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Pacific Parrotlet Color Mutation BasicsBy: Sandee L. Molenda, C.A.S. By now, many aviculturists have become acquainted with the diminutive parrotlet. The Pacific, also known as the Celestial, is the most well-known and popular species of parrotlet. Over the last decade or so, the parrotlet community has seen the development of various color mutations in the Pacific parrotlets. In Europe, there also other parrotlet species that have color mutations although they have yet to be established in the United States at this time. Almost all of the Pacific mutations in the United States originated in Europe. Only the dilute (formerly "American yellow"), gray-green and dilute-blue (formerly "American white") got their start in America. The remainder were imported, mostly from Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. Although the United States has banned the import of most species of parrots under the Wild Bird Conservation Act, except under extremely limited conditions, the International Parrotlet Society was able to lobby the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to include color mutation Pacific parrotlets on the List of Captive-Bred Birds Approved for Import. Starting in the mid to late 1990's, American aviculturists were able to import these parrotlets and start establishing these birds in U.S. aviculture. Unlike cockatiels, budgies, lovebirds and other mutations, birds that have had thousands of generations to develop healthy lines, parrotlets have had only a few generations of breeding. This does not mean that the birds are unhealthy, but, it does mean that certain precautions need to be taken in order to insure future healthy generations of parrotlets. However, mutations are, by nature, a genetic abnormality that is perpetuated through the generations. Sometimes it is not only the abnormal color gene that is passed on but other genetic problems as well. When mutations are newly discovered, the risk is higher than older, more established mutations. It is incumbent on the breeder to educate themselves on the basics of mutation breeding and make the effort to take the time to breed the birds so they will be strong and healthy as well as have beautiful and unusual color. Also, unlike many other genera of hook bill mutations, almost all but one of the Pacific parrotlets are recessive and all but one is sex-linked. Only the sex-linked cinnamon or pallid and the dominant pied have different inheritance modes than the other mutation colors. Anyone interested in breeding these unusual little gems, need to understand the basics of avian genetics including terms, inheritance modes, healthy pairings, out-crossing to normal wild-type parrotlets, inbreeding and line breeding before you start buying pairs. You also need to understand your own needs about what you want to accomplish with your parrotlets such as which colors you want to produce and how you see the parrotlets in the your aviary in the future. Mutation parrotlets are not as expensive as they used to be when first imported but they are still more expensive than normal wild-type Pacifics. With a little investment in planning and education in yourself before you buy, you will be able to have beautiful, healthy color mutations of which you can be proud. |
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