This mutation Pearl cockatiel or Pearl cinnamon cockatiel is always in the “supplement” of another and is characterized by pearls on the back. The simplest cockatiel mutation combination is wild-type opaline. It is impossible to detect the gender of young cockatiels and sexing the cockatiel cinnamon pearl. The males are recognizable because they lose their pearls from their first molt. There are other combinations, such as variegated opaline, cinnamon opaline, or white opaline face.
A simplified approach to mutations and their transmission
There are different types of mutations in our birds:
- The dominant (the wild type in general) The co-dominants
- The sex-related recessive or dominant
- The recessive
Here are the mutations according to the species.
The dominant and co-dominant:
They will be systematically expressed in the young whatever a couple of the departure and whatever the bird that presents the mutation, the sex of the mutant bird has no importance.
No bird (male or female) can be a carrier of one of its mutations, whether the bird is mutant or not.
For co-dominants, the theoretical ratio obtained in young is 50 / 50: 50% mutants and 50% normal (initial form).
In birds, it is the male who has a pair of identical sex chromosomes XX, and the female a pair of different sex chromosomes XY, unlike the human being.
In sex-related mutations, the gene carrying the mutation will be located on the X chromosomes only.
This implies in sex-related recessive mutations that:- a male can be mutant (the 2 chromosomes carry the gene of the mutation)
example: A male cockatiel opaline will be genetically noted XopXop
- A male can be a carrier (only 1 chromosome has the gene)
example:
An opaline carrier cockatiel male will be genetically denoted Xop Xop+ (where Xop+ = unmutated chromosome)
- Females can be mutant
example:
An opaline female cockatiel will be genetically denoted XopY
- Females cannot be carriers because of only one X chromosome on the sex chromosome pair.
The sex-related mutation is transmitted genetically and visually only from father to daughter but it is also transmitted from mother to son but only genetically!
Examples of mating in cockatiels with opaline mutation to illustrate
Couple 1: male opaline X Normal
female[/color]
Xop Xop
Xop+ XopXop+ Xop+Xop+
Y XopY XopY
Either
100% opaline carrier male 100% opaline female Couple 2: opaline
carrier male x normal
female
Xop Xop+
Xop+ XopXop+ Xop+Xop+
Y XopY Xop+Y
That is
25% wild type male opaline carrier 25% wild-type male 25% opaline female
25% wild
type female Couple 3: wild type male x opaline
female
Xop+ Xop+
Xop Xop+Xop Xop+Xop
Y Xop+Y Xop+Y
Either
100% wild type male opaline carrier 100% wild
type female Couple 4: wild type male opaline carrier x opaline
female
Xop Xop+
Xop XopXop XopXop+
Y XopY Xop+Y
That is
25% of opaline males 25% of wild-type male opaline carriers 25% of opaline
female 25% of wild
type female Recessive
mutations They are not carried by the sex chromosomes but by the others.
The chromosomes are all grouped in pairs, these mutations can be present on one or both chromosomes constituting the targeted pair.
This implies that:
- Males and females can be carriers of these mutations.
- The 2 chromosomes of the pair must be mutated for the mutation to be expressed visually.
Examples of mating with the blue mutation in wavy (= white face in cockatiel)Note V the form “wild type” (for green and capital because dominant) and b for blue (in lower case because recessive)
A blue individual will be genetically noted bb whether male or female.
A homozygous (pure) wild-type individual will be genetically rated VVand a heterozygous (carrier) individual will be genetically rated Vb
Couple 1: homozygous wild-type male x blue
female
V V
b Vb Vb
b Vb Vb
Either 100% green carrying blue Torque 2: male blue
x female green homozygous
b b
V Vb Vb
V Vb Vb
Either 100% blue green
If
we compare the 2 tables, the results are identical whether it is the male or the female who is mutant which shows that for recessive mutations, the sex of the bird does not matter and we also realize that we obtain no mutant if the 2 starting individuals do not have the gene of the mutation concerned, Condition sine qua non to be able to obtain mutants!
Let’s check: Couple 3:
green male carrying blue x blue
female
V b
b Vb Bb
b Vb Bb
Either 50% green carrying blue or 50% blue The results will be identical if the starting couple is: male blue x female green carrying blue.
We notice here that females can be carriers of recessive mutation as was specified at the beginning
Couple 4: green male carrying blue x female green carrying blue
V b
V VV Vb
b Vb Bb
Either
25% homozygous
green 50% green carrying blue 25% blue
This will help you approach genetics without getting too lost in complex scientific data and will allow you to first understand how mutation transmission works and to be able to find the results of your mating relatively easily.
