Aussie Finch Forum

You were thinking logically, Uraeginthus. It's always surprising to discover how rare that is, when it seems like the bleepin' obvious thing to do. Some people (clearly) are very reactive even to light-hearted, open-minded toying with ideas; some, as in your experience, don't feel at ease with scientific angles at all. I'm sure I would have piped up and said "Good idea!", had I been there (and had I dared!! ). Good stuff.

Well this has really got the cat amongst the pigeons. Hmm pigeons and doves, another naming mess. Well being strictly logical, it should be named to reflect its genetics. The Silver would be a descriptive name, which would make it clearer to non genetic thinkers. But to breed mutations one really needs to learn and think genetics. And while in general a fan of genetics this is one on which I agree with Natamabo. I would do it to prove I could, but my reaction to the resulting bird is why bother. So I would pass it on to another kean genetics type to continue with or keep.
LML

finchbreeder wrote:Well this has really got the cat amongst the pigeons. Hmm pigeons and doves, another naming mess. Well being strictly logical, it should be named to reflect its genetics. The Silver would be a descriptive name, which would make it clearer to non genetic thinkers. But to breed mutations one really needs to learn and think genetics. And while in general a fan of genetics this is one on which I agree with Natamabo. I would do it to prove I could, but my reaction to the resulting bird is why bother. So I would pass it on to another kean genetics type to continue with or keep.
LML

Well i'm with you Finchbreeder,don't get me wrong but i love mutations,the colourful ones that is.I can't see any reason why breeders would want to breed a snow white bird and charge $800 each for them,imo they are really going backwards with them. I might as well go and buy a $10 white canary and put in the aviary and pretend it's an AYB. Craig

I know exactly what you mean. The Gouldian is all about bold colour so it seems very strange to get excited about a white one. I used to scratch my head over it. However, the interesting thing about a white ('Silver') is its genetic potential; it can throw almost any colour, depending on its mate: Normal, Yellow (whichever type) or Blue, plus variations in head and chest colours. They are like white light - secretly made up of all of the colours of the rainbow!! Who'd know?!

So even though the bird itself is not striking (though can be elegant if well bred), it can mean lots of fun for fans of the varied colours achievable with Gouldians. I have gradually come around to this appreciation!

Maybe I will eventually warm to Australian Yellows and their Blue/Silver/White variants as well, but right now the idea of a grizzled Gouldian is a bridge too far for me from what they are all about - sharply delineated, punchy colour.

I also had (have) reservations as to the desirability of a blue/yellow combo but recently had it pointed out to me that the heavily streaked AYs can result in an attractive blue streaked bird in some AYBs. Could anyone possibly post a photo of a mature AYB? I've only ever seen photos of juveniles.

Tiaris wrote:I also had (have) reservations as to the desirability of a blue/yellow combo but recently had it pointed out to me that the heavily streaked AYs can result in an attractive blue streaked bird in some AYBs. Could anyone possibly post a photo of a mature AYB? I've only ever seen photos of juveniles.

Some pics of my mates Adult birds should be up later or maybe tomorrow

misso

Thanks for that. That looks quite distinct from a typical silver.

Yes, the blue is quite distinctive, presumably because the AY gene acts incompletely to fade the green colouration and therefore in this case the blue. The face is strange though - don't AY genes usually obliterate black? Or is that a weak/partial effect too? It has black patchiness.

An interesting, very scruffy-looking bird!

In my opinion, its a nice bird. If you see it live on a perch, its a stunning bird. The photos dont do its justice to its colours. it does not look anything like a silver, to me the name AYB is spot on.
With all new mutations, people have their problems, when the blues came they did not like them and they said they were weak. When the AY came onto the scene people thought they were ugly and did not like them, now everybody likes them.
To say it looks like a 10 dollar white canary, its a joke. I think some people need glasses.