Another blue head

[CandoAviary]

This blue sf pastel is in breeding condition and I see blue on the head.... This is one I bought in Orlando last January.











Pictires taken with a flash

[terriergal]

Beautiful! I want one!

[MLaRue]

Very pretty!

[Meagan83]

Nice! He's handsome!

[nixity]

Awesome

[MLaRue]

I found one yesterday in my flock and didn't even know it He is the father of my red line boys too

[CandoAviary]

I found one yesterday in my flock and didn't even know it He is the father of my red line boys too

Cool You know I am beginning to think that it is more common than people realize. It seems to just take some time to color out. Maybe many are sold before they know what they have??
I will be looking more closely at the chicks at coloring out and then at their first adult moult. Of course how many can you really keep that long

[Pukasand]

He's a beauty... I'm so jealous.

[Meagan83]

How does the blue head occur? I found a site with a pic of one that is a green back and seems to be in the wild.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... s%3Disch:1

[CandoAviary]

That is an awesome picture Meagan. I have been doing some research and had not run across that pic so thanks for posting. I have no idea how this color is coming about. Possibly a new mutation. Someone on the Aussie Finch Forum told me about the Opaline Budgies. Opaline Genetics is a sex linked recessive http://www.budgieplace.com/gen_opaline.html
The body/neck color basically crept up into the head area of this mutation. I haven't found any one yet that knows what is going on with the goulds.... if you ever find info, please do let me know.
As I stated in my post earlier, I wonder if it is not just the food, lighting that is a factor in the vibrancy of the feathers?? Or is it truly a genetic factor. It is only been seen in the sf green pastel (dilute) and the sf blue pastel. (of course males only) I will be keeping records on these boys and their offsprings and maybe will figure it out.
Tiffany has a blue head pastel also and she is very knowledgable on the workings of gouldian genetics so I am sure she will be able to shed some light on the subject as she breeds hers.

[MLaRue]

I never noticed this in person but after Donna sent me a picture of him look at this male with a little blue on his head too This male is one of my all time favorites since his coloring is so unique even before I knew of his head

[MLaRue]

Ooops - sorry I didn't know the picture was so small. I can't change it either - Donna will have to post her original.

[dfcauley]

Ooops - sorry I didn't know the picture was so small. I can't change it either - Donna will have to post her original.

Here ya go.... and yes, he is a beauty!!

[Meagan83]

He's very pretty donna. The way he's hanging over the edge reminds me of those powder-blue parrotlets.

[CandoAviary]

Pretty Like I said , I think the blue color on the top of the head is more common than most realize. You just have to look for it