Question now - picture later.

[finchbreeder]

While sorting through my Zebs yesterday. I rearrange the birds regularly to try to achieve certain colour/type birds.
I caught up a young cock. Changed my mind about where he was going when I had a good look at him.
Different.
Has anyone ever come accross a bird where only the 1/3 of the cheek patch closest to the beak is chestnut?
Yes he is pied, but the back 2/3rds is not white. It is dark gray, almost the same shade as his normal gray feathers.
I have some ideas, but would like to hear what others think.

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Moulting fully complete?

[finchbreeder]

100% moulted
Think genetic mutation combos.

[finchbreeder]

I would not have put the question up if I knew the answer.
However, I do have a niggling question.
I avairy breed, so the parents are whoever got together within the limitations of my smallest avairy.
So there is a 50% chance that Dad is a Charcol.

[Alf63]

No expert on Zebra mutations but I helped a mate catch up his aviary of Charcoal Zebs last weekend.

Majority had the grey cheek patches but one had a partial chestnut ear patch and another had chestnut ear patches but were very faded almost grey.

Alf63

[finchbreeder]

That is interesting. As I have only seen Charcoals with full gray ear patches.
So I could be on the right track about this boys genetic "difference"
Intend to try and interest him in a normal gray hen, as I have with my Charcoal boys to get splits. (like him?)