Lutino Mysteries
My Lutino’s eyes don’t look red. Why?
Would my bird still a Lutino if the eyes are not red?
My Lutino’s eyes don’t look red. Why?
Would my bird still a Lutino if the eyes are not red?
This was a handsome Lutino male I had many years ago. In looking at him the yellow streaking thru his cheek patches also confirmed he was a male. When he was young he had normal red eyes. His eyes started to change color at a year old. This started my quest to find out why.
From when I started breeding, I started digitally documenting everything I could, from problems, egg and chick development, growth and changes to each mutation that later helped me determine sex and anything specific to the mutation. For example, I would take pixs of a bird 2-3 months apart over a years period of time and later go back and compare any changes, developments, etc. Over the course of almost 15+ years I had accumulated over 60,000 pixs. Also, when I started finding anything on the internet (was AOL dial-up then) was limited. Towards the late 90’s and early 2000’s Cockatiel related mailing lists and Yahoo groups could be found and websites. One such Yahoo group was CockatielCastle run by Nan McMillan. This group is where the first discussions of blue (and other colors) eyed Cockatiels came up. I had posted the pix at the top of the page at that time. Over much discussion and digital comparisons, we agreed that the Pied mutation was the most likely contributor to the changes of color to the Lutino’s eye. More specially being ‘split to’ Pied. Whereas, if a visual Lutino Pied the only eye color change was it was a paler, almost jellybean pink that did not darken with age.
So, I started looking at all my saved pixs. I would crop the eye from a pixs and blow it up and examine it. Aside from the Lutino split to Pied that showed noticeable non-red eye (blue, green, yellow/amber, etc.) color changes if it was one if the more commonly found variations (see descriptions for each below) there was just slight changes to the normal red eye of the Lutino. Shown is some of my very early work of how I got some on the closeups of eyes to add to some of my collages. I wanted to do up a few more illustrations but can’t find that folder.
From when I started breeding, I started digitally documenting everything I could, from problems, egg and chick development, growth and changes to each mutation that later helped me determine sex and anything specific to the mutation. For example, I would take pixs of a bird 2-3 months apart over a years period of time and later go back and compare any changes, developments, etc. Over the course of almost 15+ years I had accumulated over 60,000 pixs. Also, when I started finding anything on the internet (was AOL dial-up then) was limited. Towards the late 90’s and early 2000’s Cockatiel related mailing lists and Yahoo groups could be found and websites. One such Yahoo group was CockatielCastle run by Nan McMillan. This group is where the first discussions of blue (and other colors) eyed Cockatiels came up. I had posted the pix at the top of the page at that time. Over much discussion and digital comparisons, we agreed that the Pied mutation was the most likely contributor to the changes of color to the Lutino’s eye. More specially being ‘split to’ Pied. Whereas, if a visual Lutino Pied the only eye color change was it was a paler, almost jellybean pink that did not darken with age.
So, I started looking at all my saved pixs. I would crop the eye from a pixs and blow it up and examine it. Aside from the Lutino split to Pied that showed noticeable non-red eye (blue, green, yellow/amber, etc.) color changes if it was one if the more commonly found variations (see descriptions for each below) there was just slight changes to the normal red eye of the Lutino. Shown is some of my very early work of how I got some on the closeups of eyes to add to some of my collages. I wanted to do up a few more illustrations but can’t find that folder.
I’ll start off with a little background and info about the Lutino Mutation first. I think of it as Eye Candy…LOL
Origin: Lutino is the second established mutation. Lutino first appeared in the aviaries of Mr. Cliff Barringer of Miami FL, USA in 1958. Mrs. Moon then successfully established the mutation.
In earlier reference books, dating from the late 70’s the Lutino was incorrectly referred to as Albino. The description for these birds were that they appeared to be white but retain the yellow mask orange check patches, and have red eyes. The references to the Lutino being white are misleading because if a person looks carefully there is the presence of lipochrome (yellow pigments) in varying degrees. This can vary from a subtle pale yellow to a deep primrose yellow. The Lutino mutation lacks (suppresses) the melanin pigment, which enables the black, brown, grey colors. As a result, the birds coloration can visually range from yellow to a cream white with orange cheek-patches. Some yellow will be present in the crest and sides of the face, and tail. The beak, feet and toenails are flesh colored. .
Origin: Lutino is the second established mutation. Lutino first appeared in the aviaries of Mr. Cliff Barringer of Miami FL, USA in 1958. Mrs. Moon then successfully established the mutation.
