Unusual Yellow-Crowns

wyndara · Snr Member Joined: Jun 19, 2005 Posts: 113

I have aquired a clutch of unusual coloured Yellow-Crowns. The colouring of which i have not seen before. Wondering if anyone else has seen this before? I have added a couple of pictures. The clutch was of 8 birds, 5 showed the colouring as the birds in the picture. Other 3 look normal. This was the parents first clutch. I have seen the grandparents of the breeding pair, they both show 1 yellow feather each on the wing area. But the parents show nothing. I have ruled out diet as the cause. Has anyone any ideas?

Peter · Foundation Member Joined: Oct 15, 2004 Posts: 599

The most striking is that these feathers seems to have a normal pigment distribution(eumelanine) in the earliest stage of the feather development (feather top). And suddenly it is stopped. It seems that the pigment cells (melanocytes)are destroyed during this proces and therefore I have the feeling that this has something to do with the Mottled pied.

wyndara · Snr Member Joined: Jun 19, 2005 Posts: 113

Thanks peter for your reply, as far as i can determine these birds have no mottle pied in this line but saying that if it is a form of mottled pied i would expect the birds to dilute as time passes. At this early stage i am not convinced it is a form of pied at all.Looks a little like a spangle, time and breeding will tell. my only set back is that there is only one hen out of .8 birds.