Understanding SF and DF On Lovebird Mutations

Understanding SF and DF On Lovebird Mutations

Often we hear or read the terms lovebirds with the symbols SF (single factor) and DF (double factor). Some may need help understanding the term.

Though it dramatically affects the result of crossing on lovebirds, especially for a row of mutations with the "incomplete dominant" inheritance mode.

Understanding SF (single factor) and DF (double factor) will make our eyes more thorough on the lovebird mutation phenotype.

Some of them are very similar. Let's discuss it.

Table of Contents

Understanding "SF" and "DF" In Lovebird Dominant Mutations

In Dominant Lovebird Mutations, there is no difference if you look at their phenotype. However, the terms SF and DF remain in Dominant mutations such as slaty and Dominant Pied.

The phenotype is the same, but the Genotype in the Dominant mutation between SF and DF differs. In Dominant SF, it is referred to from one factor resulting from the crossing of their parents.

SF and DF in Slaty - Dominant Pied
SF and DF in Slaty - Dominant Pied

For example, if you cross Slaty SF x Green. If you get Green Slaty, the chick can be called Green Slaty SF (Single Factor).

Likewise, when you cross between Slaty DF x Green, if you get Green Slaty, then the chick can be said to be Green Slaty SF (Single Factor)

Dominant DF is a cross between parents of Dominant Mutation x Dominant Mutation. For example, you cross between Dominant Pied SF x Dominant Pied SF; when you get Dominant Pied, the chick can be said to be Dominant Pied DF. Although the simulation results on the genetic calculator in percentage terms, you will get dominant Pied SF chicks, it is not important. Because phenotypically, they are the same.

And when you do a breeding test on these SF chicks, the results will be the same as the theory above. Some might argue the Dominant Pied DF will always inherit 100% of the Dominant Pied chicks, but until now, you will still get Non-Pied chicks from dominant pied DF parents.

There is something strange about Slaty, who is a Dominant Mutation, but sometimes there are phenotype differences, completely grey, and some still leave traces of the base color that followed.

This I will discuss in a future article. But in conclusion, to establish whether it is SF or DF on the Dominant mutation, you have to look at the history of the bird's parents.

Understanding "SF" and "DF" In Incomplete Dominant Mutations Lovebird

In Incomplete Dominant Mutations such as Violet, Dark Factor, Misty, and Euwing, differences occur in terms of phenotype and also Genotype; the difference between "SF" and "DF" can be clearly observed by the eye.

It's about the difference in color intensity in feathers; you can see that when the Violet SF Factor occurs in bluebirds, the effect is the Violet intensity which only becomes a color accent on the feathers.

However, when the Violet DF Factor is present in bluebirds, the condition of the feather color will be completely violet with blue accents.

Sf and DF in Violet Factor Lovebirds
Sf and DF in Violet Factor Lovebirds

For example, in Dark Factor SF, when it occurs in the blue series Lovebir,d, the effect is an increase in the intensity of the dark hue on the feathers. What should be Blue turns into Dark Blue.

When Dark Factor DF occurs on the Blue Series Lovebird, then the condition of the feathers will be completely dark grey.

For some conditions, it looks difficult to distinguish due to the combination of mutations; when it happens, you just have to look at the color of the chest feather.

SF and DF Dark Factor Lovebirds
SF and DF Dark Factor Lovebirds
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© Lovebird Mutations Guide. Developed by Jago Desain