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Budgie Genetics Guide

Research date: April 8, 2026

This document has been prepared to collect budgie color genetics and mutations in one place. The goal is to answer the question "What happens when genetics match with which genetics?" with a rule-based system rather than a memorized list.

Scope

  • This guide lists all the mutations supported in the project.
  • It does not enumerate all possible multiple combinations; instead, it gives the inheritance type, locus logic, and frequent combinations.
  • If more than one independent locus is located in the same offspring, the total probability is calculated by multiplying the single locus probabilities.
  • Since crossing-over can be seen in close genes on the Z chromosome, there may be small differences between theoretical rates and practical results. This situation is the most opaline, cinnamon, ino And slate It is important for. [K6] [K12]

Quick Dictionary

  • visual: The bird visibly carries the mutation.
  • split or carrier: The bird carries the mutation without displaying it in the phenotype.
  • AR: Autosomal recessive.
  • AD: Autosomal dominant.
  • AID: Autosomal incomplete dominant / single factor-double factor mutation.
  • SLR: Sex-linked recessive.
  • SF: Single factor, single factor.
  • DF: Double factor, double factor.

Genetic Map

flowchart L.R. A["Green series"] -->|blue locus homozygous blue| B["Skyblue"] B -->|1 dark factor| C["Cobalt"] C -->|2. darkfactor| D["Mauve"] A -->|1 dark factor| E["Dark Green"] E -->|2. darkfactor| F["Olive"] B -->|violet + 1 dark factor| G["Visual Violet"] B -->|grey| H["Grey"] A -->|grey| I["Grey-Green"] A -->|ino| J["Lutino"] B -->|ino| K["Albino"]

Basic tones in WBO color standards Light Green, Dark Green, Olive Green, Grey Green, Skyblue, Cobalt, Mauve, Violet And Grey is given as . [K1] [K2]

Basic Inheritance Rules

1. Autosomal recessive mutations

This is the rule blue, dilute, greywing, clearwing, recessive_pied, clearflight_pied, fallow types, saddleback, faded, mottled and similar mutations.

matching Conclusion
visual x visual %100 visual
visual x split %50 visual, %50 split
visual x normal %100 split
split x split %25 visual, %50 split, %25 normal
split x normal %50 split, %50 normal
normal x normal %100 normal

2. Autosomal dominant mutations

This is the rule grey, dominant_pied, dominant_clearbody, crested and you use it in some controversial modern mutations.

matching Conclusion
mutant x normal Approximately %50 mutant, %50 normal
mutant x mutant Approximately %75 mutant, %25 normal

Note: In dominant mutations, heterozygous and homozygous individuals sometimes do not look the same. crested and health/expression differences are significant in some area types. [K10]

3. Autosomal incomplete dominant mutations

This is the rule dark_factor, violet, spangle, anthracite and you use it on some face alleles at the blue-locus.

matching Conclusion
SF x normal %50 SF, %50 normal
SF x SF %25 DF, %50 SF, %25 normal
DF x normal %100 SF
DF x SF %50 DF, %50 SF
DF x DF %100 DF

4. Sex-linked recessive mutations

male budgie ZZ, female ZW is accepted. female birds split I can't be; If they inherit the mutant allele, they become visible.

This is the rule ino, pallid, opaline, cinnamon, slate, texas_clearbody You can use it in Z-linked mutations and so on.

matching male puppies female offspring
erkek visual x disi normal %100 split %100 visual
erkek split x disi normal %50 split, %50 normal %50 visual, %50 normal
erkek normal x disi visual %100 split %100 normal
erkek visual x disi visual %100 visual %100 visual
erkek split x disi visual %50 visual, %50 split %50 visual, %50 normal

Z Chromosome and Crossing-Over

graph L.R. O["Opaline"] --- C["Cinnamon"] --- I["Ino / Texas clearbody / Pearly / Pallid"] --- S["Slate"]

Approximate crossing-over values ​​according to MUTAVI sources:

  • opaline <-> cinnamon: approximately %32 [P6]
  • opaline <-> slate: approximately %40.5 [P6]
  • cinnamon <-> slate: approximately %5 veya daha az [K6] [K11]
  • cinnamon <-> ino: approximately %3 [K12]

This is especially lacewing, opaline-cinnamon, cinnamon-slate And opaline-slate It means that their matings may result in unexpected but biologically explainable offspring. [K6] [K12]

