Hi James - and Tiffany I will answer your question also... I appreciate all
your expertise! This bird is only about 7 months old and has recently completed
his juvenile molt. I am not the breeder but I know her pretty well. He was
raised in a large indoor aviary and fed gouldian mix seed, millet spray,
homemade nutrient-fortified egg food, vegetables and fresh greens. Lighting is
from windows and full spectrum fixtures. I just looked up "melanistic" and was
interested to learn more about that. Some of the birds I saw in photos were
beautiful, but apparently this is usually a temporary hormone problem, true? I
guess I will find out next year what Silvio's "true colors" are. Is it possible
to have an incomplete molt affecting only one area (breast)? Close-up, the
feathers there appear to be a mixture of white and lilac or blue, not the
juvenile gray. If he is a "dirty white breast", is that an undesirable trait to
continue through breeding?
Thanks again,
Valarie


--- In GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com, "James " <zabadak@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Valarie,
>
> From what I read I believe that you are not the breeder of this bird. Do you
> know how he was housed?
>
> From looking at him he could be slightly melanistic. This would account for
> the uneven colour, and the blue sheen, in his breast and I would expect it
> to moult out at his next moult. Apart from that he looks like what I would
> term a "bad white breast" This is a white breast that has retained some
> colour. I would not call him a lilac breast as I prefer, and believe the
> true lilac breast mutation should have a darker even colour as shown in the
> photo from Tiffany.
>
> There are many variations in breast colour (and indeed the lilac breast
> comes in several shades of colour but must be darker and more even than your
> boy) but not many "True" mutations. Only time will tell with your boy. I
> would not make any decision until he has moulted.
>
> Kind regards
>
> James
>
>
>
> From: GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com [mailto:GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of valmilazzo
> Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 1:25 AM
> To: GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [GPA101Genetics] Re: lilac-breasted male?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi James, yes you are right - it is so hard to get an accurate photo. His
> actual color is most similar to the third photo, where the bird in question
> is to the right of the molting blue female (Zerlina Porgy). Your evaluation
> would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
> Valarie
>
> --- In GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GPA101Genetics%40yahoogroups.com> , "James " <zabadak@> wrote:
> >
> > I Valarie,
> >
> > In each of the three photos your bird shows a different breast colour. I
> > realize that this is probably to do with the position when photographed
> and
> > the use, or not, of the flash. Could you please tell us which photo is
> > closest to his coulour in normal light.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > James
> >
> >
> >
> > From: GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GPA101Genetics%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GPA101Genetics%40yahoogroups.com> ]
> > On Behalf Of valmilazzo
> > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 1:55 AM
> > To: GPA101Genetics@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:GPA101Genetics%40yahoogroups.com>
> > Subject: [GPA101Genetics] lilac-breasted male?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello, I wonder if you experts out there can share an opinion about my new
> > black head male? Silvio has an unusual colored breast (see photo album
> > "lilac breast?"). It is much paler than a male purple breast, but not as
> > pink as a female purple breast. It is not a uniform color -somewhat
> blotched
> > with white, and the lower edge on his right side is darker. Do you think
> he
> > is a lilac-breast? Could he be something more unusual?
> >
> > Silvio's father is a black head, white breast, normal back possibly split
> to
> > blue. His mother is a black head, purple breast, normal back. This
> breeding
> > pair are closely related - father and daughter to each other. (They chose
> > each other from among several other options, according to the breeder). I
> am
> > told that in previous clutches, this (very prolific) pair had one other
> son
> > with a solid-colored lilac breast. They have also had at least one
> > blue-backed offspring. Silvio's brother Porgy is shown with him in one
> > photo. When I first bought Porgy his breast was a more intense blue color
> > than my other purple-breasted birds. With his last molt, it has become
> more
> > typical looking though. Any ideas/explanations would be appreciated!
> > Valarie
> >
>