Aussie Finch Forum

I'm curious about some birds I have seen that look like European Yellows (Pastel), but they have white heads. What causes this?

Without seeing them am guessing. But probably Black heads, the gene that dilutes the green to yellow also dilutes the black to white.
LML

Thanks. I thought it might be that - just I have seen light grey heads before but never quite so white as the ones I'm looking at, so wondered if there might be an extra factor involved somehow.

I think you will find they are black headed Australian yellows not Euro yellows. Euro yellow black heads are either grey, ash grey or even a blue grey colour. Double factors can get nearly white but not snow white heads like AY's . Craig

I thought so for a moment, but they have purple chests.

I bred euro yellows for years and double factor cocks had very white heads,these where very well coloured birds not pastel coloured,vivid yellow,garyh

My understanding in euro yellow DF white head,white head follow through into the chest and the rest of the body is canary yellow and in the purple breast the head is a soft grey and under the bib it is white,that the way I distinguished breeding stock in my days when I bred them.

Yes garyh, and Euro yellow hens can also have quite white heads. This hen may even be genetically a red head although it is possible her parents are split to black:





From:
http://www.ohmifinch.com/DB/ItemDetail.asp?item=46061

And one of her silver siblings (slight hint of a salmon hue):



From:
http://www.ohmifinch.com/DB/ItemDetail.asp?item=46241

I agree with you all but Finchy said white head, completely white head down to the shoulders of which i have seen in black headed Australian Yellows. I could be be wrong on what finchy is talking about though. Cheers Craig

Purple chest rules out AY.