Pale Lovebird Mutation is a category of eumelanin reduction in the lovebird species. And is the SLino allele.
Although in Agapornis Fischer, the absence of SLino is acceptable. Because mutations can appear anytime and anywhere without the major allele first present.
The Pale Lovebird mutation is listed with MOI (Mode Of Inheritance) SL (Sex-Linked) recessive.
The breeding pattern is identical to Opaline Fischer; if you have worked with Opaline, there is certainly no problem if you breed the Pale Lovebird Mutation.
Pale Lovebird mutation is still relatively rare for the time being. Even some aviculture do not know.
Mutation Characteristics of Pale Lovebirds
• This mutation results in a limited reduction of existing eumelanin. This reduction is especially noticeable in the front body.
• "pale green" = green with visual bleaching of about 15%;• "pale blue" = blue with visual bleaching of about 15%;• "pale purple" = purple with visual bleaching of about 15%;• "pale slaty green" = slaty green with visual bleaching of about 15%;• "Pale Slaty Blue" = Slaty Blue with visual bleaching of about 15%.
The left of attention is on the flight feathers. That the Pale Lovebird Mutation will have a younger colored primary flight feather when compared to the wild type.And it will look darker when compared to pastel mutations. So it's a middle between wild type and pastel mutation.
The reduction also occurs in the legs and nails; the Pale Lovebird Mutation will display a foot color that tends to be brighter than the wild type. Some will also appear as red meat in some instances.
On the nails, the Pale Lovebird Mutation looks more transparent, unlike the wild type, which is dark grey or black.
Some newly hatched Pale Lovebird Mutation chicks will be born with red eyes, but not absolutely.
Not all Pale Lovebird Mutations show red eyes on the first day; it all depends on the shape and size of the damaged eumelanin granules.
How is the breeding of the Pale Lovebird Mutation
The Pale Lovebird mutation falls into the SL (Sex-Linked) recessive category. If you previously did Opaline breeding, this is fine.
Because opaline and pale are SL (Sex-Linked) Recessive, you will get the F1 phenotype pale with just one allele in male parents.
The main focus of the Pale Lovebird Mutation is on male birds since only male birds can inherit the phenotype of pale lovebirds in the first generation.
For the female bird Pale Lovebird Mutation, you will only get a pale cleavage bird. That means it has to be 2x the process with an average/pale male.
The following are some of the breeding scenarios of the Pale Lovebird Mutation that you can apply to your aviary.
- Male Pale x Female Pale Child 100 % Pale.
- Pale male x non-Pale female child 50% male split Pale 50% female Pale.
- Non-Pale male x Pale female Child 50% male split Pale 50% female non-pale.
- Male Split Pale x Non-Pale offspring 25% male split Pale, 25% non-Pale male, 25% Pale female, And 25% non-Pale female.
- Male Split Pale x Pale female Child 25% Pale male, 25% Split Pale, 25% Pale female, and 25% non-Pale.
As of this writing, the Pale Lovebird Mutation is still rare. And this is great for business in your aviary.