Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am just getting into the bird world and have two pair of pacific parrotlets. I have one male green split blue and a female blue. I just recently picked up a pair of babies that we are now hand feeding for about seven to ten more days. They are a male american white split yellow/dilute blue and a female yellow spit blue. My question is two parted. What exactly does dilute mean and what effects does that have on the offspring when bred. And what combinations can can/will be made the pair of white and yellow. Thanks in advance for any assistance. I have been dealing with reptiles for 20 years and have a strong understanding of their genetics but birds are new to me and the terminology is so difference. Todd

From what I understand (not a breeder, work with rescues but study them a lot LOL!) dilute means basically as its name states, dilute, meaning that the body color is paler than that of its counterparts. It depends on whether it is a recessive or dominant gene in the bird as to whether it will effect the coloration of its offspring. If I remember correctly even one that is showing the dilute coloration could actually have a recessive dilute gene. If a dilute recessive is paired with another that caries the dilute gene there is a great chance it will be passed onto its young. If it is dominant dilute then there is a great chance it will passed onto its young whether paired with a dilute or not. If it is recessive and paired with a non-dilute then the offspring will most likely not show any dilute coloring. Hope I got that right LOL! Now as far as the other color mutations and the offsprings coloring I can't be much help but this page should help you answer your questions.
parrotlet color mutations and breeding