Euwing lovebird mutation- The Euwing mutation is one of the various colour mutations that exist in lovebirds. This mutation is known for its contrasting gradation colour patterns and is a favourite among lovebird enthusiasts when combined with multiple lovebird mutations.
The Ewing mutation was first discovered in the Agapornis fischeri species in the early 1980s. The name "Euwing" is derived from the word "Euwmelanin Wing."Eumelanin is a type of melanin pigment that gives black and brown colours to various organisms, including lovebirds. In the euwing mutation, eumelanin is essential in forming the "V" pattern on the coat. Melanin deposition in 3/4 of the wing feathers of the euwing mutation leaves the original colour unreduced. Meanwhile, the mantle and breast areas are slightly reduced, so the colour will appear paler than others.Melanin in the euwing mutation retains its original colour area depending on the genotype condition, whether one allele or multiple alleles.Table of Contents
Variety of euwing mutations
The euwing mutation has an incomplete dominant mode of inheritance, so you only need one allele in the parents to get euwing offspring in the first generation; incomplete dominance also makes euwing two phenotypes in one mutation.
SF Euwing (single factor)
This is the heterozygote of the euwing mutation, obtained from euwing x normal parents; the main characteristic is that the "V" pattern will be more focussed and tighter in the mantle area only. The chest area is minimally reduced, so it still appears greenish or bluish.
DF Euwing (double factor)
This is the Homozygous form of the euwing mutation, obtained from both parents having the euwing allele. The main characteristic is that the "V" pattern already appears to extend from the mantle almost all the way to the wing area, with shades of gold in green birds and whitish in bluebirds. The breast area also undergoes a more intense reduction so that the colour resembles the back area.
Basic characteristics euwing mutation
Although I have given a bit about the characteristics above, it may be better if it was accompanied by pictures and detailed explanations of each part that distinguishes euwing from other mutations.
"V" pattern on the euwing mutation
In the picture is the combination of euwing with blue1blue2; it is also the case in almost all combinations that there is a "v" pattern on the mantle area that is very contrasting when the single factor and will expand on the double factor.
Golden yellow is for the green bird, grey is for the combination with the bluebird, the cream is for the combination with blue1blue2 and aqua, and the combination with the yellow face will have a mustard yellow colour effect.
Chest colour on euwing lovebirds
In the picture is Agapornis personatus DF euwing D blue; you can see that the chest area has more melanin reduction, so it has a grey effect than it should be blue.
The reduction is less intense in the single factor, so some only have shades of grey for the blue series and shades of yellow for the green series. There are even some cases where there is no reduction on the SF euwing chest.
Gradation on the wings of agapornis euwing
In the picture is the Agapornis fischeri opaline dilute green DF euwing; there is a subtle yellow to light green gradation on the back and wing area as this is a homozygous euwing or double factor.
When in a single factor, the colour levels contrast, forming a wing edge pattern that covers the entire wing feather area.
Reduction of rump feather euwing mutation
In the image is an Agapornis fischeri Green Euwing SF. The purple colour on the rump feathers appears slightly reduced, becoming somewhat pale. This also occurs in double-factor Euwings, where the reduction is more intense, causing the rump feathers to match the colour of the mantle feathers.