New mutation of Golden breasted

[MariusStegmann]

Lately I have been seeing a lot of a new mutation of GBW's at the loacal petshops. The cock has black on the chest instead of the red and gold. It also has black on the sides. I tried to take a picture of the cock bird's chest, but didn't quite succeed. What do you think of the new mutation. To me it doesn't look as great as the original GB and look more like melanism, except these birds were bred in outside aviaries. The hen's also look darker and have bright red beaks.

[MariusStegmann]

Here is another terrible picture.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

I agree with you Marius, it looks like birds that are not right somehow, either due to lack of light, or some nutritional deficiency.

Would be interesting to see how they would molt out with optimal diet and light.

I don't find them very attractive.

[debbie276]

Sure does look like melanism

[cindy]

looks melanistic...they need a good diet, access to direct sunlight or vitamins with D3 in it.

[Sally]

If they were bred in outside aviaries, you would think there would be no problem with melanism, but they sure look melanistic to me! I have Goldbreasts inside the house, and they have the normal coloring, so you do wonder what is going on with these. Personally, I don't find it attractive at all.

[lovezebs]

Sally

You have a point there Sally. My Goldbreasts, are indoors as well, and have a lovely deep Orange/red colouring. So how does that work?

[MariusStegmann]

I was assured that these birds were all bred in outside aviaries, with unlimited access to the sun, plus a proper diet. I think it must have started with a bird with a bit of black in it. Monotwine once mentioned to me that we don't know how melanism works and sometimes strange colours returns year after year.

[lovezebs]

MariusStegmann

All I can say, is that I wouldn't rush out to buy any of these kids. Are they charging more for them, because they're supposed to be a new mutation?

[Jen]

I would not rush out and buy these little guys either. My GB have so much vibrant coloring, which is what attracted me to these tiny little guys, I would not want to breed the black breast to reinforce the coloring. If it ain't broke.........why try to "fix" it???

[KarenB]

Those look very similar to black-chinned quailfinches (Ortygospiza gabonensis) and even more so African quailfinches (Ortygospiza atrocollis). These two species overlap with the Zebra waxbill (Amandava subflava) in several areas of the African continent. Possible cross?

[MariusStegmann]

We have an Orange breasted that is a local bird. (That we are not allowed to keep without a permit) and the goldenbreasted, closely related to orange breasted. The goldenbreasted is not a local bird. I think the orangebreasted is a bigger bird, but few people can tell the apart. Maybe a cross between those two species?

[Rox]

Marius, who is selling them? I would be curious to see them in person but I wouldn't buy them...

[MariusStegmann]

Rox I first saw this mutation at a little shop in Goodwood, I forgot the name. Then Panorama got in a lot of them - all sold out. Yesterday I saw them again at Pets Etc. in Goodwood. There were at least 15 pairs. Pets Etc. has a lonely Firefinch hen in the same cage for R150. I know you only have cocks.

Elana, they cost the same price as the normals. It should be less. They are not as pretty.

[Rox]

MariusStegmann don't tempt me with fire finches. But you are welcome to take her and come fetch one of my boys

Hmm, if Panorama still had I might have gone through this weekend to look but I won't bother. I just think it's damaging to the purity of the species. A pure GB is much more beautiful than those birds