This dominant mutation was first discovered in Australia in the 1930s, but likely existed for a long time as misidentified Dark Factor. It’s even possible that Violet originally came from wild-caught birds. To the untrained eye, Violets are difficult to identify. In their regular forms, they appear identical to the Dark Factor level “above” them;
The first developed budgie mutation, Dilute, was discovered in 1872 within a wild flock of budgies. After being brought into captivity, it quickly became common in aviaries around the world. Birds with this mutation have diluted coloration, fading out markings and body color to around 80%. Dilution is not always consistent, however, as some birds
Greywing was first identified in England in the late 1920s, but may have existed in aviaries since 1875 under different names. They were known as jades, may-greens, and apple-greens in their green form, and azures, silverwings, and greywings in their blue form – the last of which stuck. Greywings have, of course, grey wings, with
Clearwing is the subject for much debate in the avicultural community. They are the third of the main dilution mutations, developed in Germany in the 1930s. Although some believe that they are selectively-bred Greywings, there is reason to believe that Clearwing is caused by an allele on the same gene as Dilute and Greywing. Clearwings
A very common pied mutation, it was discovered in Australia in 1952. They have markings across their head, neck, and upper back and wings with clear-colored patches on their lower chest and remaining portion of the wings. In its double factor form, nearly the whole bird is covered in a clear-colored spot save for the
Recessive Pied was the first pied mutation found and established in the species, bred from Finnish stock in the late 1920s and early 30s. They were nearly wiped out during World War II, but recovered and became one of the most common mutations available today. Recessive Pieds are easily identifiable due to their fewer markings,
Dutch Pied is a dominant mutation developed by breeders sometime before World War II. It can be described as an intermediate between dominant and recessive pied in appearance, having Recessive Pied-like wings and beak, more stripes on the head and neck like Dominant Pieds, and a bare saddle-shaped patch on the upper back. They follow
Clearflight, despite being visually distinct from Dutch Pied, originated from this very mutation and has clearly surpassed it in popularity. They were originally bred for their clear-colored flight feathers, which extend further up the wing like a Dominant Pied. Unlike Dominant Pieds, however, they lack significant pied markings on their chest. A small blotch can
Continuing the chain, the frosted pied variety is believed to have come from the Clearflight Pied mutation. They are extremely rare, much like Dutch Pieds. Birds with this mutation have extra yellow or white obscuring their wing markings, almost as if covered in snow. A slight dilution is also present. These unique markings only appear
This mutation was first discovered in a Flemish bird market by breeder Mr. Van Dijk in 1992. Despite their unique appearance, the two mutant birds had been overlooked by other visitors. This could have been because extra melanin would not only deduct points in shows, but wasn’t particularly rare and not known to be heritable.
