere, a specialist breeder from Florida, which introduce this species as well as the Australian grass parakeets.

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Lovebirds

Belgian Lovebird Society (BVA)

Although a relatively small national society, the BVA is very progressive and initiated discussions on the harmonisation of colour variety names. There is full information on all species of Lovebird and their colour varieties.

Agapornis Page

Hosted by Dirk Van den Abeele, Chairman of the above society, these pages have much information on Lovebirds with some emphasis on the particular feather features affecting colouration which these birds possess. In discussing the naming of colour varieties, on which there is ongoing discussion at Genetics-Psittacine, there is a link to the Mutavi pages.

Pin Farm, Thailand

A very interesting site which shows the high standards that can be attained in a part of the world where we in the West might not expect such professionalism. The English may seem rather quaint, but husbandry techniques are high and a wide range of colour varieties are bred.
27.7.02

African Lovebird Society

An International, though based in America, Society devoted to the Lovebird species. There is a section dealing with the more established colour varieties and their genetics, but it should be pointed out that there is a mix of American and traditional terminology in contrast to the more up to date information carried by the two sites above.

Chris’ Zoo

Pages of Chris Rutt, a longterm British specialist in Lovebirds, which also reflect his wide range of other interests.

Royal Rose Aviaries

Site of the Peach Faced Lovebirds breeders in America who discovered the Rose Headed variety, which it is believed may be equivalent to the Opalines found in Australian parakeets. There is a good article Rose-Headed: A Possible New Mutation In A. Rosiecollis? by Doug Bedwell detailing the occurrences of this colour form and its subsequent establishment.

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Grass parakeets and Lineolateds

Neophemae

Visual Wings

Nice pages of Anne-Marie Larzelere, a specialist grass parakeet breeder from Florida, with useful introductory information.

Watchbird”, (Journal of the American Federation of Aviculture)

1. Introductory article The Five Popular Australian Grass Parakeets by prolific author Mathew M Vriends at the AFA website.( No link back to main page.)
2. Article Mutations in Elegant Grass Parakeets by Jim Chou. But note that the bird incorrectly described as “Yellow” is a non sex-linked (NSL) Lutino and that the European Cinnamon is a true sex-linked variety whilst the Australian may well be an incomplete- or par-ino. (No link back to main page.)

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Parrotlets

All on Forpus

Informative pages on the members of this species produced by Brian Nielsen of Denmark with photographs and information on the colour varieties available in F. coelestis. There is also comment on the hybridisation which has taken place between F. coelestis coelestis and F. coelestis lucida.

The Parrotlet Ranch

Based in California, the Parrotlet Ranch is run by Sandee and Robert Molenda where they breed the Pacific and five other species of Parrotlet in wild form and in colour varieties. There are an informative articles on the different species and also an article “The Lost Lucida” on the little recognised sub-species Forpus coelestis lucida

Hideaway Farms Aviary

From Georgia, South Carolina, these pages by June DiCiocco feature Conures and minature horses besides Parrotlets.

Shady Pines Aviary

Site of Gloria and Ron Balaban from South Florida which also features Caiques.

Homepage of Erik Jonker and Gerard Bosch

These Dutch breeders specialise in Parrotlets, Lovebirds, and Budgerigars, and illustrate many colour varieties of each species.

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Quakers

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Redrumps

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Ringnecks

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Rosellas

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http://birdhobbyist.com/parrotcolour
e-mail: ClveHesford@aol.com