Booklets

The Complete Guide to
COCKATIEL

Two appendices never published

Two additional expectations tables

FIRST IN SERIES

For cockatiel enthusiasts, whether beginners, seasoned breeders or owners of pet cockatiels, Linda Rubin's
Cockatiel Color Mutations is an excellent reference on this subject. Written with clear, understandable language,
this guide gives a comprehensive study on the color pigmentations found in cockatiels. The first 11 chapters are
based on a series of articles by Linda Rubin entitled "Color Pigmentation in Cockatiels" originally published in
American Cage Bird Magazine. Linda wrote a column in ACBM called, "Talk From Tangowood." These chapters
explain the mutations that have appeared in cockatiels in terms of color pigmentation. This in-depth study gives a
thorough understanding of why mutations appear the way they are seen visually. Another plus with this guide is
that it makes references to show standards and explains what is desirable on the show bench. This is an ideal aid
for those breeders interested in showing their birds.

Several additional chapters have been written including two appendices and several tables. Appendix i gives an
historical record of the primary cockatiel mutations and when cross mutations became popular. Appendix II gives
the characteristics of the seven main cockatiel mutations and their crosses whether they are double or multiple
crosses. Two tables give an easy method of calculating sex-linked and simple recessive mutations. They are
easy to read and understand. Although this guide is a softbound booklet with no color photography of the
mutations, it is a "must" for those interested in cockatiels and their mutations. This information has been
explained to a depth not found in many publications. For those interested in seeing many of the color mutations
found in cockatiels, I recommend the February/March 1991 issue of AFA Watchbird magazine which has a
special issue on cockatiels. Linda Rubin wrote several articles in this issue and submitted the wonderful color
photography of the cockatiel center spread. This guide has been written by a very knowledgeable author. Not
only has Linda Rubin reproduced cockatiels for many years, she is also a certified panel judge for both the
National Cockatiel Society (NCS) and the Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors (SPBE). She was also the
author of the NCS's official "Show Standard of Excellence," by which NCS cockatiels are judged."

Few individuals have given so much to the various dimensions of aviculture as Boston's Linda Rubin. Although
most closely associated with her beloved cockatiels, Linda has held innumerable influential positions in both local
and national organizations, giving to them much of the vital impetus needed not only to survive, but to prosper as
well. Many of these organizations have naturally had the cockatiel as its focus, but others have been as
all-encompassing as the American Federation of Aviculture.

Linda is, however, probably more widely known as a show judge, lecturer, and as a consistent contributor to the
growing literature in the many facets of aviculture, most recently in a series of articles for AMERICAN CAGE BIRD
MAGAZINE. Understandably, but much to the chagrin of the many cockatiel "aficionados," up until now, Linda
Rubin had not produced a book on her favorite subject, due to her many other commitments on behalf of
aviculture. Fortunately, Linda Rubin has made available for us The Complete Guide to Cockatiel Color Mutations,
reminiscent of earlier contributions, concerning color mutations of parrots, made by British author George Smith in
chapters of his books, Lovebirds and Related Parrots and Encyclopedia of Cockatiels.

However, Linda has taken the subject of mutations, in terms of color pigmentation to a greater depth and length
than has previously been found in anything offered the aviculturist. Discussions of rare color mutations and her
references to show standards, make this booklet a one of a kind phenomena for aviculturists with a penchant for
the study of genetics.
                                                                                          Thomas C. Marshall, President
                                                                                           American Federation of Aviculture
                                                                                           July 15, 1988

Another interesting but less popular double mutation is the Lutino Cinnamon. The Lutino Cinnamon is a
combination of two sex-linked colors (i.e. Lutino and Cinnamon) appearing together, although in most instances
the Lutino will mask the Cinnamon coloration. Therefore, it is possible to possess a so-called "Lutino" which, in
actuality, could be the double mutation Lutino Cinnamon. However, chances would be very slim on the latter,
unless you knew the full pedigree.

In contrast, there are some Lutino Cinnamon specimens which do exhibit varying amounts of tan to brown hues on
the wings, tail and other areas including the undersides and back. I have heard reports of some birds ranging from
a slight wash to a much deeper coloration. This is extremely interesting as it seems to illustrate a contradiction in
the way in which we perceive the Lutino mutation to be inherited. Therefore, it appears it is not always an absolute
to assume the ino factor (e.g. Lutino) will always successfully mask the Cinnamon mutation in the combined form.
Here then, is where theory parts company from actual practice ...