Opaline or pearl mutation
The pearl or opaline cockatiel mutation sex-related recessive mutation is very often in “supplement” with another and is characterized by pearls on the back.
The cockatiel opalines are all different with more or less cockatiel pearl, we talk about good or bad beading. It is impossible to sex with young cockatiel subjects with this mutation without knowing the cockatiel’s parents.
Opaline Cockatiel
Chicks are born with yellow down and dark eyes
Opaline is a local reduction of melanin.
The feather is devoid of color, except in its center and on the edges which are gray
the mask and the crest are yellow in the male and greenish in the cockatiel female and end in gray on the top of the crest.
The beak is dark horn-colored, the legs greyish and the nails are dark grey. The eyes are black
Pearl cinnamon cockatiels
All you need to know about cockatiel pearl mutation
Pearl Cockatiel Hoopoe
The crest is gray in color but there are some pale yellow shades at the roots of the feathers on the forehead.
At their roots, the feathers of the hoopoe are the same yellow color as those of the head. The longest crest feathers may turn slightly gray towards their tips.
Pearl Cockatiel Head
In the ear region, there is a round orange-red spot (called mumps) 1.5 centimeters in diameter. The cockatiel color is duller than in the cockatiel pearl male.
Although this mumps is circular in shape and requires delineation in the Pearl cockatiel male, the Pearl cockatiel female standard tolerates small yellow and gray encrustations on the outer periphery of this mumps. This tolerance excludes any significant indentations.
In the ear region, there are around orange-red spots 1.8 centimeters in diameter. This region should also be clearly demarcated from the yellow color of the head and not have any encrustation. The orange-red color must be uniform and well-contrasted.
The space covering the underside of the eye up to the cheeks and between the beak and the mumps is yellow and gray in color. The space running from the top of the nostrils to the eye contour is also yellow and gray in color.
The Upper and back of the head form a narrow dark gray band behind the crest.
This band widens along each side of the head following the orange-red color and joins on the neck. The color is dark gray on the back of the head and lighter gray on the chest without any encrustation. Depigmentations of melanin on these coverts, giving an image of white water drops, are present.
Pearl cinnamon cockatiels
Pearl Cockatiel Nape, Back, Rump, Sus-Caudales
All these areas should be dark gray in color with depigmentation of the feathers. The alternation of melanins and psittacines (white or yellow) should produce a drawing hemmed with a very fine border on each feather.
The drawing is in a half-moon on the coverts of the neck then it “becomes oval” gradually as it gains the back.
The rump is streaked with gray and white (or yellow). The upper tail is almost depigmented.
Pearl Cockatiel Wings
Pearl cockatiel wing feathers (coverts and flight feathers) are hemmed in dark gray except for a depigmented wing band that borders the outside of part of the wing (when it is at rest).
This band originates at the wing joint, runs along the wing at the fold-over 1.8 to 2 centimeters wide, and ends on the secondary flight feathers. The design of pearl cinnamon is gradually and symmetrically “ovalized” by gaining more and more flight feathers: tertiary, secondary, and primary. The margins of the primary flight feathers are dark gray.
The elongated pattern of the wing strip must be regular, without any indentation with the dark gray color of the wing. The color must be white; some light yellow suffusions are accepted.
Pearl Cockatiel Chest, Belly, Panties, Underside
These areas are gray, with small rounded white beads on the chest. Yellow inlays on the belly are accepted in small quantities and provided that their design is regular and symmetrical.
Pearl Cockatiel Tail
The tail is light yellow except for a gray tip at their ends and the rachis of the rectrices. Some regular gray and yellow hatching is accepted on the underside of the tail.
Legs, Fingers, and Nails: The legs and feet are gray. The nails are black.
Pearl Cockatiel’s eyes
The peak cockatiel eyes is grey and dark.
Pearl Cockatiel Beak
The Pearl cockatiel beak is Grey.
Pearl cockatiel price
How much does a pearl cockatiel cost: The Pearl cockatiel price costs $150 to $200
Pearl cockatiel Nutrition
The pearl cinnamon cockatiel is a mainly granivorous bird, but it enjoys all kinds of foods like fruits and even vegetables. In this article, we will see in more detail what makes up his diet, as well as a list of authorized fruits and vegetables.
