Unusual Parrot Mutations

[Giantmoa]

that first blue and gold macaw and the electus are stunning though I can see how the color mutations of some of them can be off-putting

[Shani]

I wonder what physiology drives these color mutations?

Umm... I could be misinterpreting the question, but if you mean what I think you mean, I have an excuse to put on my science hat and babble! Here's hoping I have my 'sciencing' correct - someone let me know if I'm wrong please <3

Unlike humans, who only have melanins as a pigment, parrots have melanins and lipochromes- I think the lipochromes are specifically called psittacofulvins (melanins give the browns/blacks/greys, lipochromes give the orange, reds and yellows). The other colours found in parrots are due to a specific feather structure sometimes called the Dyck Texture. Wikipedia explains that better than me haha. As an aside, cockatoos don't have that feather texture.

For example, the blues and bright greens of many parrots are produced by constructive interference of light reflecting from different layers of the structures in feathers, in the case of green plumage in addition to the yellow pigments; the specific feather structure involved is sometimes called the Dyck texture

So basically with those mutations shown, either the melanin has pretty much been removed (eg: in the case of the yellow senegal, and red african grey), or the lipochrome basically isn't there (eg: in the case of the blue and white eclectus). The patterns could also be altered if there was a mutation that altered the distribution of the pigments, but in the case of the mutations shown in those pics, just the amount of the various pigments is changed (particularly obvious with the eclectus).

They do look extraordinary though, that's for sure!

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Umm... I could be misinterpreting the question, but if you mean what I think you mean, I have an excuse to put on my science hat and babble!

I'll take my science hat off to you! That's exactly what I was wondering. Now I must google, as it sounds as if parrots are blue for similar reasons the sky is blue!

Yep, apparently 'tis so! Very nice! Who knew? (Shani knew).

[Shani]

I'll take my science hat off to you! That's exactly what I was wondering. Now I must google, as it sounds as if parrots are blue for similar reasons the sky is blue!

Yep, apparently 'tis so! Very nice! Who knew? (Shani knew).

Haha, thankyou! *tips science hat*

This thread got me curious, so I got to searching for other rare mutations.

Blue Male Eclectus - this is one of the most beautiful mutations I have seen - just wow!
http://www.avianweb.com/images/birds/parrots/eclectus/bluemutation.jpg
"white" Blue and gold macaw
http://www.avianweb.com/blueandgoldmutations.html
Yellow mutation Yellow-tailed black cockatoo - this one looks unbelievable
http://photogallery.canberrabirds.org.au/images/Black-Cockatoo_Yellow-tailed_Leucistic_Cook.JPG

I'll update as I find more - this is fun

[Brittanyv326]

Those blue & white macaws are gorgeous!!! These are all really cool, wish I could find some to share Till then I'll just keep oohing and awwing over yours!

[Shani]

More.
Hybrid macaws
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/macaws/HybridMacaws.php

Fwiw, I'm not a fan of hybrids at all - especially with endangered macaws (seriously, the hell are these people doing O.o) but they are very interesting to look at - some of them are stunning.

Rainbow lorikeet mutations
http://www.rainbows.com.au/new12.10.03%20Lorikeets%20and%20chicks%20%282%29%20009.jpg

Another unusual eclectus:
http://eclectusparrots.net/forum/index.php?/topic/2639-mutation-eclectus-from-thailand/

Crimson rosella mutations:
http://www.parrotmutations.com/crimsonrosella.html

[pchela]

My favorite mutation, a blue Caique. http://caiquecrazy.com/bluecaique.html

I'd love to have one of those!

[Shani]

Wow. I tried looking up more info about the blue caique, but that site seems to be the only one that has any info on it :O The rest of what I found was just reposts/referencing that caique crazy site.

I wonder why there's so much secrecy around it. Dammit, you've piqued my curiosity now.

[pchela]

Wow. I tried looking up more info about the blue caique, but that site seems to be the only one that has any info on it :O The rest of what I found was just reposts/referencing that caique crazy site.

I wonder why there's so much secrecy around it. Dammit, you've piqued my curiosity now.

Sorry...

But if you find any more info I'd love to hear about it.

[Shani]

Sorry...

But if you find any more info I'd love to hear about it.

I'll let you know. There is so much secrecy around this bird O_o Anyway, All I found was this http://www.caiqueforum.com/showthread.php/946-Blue-Caique-Update?p=33682#post33682

"The bird originates in Australia- I have a special contact regarding the bird and more pictures soon to come, but unfortunately I cannot release too much information "