In earlier reference books, dating from the late 70’s the Lutino was incorrectly referred to as Albino. The description for these birds were that they appeared to be white but retain the yellow mask orange check patches, and have red eyes. The references to the Lutino being white are misleading because if a person looks carefully there is the presence of lipochrome (yellow pigments) in varying degrees. This can vary from a subtle pale yellow to a deep primrose yellow. The Lutino mutation lacks (suppresses) the melanin pigment, which enables the black, brown, grey colors. As a result, the birds coloration can visually range from yellow to a cream white with orange cheek-patches. Some yellow will be present in the crest and sides of the face, and tail. The beak, feet and toenails are flesh colored. .
Shown below are descriptions a few common variations of the Lutino mutations. Color variations have evolved when the Lutino has been paired with other mutations.
Lutino Pearl (LP) first appeared late 1970 and is a double mutation, meaning the bird visually shows two mutations, Lutino and Pearl. Visually the base color of the bird will be a pale cream color, with a delicate yellow scalloping covering the entire back. The tail will be a deep yellow with yellow barring. The cheek patch is orange. Adult Lutino Pearl cocks will exhibit beige to lavender appearing wash after their first molt. This slight wash is due to partially suppressed melanin. The eyes will darken as the bird matures, to a deep red color. From a distance, the eyes look like a dark eyed bird.
(Not shown) Lutino Pearl Pied (LPpD) first appeared in the early 1980’s and is a triple mutation that visually shows Lutino, combined with Pearl and Pied patterns. Visually the base color of the bird will be a soft cream color, with a delicate yellow scalloping covering the entire back. The tail will be a deep yellow with yellow barring and some clear yellow feathers. Adult lutino Pearl Pied cocks will exhibit a pale beige to lavender appearing wash to their back after their first molt. This slight wash is due to partially suppressed melanin. The eyes will be a light red very similar to a lutino pied. Beak and feet are a pale flesh tone, and the cheek patch is orange.
Lutino Pearl (LP) first appeared late 1970 and is a double mutation, meaning the bird visually shows two mutations, Lutino and Pearl. Visually the base color of the bird will be a pale cream color, with a delicate yellow scalloping covering the entire back. The tail will be a deep yellow with yellow barring. The cheek patch is orange. Adult Lutino Pearl cocks will exhibit beige to lavender appearing wash after their first molt. This slight wash is due to partially suppressed melanin. The eyes will darken as the bird matures, to a deep red color. From a distance, the eyes look like a dark eyed bird.
(Not shown) Lutino Pearl Pied (LPpD) first appeared in the early 1980’s and is a triple mutation that visually shows Lutino, combined with Pearl and Pied patterns. Visually the base color of the bird will be a soft cream color, with a delicate yellow scalloping covering the entire back. The tail will be a deep yellow with yellow barring and some clear yellow feathers. Adult lutino Pearl Pied cocks will exhibit a pale beige to lavender appearing wash to their back after their first molt. This slight wash is due to partially suppressed melanin. The eyes will be a light red very similar to a lutino pied. Beak and feet are a pale flesh tone, and the cheek patch is orange.
Lutino Pied (LpD) first appeared in the early 1980’s and is a double mutation, meaning the bird visually shows two mutations, Lutino and Pied. Visually a Lutino Pied will have an overall softy buttery yellow color to the plumage. It is very easy to tell if a lutino is also Pied once they are fully feathered. Look at the wing flights. If there are any flight feathers that are clear (meaning a solid yellow), with no spots/dots, these are Pied feathers. Normal Lutino feathers, when young, will have yellow spots/dots against a cream colored flight. If only a few wing flights are clear then the bird is lightly Pied, and if 50% or more of the wing flights are clear it is a heavy Pied. The same applies to the tail feathers, clear feathers are Pied feathers and barred feathers are non-Pied feathers. Beak and feet are a pale flesh tone, and the cheek patch is orange. This Lutino variation is less prone to balding, because Pied contributes to the feathering to the head and crest.
Many times, those inexperienced with the various mutations will misidentify a Pied as a Lutino or Lutino Pied. The person will see the yellow and instantly think it is a Lutino, and if marked, such as with Cinnamon and Pearl, then misidentify the bird as a Lutino Cinnamon Pearl. The difference between the two mutations is that a lutino will not have any dark feathers to the body plumage. If it does, then it is a Pied variation.
Lutino Pied eyes are a paler, bright jellybean pink color in comparison to other Lutino variations, and do not darken as they get older. Pied and/or Whiteface Pied splits will affect eye color with any of the Lutino variations. Normal Lutino eyes will darken as the bird matures, due to a slight infusion of melanin. When split to Pied this slight infusion of melanin will contribute to amber, grey-blue to blue-white eye color.
NOTE: Split to Pied has been noted to alter the Lutino eye color as the bird matures.