... I cannot resist the temptation at this time to point to a parallel comparison of the color pigmentation in the
Lutino. As mentioned in an earlier section of this series, there are some breeders working with lavendar wings. The
lavendar wing is the unofficial label given to those Lutinos which do not seem to successfully mask all the grey
melanin pigment in the plumage. As some of the melanin is expressed, or visible, the bird has a greyish or
lavendar cast to its wings, tail and frequently other areas. This would be considered a fault on the showbench,
much in the same manner that a lutino budgerigar sporting a greenish cast or an albino budgerigar sporting a
bluish cast would be faulted. It is my opinion that eventually these lavendar wings, if selectively bred, would only
produce Normal Greys as the intensity of melanin pigmentation increases. Yet, this is only theory and to the best
of my knowledge has not yet been proven. One could also take the opposite stand and claim that the ino factor of
the Lutino has weakened, and so cannot successfully mask the grey melanin hidden underneath.

Looking back at the Lutino Cinnamon, could we also ask the same questions? If selectively bred for the brown
shades would we ultimately produce only Cinnamons again? Or, if the ino factor of the Lutino is being weakened
and allowing for such specimens as the lavendar wing where grey pigmentation is expressed, do we face the same
problem with the Lutino Cinnamon where the ino factor also cannot successfully mask the Cinnamon color? (More
to the point, do we view this as a problem or a step in another direction)? To complicate the picture further, if we
work with Lutinos from lavendar wing lines for our Lutino Cinnamons, will the grey melanin pigment of the
lavendadar wing become dominant over any cinnamon or tan colors which would have been expressed? ... One
certainly could speculate even further on ... would the new true Albino be altered when bred to other colors if the
ino factor (i.e. Lutino or Albino) is affected? Or, is this a matter of proper selective breeding against possible show
faults such as eliminating the darker pigments and not allowing them to show through? ... Furthermore, it would be
impossible to recognize a Lutino Cinnamon if the Lutino did successfully mask the Cinnamon color. Show
classifications are usually based on phenotype (visual characteristics) not genotype (the full pedigree of all
characteristinc). At this time, we are not certain of the nature of many colors or how they'll interest in the hierarchy
of dominance with other colors or factors ... (Continued) ...

Color Pigmentation: Part VIII
The last of the common triple mutations which I will discuss in this series is the Lutino Pearl Pied. This fascinating
combination has not received much popularity or credibility, probably due to the fact that it is difficult to
recognize. Again, we are dealing with one color along with two patterns in the same bird. However, this time we
have a color (Lutino) and a pattern (Pearl) which are sex-linked and in most instances, inherited together. The
other pattern, the Pied factor, is recessive in reproduction and of course must be present in both parents either
in split or visual form in order to produce this triple mutation.

At first glance, the Lutino Pearl Pied may resemble a Lutino Pied or Lutino Pearl, depending upon its
background. Yet, the Lutino Pearl Pied is a combination of each of these three separate mutations. To simplify,
this triple mutation is actually a visual Pearl Pied, however, you may not be able to easily see the markings as
the Lutino color completely masks the melanin pigment or grey pattern of the Pied. Then, what about the pearl
lacings, are those visible? In many cases, yes! Returning to Part IV of this series on Lutino Pieds: "... when
working from golden pied family lines which display heavy (carotenoid) yellow pigment, the Lutino Pied can
appear an almost solid yellow, if bred from extra heavy golden pied specimens. While a Lutino Pearl may
appear deep yellow from a distance with closer inspection revealing individual yellow lacings, a heavy Lutino
Pied can look more solidly yellow even when viewed close up. True, a light Lutino Pied or one which exhibits very
little yellow pigment may be hard to identify." Therefore, depending on inherited yellow pigmentation, the ideal
Lutino Pearl Pied specimen will be of a more solid yellow color and reveal deeper

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BOOK REVIEW
The Complete Guide to Cockatiel Color Mutations
by Linda S. Rubin

Reviewed by Dale R. Thompson
Co-editor AFA WATCHBIRD Magazine
Volume XIX, No. 4, August/September 1992

FORWARD

EXCERPTS
Color Pigmentation: Part V

Excerpt to Part VIII continued

COLOR

MUTATIONS

A collection of over 11 Chapters as
originally published in the author's
column, "Talk From Tangowood,"
in American Cage Bird Magazine

Describes why we see the color
mutations as we view them

Provides an historical account
of primary color mutations

Includes frequent references
to cockatiel show standards

Forward by Thomas C. Marshall,
past president of the American
Federation of Aviculture, Inc.