The diet you feed your cockatiel should always be varied, as a bird in captivity will spend much of its time, just as it would in the wild, looking for food. Monotonous food will therefore have a negative impact on your bird’s mental health. Many budgies tend to sort and send a good portion of their seeds to the bottom of their cage. So let them peck at the fallen seeds for a while before re-filling their feeder: this keeps them busy and contributes to their psychological balance. Be careful not to leave their feeder empty for too long! To perfect the mental balance of your opaline cockatiel, also think about the different toys! see more about cockatiel toys ideas
Seeds for pearl cockatiels
We find in the diet of the cockatiel mainly small grasses and some larger seeds to distribute sparingly because fatter and more energetic.
- Canary seed: small brown seed rich in protein. It is the basis of a healthy diet for most birds because it is very balanced.
- Millet: there are several varieties of colors. Millet is quite poor but has the advantage of being able to be distributed in clusters. The cockatiels love them because they then have the pleasure of dissecting them themselves.
- Oats: seed quite rich in energy. You can add it to your mixture, but without overdoing it.
- Sunflower: This seed is very popular with pearl cockatiel, but must be present in small quantities because it is very rich in energy and quite fat.
- Other seeds can still complement your blends such as buckwheat and flax.
Of course, you can buy these mixtures already prepared and in adequate proportion.
Fruit for pearl cockatiels
Cockatiels bird love fruit, and this gives you a good opportunity to socialize with your bird, in addition to varying its food. Be careful to remove the seeds because they may contain poison for your pet.
Fruits should be distributed in small quantities because they contain sugar and can cause diarrhea.
Here is the list of recommended fruits.
- pineapple
- banana
- cherry
- fig
- strawberry
- raspberry
- Passion fruit
- Grenada
- kiwi
- lychee
- melon
- wild blackberries
- blueberry
- coconut
- orange
- papaya
- watermelon
- fishing
- pear
- apple
- plum
- grape
- raisin
Vegetables for pearl cockatiels
More and more breeders supplement the parrot diet of their birds with vegetables, because the seeds given alone are often too fat and too rich in energy for a bird in captivity, especially if it does not have the opportunity to spend flying regularly. Attention: if you want to introduce vegetables into the diet of your pearl cinnamon cockatiel, be sure to do it gradually to allow its digestive system to adapt.
It is possible that your bird “plays” with the pieces of vegetables rather than eating them. In this case, you can try to mix them in their seeds, as long as they are not “juicy” vegetables.
Vegetables are, like fruits, to be distributed sparingly to avoid diarrhea.
Here is the list of recommended vegetables
- artichoke
- beet
- broccoli
- carrot
- celery
- chicory
- collard greens
- pumpkin
- cucumber
- squash
- courgette
- endive
- spinach
- fennel
- French bean
- lettuce
- corn on the cob
- turnip
- sweet potato
- green peas
- Leeks
- pepper
- pumpkin
- tomato
Food supplements for Pearl cockatiels
In addition to the parrot foods we have just mentioned, there are a series of supplements that you should make available to your pearl cockatiel.
The first, and best known, is the cuttlefish bone which is an indispensable element, to be distributed without moderation for the following reasons:
- Large contribution of calcium, essential to your bird (especially during the laying period for females).
- Maintenance of the spout of your pearl cinnamon cockatiel
- Satisfy his destructive instinct: she will be happy to tear him to pieces!
You can find cuttlefish bones in pet shops and on the internet: Buy cuttlefish bones on Amazon.
Minerals are naturally present in fruits and vegetables, but if your bird doesn’t eat enough, you can find supplements in several forms: bulk pecking and powdered (mixed with the seeds).
How long does a Pearl cockatiel live
How long does a pearl cockatiel live: The pearl Cockatiel’s lifespan varies on average between 15 and 20 years. with a very good quality of life and cockatiel care and food and diet health and nutrition and much love, she can sometimes even live up to 30 years.
Pearl cockatiel male or female
Males Pearl Cockatiel
Males Pearl Cockatiel are recognizable because they begin to lose their pearls from their first molt, and will therefore look (for simple opaline) like a wild type. There are multitudes of combinations with opaline, such as variegated opaline, opaline cinnamon or white face opaline, etc…
All mutations can combine together.
Here are two pictures: on the right male an opaline pale face who has lost the pearls on his back, we see slight traces still. On the left female opaline (pearl).
Female Pearl Cockatiel
This description of the Pearl cockatiel Mutation standard is written from a female Pearl cockatiel that has completed its adult molt.
In italics, the physical characteristics of the Pearl cockatiel male in juvenile plumage will appear.
The breeder who presents males accepts the risk of being penalized in the competitions.
Pearl cockatiel male-female difference
SOURCE: Denny the Budgie
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