A normal Lutino eye lacks the melanin pigment therefore the red is a result of the light reflecting off the veins inside the eye. When melanin partially expresses itself then the eyes will darken to a ruby color. If the lutino is split to Pied, it has been theorized that lipochrome will also be present to contribute to an amber, blue/white eye color.
NOTE: Split to Pied has been noted to alter the Lutino eye color as the bird matures.
A normal Lutino eye lacks the melanin pigment therefore the red is a result of the light reflecting off the veins inside the eye. When melanin partially expresses itself then the eyes will darken to a ruby color. If the lutino is split to Pied, it has been theorized that lipochrome will also be present to contribute to an amber, blue/white eye color.
Lutino Cinnamon, LC or Cinnamon Lutino, CL (outside the US Lutino Cinnamon may also be referred to as Lacewing) first appeared in the mid 1980’s, Lutino Cinnamon is a double mutation, meaning the bird visually shows two mutations, Lutino and Cinnamon. When young the Lutino hens will exhibit a dilute Cinnamon coloration to the body plumage (if also pearl), wing flights and tail feathers.
With cocks, the Lutino Cinnamon coloration will show up after the first molt. Prior to the first molt the cocks will visually look like a cream/white colored Lutino. A Lutino Cinnamon can be selectively bred to deepen the Cinnamon tone to the back, flight feathers and tail, and increase the yellow suffusion to the face and chest area of the bird. When the depth of color is increased it also makes this mutation hard to visually distinguish from a Fallow. The only visual difference may be looking at the eyes. A Fallows eye color will always be a pale jelly-bean pink, whereas the Lutino eyes are darker red, and the color deepens to wine or ruby color as they go through their first molt.
With cocks, the Lutino Cinnamon coloration will show up after the first molt. Prior to the first molt the cocks will visually look like a cream/white colored Lutino. A Lutino Cinnamon can be selectively bred to deepen the Cinnamon tone to the back, flight feathers and tail, and increase the yellow suffusion to the face and chest area of the bird. When the depth of color is increased it also makes this mutation hard to visually distinguish from a Fallow. The only visual difference may be looking at the eyes. A Fallows eye color will always be a pale jelly-bean pink, whereas the Lutino eyes are darker red, and the color deepens to wine or ruby color as they go through their first molt.
Whiteface Lutino (WFL) is a combination color meaning the bird visually Lutino and Whiteface, it is not a mutation. This variation was first bred in the mid to late 1980’s. The ‘term’ Albino is acceptable to describe the Whiteface Lutino. Visually this variation is a solid white bird with red eyes, pale flesh colored beak and feet, with no orange or yellow pigments visible. A Whiteface Clear Pied can be mistaken for a Whiteface lutino. Like with the lutino, check the eye color with indirect light to it.
A
Lutino can be identified as it hatches. The eyes will appear a pink color. Melanin is completely suppressed to the eye when the lutino is young.
Lutino can be identified as it hatches. The eyes will appear a pink color. Melanin is completely suppressed to the eye when the lutino is young.
NOTE: Upon hatch a Cinnamon may also have red eye. But they will darken within a few days.
As the lutino matures, some melanin will darken the red eyes so that they appear dark. Shining a flashlight indirectly to the eye will reveal the pupil and iris colors, which will be a red to ruby color. Cinnamon chicks will also hatch out with a plum red eye, but the edging is a dark grey. If the bird does not reflect red in both the iris and pupil then it may be a clear Pied. A clear Pied visually looks the same as a Lutino, except for eye color.
In Summary…The above is what you should see if your bird is of most of the commonly found Lutino mutations. If you do have a Lutino that has other colors aside from red, then that is a good indicator that the Pied gene is contributing to the change of color from the norm.
Copyright © 1993-2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced and/or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission by this author.
TERMS OF USE: Use of this work is subject to the following terms except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store or retrieve on copy of this work.
You may not decompile, dissemble, re-mix or reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon your own re-wording, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense this book/work or any part of it without Susanne Russo’s (email ask.noodles@outlook.com )
You may use parts of this work for your own noncommercial and personal use only. Any other use of this book/work/ is strictly prohibited.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced and/or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior permission by this author.
TERMS OF USE: Use of this work is subject to the following terms except as permitted under the Copyright Act of 1976 and the right to store or retrieve on copy of this work.
You may not decompile, dissemble, re-mix or reverse engineer, reproduce, modify, create derivative works based upon your own re-wording, transmit, distribute, disseminate, sell, publish or sublicense this book/work or any part of it without Susanne Russo’s (email ask.noodles@outlook.com )
You may use parts of this work for your own noncommercial and personal use only. Any other use of this book/work/ is strictly prohibited.