Special Series Working at the Same Locus

1. Blue locus

Many variations affecting the blue series and yellow/face are considered in the same locus. Names may be slightly different in MUTAVI articles and the project model. [K3] [K4]

Allele/combination Typical phenotype
bl+/bl+ green series
blue/blue blue series
yellowface_type1 + blue Yellowface Type I Blue
yellowface_type2 + blue Yellowface Type II Blue
goldenface + blue Goldenface Blue
aqua + blue Aqua Blue
turquoise + blue Turquoise Blue
aqua + turquoise Turquoise Aqua

Examples of dick matches:

matching Conclusion
Blue x Blue %100 Blue
Blue x Green split Blue %50 Blue, %50 Green split Blue
Green split Blue x Green split Blue %25 Blue, %50 Green split Blue, %25 Green
YF2 Blue x Blue %50 YF2 Blue, %50 Blue
Goldenface Blue x Blue %50 Goldenface Blue, %50 Blue
Aqua Blue x Turquoise Blue %25 Aqua Blue, %50 Turquoise/Aqua, %25 Turquoise Blue

Notes:

  • Yellowface Type I The double factor can appear as a white face in the blue series. This is one of the areas where names differ between standards. [K4]
  • Goldenface, Aqua, Turquoise, Blue Factor I/II Aviculture standardization for may vary by source; Therefore, knowing that they are at the same locus is safer than memorizing the names. [K3] [K4]

2. Dilution locus

greywing, clearwing And dilute are alleles of the same locus. The most important practical result is greywing + clearwing combination of Full-Body Greywing is to give. [K5]

Match / combination Conclusion
greywing/greywing greywing
clearwing/clearwing Clearwing
dilute/dilute Dilute
greywing/clearwing Full-Body Greywing
greywing/dilute Greywing, dilute carrier
clearwing/dilute Clearwing, dilute carrier

Examples of dick matches:

matching Conclusion
Greywing x Clearwing %100 Full-Body Greywing
Greywing x Dilute %100 Greywing / dilute
Clearwing x Dilute %100 Clearwing / dilute
Greywing split Dilute x Greywing split Dilute Greywing gives weighty results; %25 dilute may come out

3. Ino locus

ino, texas_clearbody, pearly and in aviculture comments pallid It is considered in relation to the same gene family. MUTAVI, sex-linked clearbody ino It is discussed as an allele of the locus. [P7]

Practical combinations:

Combination Typical name
Ino + Green series lutino
Ino + Blue series Albino
Cinnamon + Ino lacewing
Pallid + Ino PallidIno / lacewing-like open phenotype
Texas Clearbody + Ino Texas Clearbody visible, may carry ino
Texas Clearbody + Pallid Pallid Texas Clearbody

Most Common Combined Phenotypes

genetic combination The resulting phenotype
blue + ino Albino
yesil seri + ino lutino
cinnamon + ino lacewing
greywing + clearwing Full-Body Greywing
recessive_pied + dutch_pied/continental clearflight tipi Dark-Eyed Clear
yellowface/goldenface + blue + ino Creamino-like phenotypes
violet + blue + 1 dark factor visual violet

Dark-Eyed Clear MUTAVI is clearly on the subject recessive pied + Dutch/continental clearflight emphasizes unity; recessive pied + Australian dominant pied does not give the same result. [K8]

Mutation Catalog

The tables below cover all mutations supported in the project. Eslesme notu The column tells you the general rule by which you will calculate.

A. Basic series, face and tone mutations

Mutation Heredity Typical color/appearance Match note main source
Blue AR Converts the green series to the blue series; yellow pigment disappears AR table, Blue locus [K1] [K3]
Yellowface Type I aid Yellow mask on blue birds; white face paradox in some double factor birds blue locus [K3] [K4]
Yellowface Type II aid Yellow mask and sometimes yellow spread to the body blue locus [K3] [K4]
Goldenface aid Stronger golden yellow on the face; intense yellow spread in blue streak blue locus [K3] [K4]
Aqua aid Blue-sea tone shifts towards aqua/sea green blue locus [K3]
turquoise aid Blue-sea tone appears richer turquoise blue locus [K3]
Blue Factor I aid Light greenish / intermediate blue series expression blue locus [K3]
Blue Factor II aid Stronger intermediate blue expression than Blue Factor I blue locus [K3]
DarkFactor aid in green Light -> Dark -> Olive, in blue Skyblue -> Cobalt -> Mauve AID table [K1]
Violet aid Purplish tone, especially in the blue series; Very visible with 1 dark factor AID table [K1] [K3]
Gray NAME Grey-green in green, gray in blue AD table [K1] [K3]
anthracite aid Very dark cosmic tone, especially in the blue series AID table [K3] [K14]

