A recessive mutation discovered in the Netherlands in 1969 completely lacking any of the species’ iconic yellow and red color. The resulting bird is entirely grey with white wing streaks; The males having whitish heads with females having only silvery cheeks. While the mutation is certainly equivalent to true blue, it was aptly named “white-face” due to the natural absence of blue structural color in cockatiels. Sometimes, the term “Charcoal” is used to describe them in south-Asian countries like India.
