Answering a question from a reader about the knowledge of the difference between pastel and dilute lovebirds mutations. Given the limited characters in the comment section, I made this article so that it can be read by everyone.
In genetic theory, pastel is a mutation that reduces melanin to 50%. While dilute is a mutation that has a reduction between 80% and 90%.
In some cases the phenotype between reduced and diluted is quite difficult to distinguish. It becomes even more difficult when there are multiple combinations of mutations in a single bird.
Like pastel euwing or maybe dilute euwing. And it is even more complicated if it is a combination of pastel and dilute in one individual.
Basically, you can look at it from the point of view that pastel will look tighter in colour whereas dilute is softer and sort of fluorecent in colour. You can look up what I mean by fluorescent colours so that our understanding is the same.
Dilute will show a lot of sparkle when compared to pastel which tends to be duller even in the same colour e.g. dilute blue vs pastel blue.
Pastel and dilute differences in agapornis fischeri
I will outline a few sections on pastel and dilute differences with images as your guide. Sorry for the limited image sources, the colour difference in the rump feathers is just a description. So let's Learn about the different characteristics of dilute vs pastel, from body plumage color, mask and tail to genetic inheritance.
Pastel and dilute differences in body feathers.
There might be a few darker coloured feathers, but it's still in a dilute feel. The fur on a dilute will also appear slightly shiny when compared to a pastel. Some people call this colour fluorecent.
The difference between pastel and dilute is the colour of the flight feathers.
Dilute will have a paler and more even flight feather colour. There is no edge pattern on this part. It is all matching from tip to tip. Whereas the flight feather colour in pastel will tend to be darker and can also be brighter if in combination with DEC or NSLino.
The wing edge pattern that is characteristic of the wild type is also present in the pastel mutation although it is subtle, in some cases the pastel wing feathers will be slightly wavy grey to white in the centre area.
The pastel mutation will definitely have three versions including blue breast with blue back, blue breast with white dominated back. Unlike the dilute, it will definitely produce an even colour even though it is very light.
The difference between pastel and dilute is the colour of the rump fur.
Pastels will always have violet-coloured rump fur like the wild type. This is because there is no reduction or minimal reduction in this area. So if you compare between wild type and pastel there is most likely no change in the rump coat area.
Whereas in dilute, the colour of the rump feathers will be slightly bluish. This difference will be apparent in the blue series dilute and also the parblue dilute. The nigrigenis dilute and lilianae dilute will also be slightly bluish which even the wild type matches the colour of the back feathers. The combination of dilute and pastel is not recommended at all.
You will only end up with poor, hard-to-identify chicks. And certainly far from the standard that the community demands.