B. Dilution and melanin modifiers

Mutation Heredity Typical color/appearance Match note main source
Dilute AR Melanin is severely reduced; The bird looks lighter overall AR table, dilution locus [K5]
greywing AR Wing stripes grey, body color semi-dilute AR table, dilution locus [K1] [K5]
Clearwing AR Wings open, body color remains bright AR table, dilution locus [K1] [K5]
cinnamon SLR Black melanin turns brown; warmer tone SLR table [K1] [K3]
slate SLR Dull blue-gray/slate tone in blue series, cheek stain becomes matte dark SLR table [K3] [K11]
blackface Controversial Melanin expands on the face and body, the mask darkens Sources differ; controversial [K3] [K9]
faded AR Washed, pale appearance; wing prints are weak AR table [K3]
Fallow (English) AR Red/plum eyes, warm light body tone AR table [K1] [K3]
Fallow (German) AR Similar to English fallow but described as a separate locus AR table [K3]
Fallow (Scottish) AR Bronze markings and red eyes AR table [K3]
pallid SLR Melanin decreases but is not completely eliminated; light bird with soft stripes SLR table, ino family [K3]
Ino SLR Lutino in the green series, Albino in the blue series SLR table, ino family [K1] [K3] [K7]

C. Pattern, ala and clearbody mutations

Mutation Heredity Typical color/appearance Match note main source
opaline SLR Bass and wing barring decreases, V-like pattern appears on the back SLR table [K1] [K3]
spangle aid Reverse wing pattern in one factor; almost solid yellow/white at double factor AID table [K1] [K3]
Recessive Pied AR Random light spots; eye ring behavior may differ AR table [K1] [K8]
Dominant Pied (Australian) NAME Clean open bands / areas on body AD table [K1] [K3]
Clearflight Pied AR or controversial standard Gap on flight feathers and tail, small head spot May vary depending on source [K1] [K8]
Dutch Pied AD or AID is disputed Irregular pattern; Clearflight-like selection on some lines There is a difference in source [K1] [K3] [K8]
Saddleback AR Clear saddle / V-like area on back, bass barring distinct AR table [K1] [K3]
Mottled Controversial Open areas that increase as the coat changes, progressive graying appearance Sources differ [K3]
Pearly SLR Pearl/paired edging on wing markings SLR table, ino family [K3] [K7]
Texas Clearbody SLR Body melanin decreases, wing lines remain dark SLR table, ino family [K1] [K7]
Dominant Clearbody NAME Body cleaner and lighter, wings may remain darker AD table [K3] [K7]

D. Coat structure and special health-related conditions

Mutation Heredity typical appearance Match note main source
Crested (Tufted) NAME A single or clustered hill on top AD table; crest x crest risky [K3] [K10]
Crested (Half-Circular) NAME semicircular hill AD table; crest x crest risky [K3] [K10]
Crested (Full-Circular) NAME Full circle corona peak AD table; crest x crest risky [K3] [K10]
Feather Duster AR, pathological Extremely long, constantly growing feathers; flight and nutrition problem Situation to avoid mating [K15]

Frequently Asked Matches

Green split Blue with Blue

  • Blue x Green split Blue
  • Conclusion: %50 Blue, %50 Green split Blue

Normal female with Cinnamon

  • erkek Cinnamon visual x disi normal
  • Male offspring: %100 split cinnamon
  • Female offspring: %100 cinnamon

Normal female with Ino

  • erkek Ino visual x disi normal
  • Male offspring: %100 split ino
  • Female offspring: %100 ino

Greywing and Clearwing

  • If both parents are pure at the respective locus Greywing x Clearwing = %100 Full-Body Greywing [K5]

Dutch Pied with Recessive Pied

  • Recessive Pied x Dutch Pied / clearflight tipi
  • In some puppies Dark-Eyed Clear Combinations leading to the line may occur. [K8]

Ino with Cinnamon

  • Pure logic of inheritance Lacewing goes to the phenotype.
  • However cinnamon And ino Rare crossing-over results are unexpected because they are close to each other on the Z chromosome ino, cinnamon or intermediate forms may also be seen. [K6] [K12]

Risky and Controversial Areas

1. Crest x crest

In the studies compiled by MUTAVI, it is stated that crest factor is subvital and may be associated with embryo losses and neurological problems. In practice crest x crest matching should be handled with caution. [K10]

2. Blackface classification

This is one of the clearest areas of discussion:

  • MUTAVI 2007 article blackface for otosomal resesif says. [K9]
  • Current mutation model in the project dominant uses the comment.

In this guide blackface, marked as controversial; When making a breeding plan it is necessary to record the actual results in your own breeding line.

3. Dutch Pied and Clearflight relationship

MUTAVI argues that there may be a selective relationship between Dutch pied and continental clearflight. In contrast, in modern databases these are sometimes modeled as separate mutations. [K8]

4.Mottled

MUTAVI in the revised gene list mottle for polygenic The expression is seen; The data model in the application can treat this as a single mutation. [K3]

5. Yellowface nomenclature

Yellowface Type I, Type II, Goldenface, Aqua, Turquoise, Blue Factor I/II Their names are not exactly the same among the sources and country traditions. Here, the logic of the locus is more important than the fixed name. [K3] [K4]

Visual Reference Bank

  • WBO Color Standards: the main reference for basic colors and official show varieties. [K1]
  • WBO Pictorial Standard PDF: one-page visual standard summary. [K2]
  • MUTAVI articles: main references for inheritance logic, allele series and historical test matches. [K4] [K5] [K6] [K7] [K8] [K9] [K10] [K11] [K12]

Conclusion

The most critical point in budgie genetics is to ask the following four questions rather than memorizing each mutation one by one:

1. This mutation AR, AD, AID or SLR ?

2. Is this mutation independent or blue, dilution or ino Allele of the same locus as?

3. Is it carried by a male or a female?

4. Does this mutation give a new named phenotype when combined with another mutation?

When you answer these four questions, you will calculate the vast majority of offspring probabilities correctly.

Resources

  • [K1] WBO Color Standards, official color and variety standard: [https://www.world-budgerigar.org/colourstds.htm](https://www.world-budgerigar.org/colourstds.htm)
  • [K2] WBO Color Budgerigar Pictorial Standard PDF: [https://www.world-budgerigar.org/photos15/WBO%20Standard%20for%20Colour%20Budgerigar%20Pictorial%20Ideal.pdf](https://www.world-budgerigar.org/photos15/WBO%20Standard%20for%20Colour%20Budgerigar%20Pictorial%20Ideal.pdf)
  • [K3] MUTAVI, Revised List of Mutant Genes of the Budgerigar: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=symbols](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=symbols)
  • [K4] MUTAVI, Gene function in Yellowface Budgerigars: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=yellowface](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=yellowface)
  • [K5] MUTAVI, Phenotypic Effects Caused by the Multiple Allele Series of the dil-locus: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=dilute](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=dilute)
  • [K6] MUTAVI, Crossing-over in the Sex-chromosome of the Male Budgerigar: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=sexchrom](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=sexchrom)
  • [K7] MUTAVI, Genotypic and Phenotypic Aspects of the Sex-Linked clearbody: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=clearbod](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=clearbod)
  • [K8] MUTAVI, Recessive Pied in the Origin of Dark Eyed Clears: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=blackeye](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=blackeye)
  • [K9] MUTAVI, Blackface: a new mutation in the budgerigar: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=blackfa](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=blackfa)
  • [K10] MUTAVI, Crest: A Subvital Character in the Budgerigar: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=crested](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=crested)
  • [K11] MUTAVI, Description of the Slate Budgerigar: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=slate](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=slate)
  • [K12] MUTAVI, The lacewing: An Enigma in Budgerigar Breeding?: [https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=lacewing](https://www.mutavi.info/index.php?art=lacewing)
  • [K13] WBO, Recognition of New Mutations: [https://world-budgerigar.org/recomutations.htm](https://world-budgerigar.org/recomutations.htm)
  • [K14] WBO Noticeboard 2011, Anthracite recognition note: [https://www.world-budgerigar.org/noticeboard11.htm](https://www.world-budgerigar.org/noticeboard11.htm)
  • [K15] OMIA, Feather, abnormal growth in budgerigar: [https://omia.org/OMIA002106/13146/](https://omia.org/OMIA002106/13146/)

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