The Pearl Cockatiel, the Pink Bourke’s Parrot, the Pied Turquoisine, the Red
Rosella and the Gray Headed Ringneck Parrot, all these names refer to one and the
same mutation. It is incomprehensible that a mutation can show such diversity in
the various species. We are talking about the Opaline mutation.

Opaline mutation is known in the next species:
– Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
– Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)
– Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
– Bourke’s parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii)
– Turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella)
– Scarletchest parrot (Neophema splendida)
– Redrumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
– Superb parrot (Polytelis swansonii)
– Ringneck parrot (Psittacula krameri)
– Plumheaded parrot (Psittacula cyanocephala)
– Peachfaced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)

The mutation alleles in Parakeets and Parrots generally affect the 3 color elements,
Eumelanin, Psittacine and Blue structure that most species do have in different ways. Most of
these alleles only affect one color element. An example is the Blue allele, which repels all
psittacine pigments (yellow, orange, red) causing a green bird to mutate into a blue bird.
The action of the Opaline allele is unusual and complex compared to the other mutation
alleles. The Opaline allele usually acts on multiple color elements at the same time.
This also explains why there is a great diversity in the Opaline mutation in the different
species. Each species gives its own interpretation to the Opaline mutation. One becomes
“red” (easternl rosella), the other becomes “pearls” (cockatiel) and another becomes “pied”
(turquoise parrot).
The effect on several color elements has the consequence that the color intensity is affected,
often Opaline mutants are lighter in color (ring-necked parrot, plum-headed parrot). But the
distribution pattern of these colors is also changed, some Opaline mutants have a change and
a shift in the amount of psittacine and/or melanin (eastern rosella, redrumped parrot,
cockatiel). Certain Opaline mutants show dark tips at the tips of the tail feathers (budgerigar,
cockatiel, ringneck parrot, superb parrot).
In addition, there is also a restructuring of the (eu)melanin. Opaline mutants have a pattern
in the wing feathers, which is better expressed in the Australian parrots (cockatiel, bourke’s
parrot, budgerigar, eastern rosella) than the other species (ringneck parrot, plumheaded
parrot). This is mainly due to the fact that Australian parrots already have a wing stripe
(eastern rosella, bourke’s parrot, turquoise parrot, budgerigar). Admittedly under the wings
and mainly the female shows it. In addition to these characteristics, Opaline mutations also
have light dawnfeathers, white down instead of gray down (budgerigar, ringnecked parrot,
plumheaded parrot, peachfaced lovebird). Although yellow dawn feathers remains yellow
(cockatiel) and some combinations with Opaline produce a pale yellow dawn featerhs.
The following are the main features of Opaline:
– Opaline always inherits sex-linked.
– Eyes are black, just like the wildform.
– A pattern in the flightfeathers.
– Restructuring and distribution of the pigments and/or melanin.
– Gray dawn feathers turn white.
– Some species have a change in the amount of psittacine.
– Some species have dark tail tips.
A noteworthy phenomenon occurs in the Opaline cockatiel, namely the males lose the entire
Opaline markings as they mature. As a result, there is no difference in appearance between a
normal male and an Opaline male. While the females retain the Opaline markings.
The Opaline mutation is easy to combine with other mutations. Although in certain species
some mutation combinations are not advisable. But most combinations with Opaline look
beautiful. The most famous combination is of course the Opaline-ino or “Rubino”. This
combination is particularly attractive in species with psittacine distribution (Rubino – eastern
rosella, Rubino – redrump parrot). While in species without psittacine distribution the
combination between Opaline and Ino is less spectacular (Opaline-ino – Budgerigar). This
combination has an exceptional position with the cockatiel. The cockatiel becomes deep
yellow in color with the corresponding Opaline markings (“pearls”).
The Opaline mutation may also have occurred in a few Aratinga and Pyrrhura species.
In the Pyrrhuras, the possible Opaline mutant is also called “Yellow Side” and seems to be
sex-linked. Some recognizable features include bleaching, spread of psittacine (red) and sexlinked inheritance. Further research needs to be done regarding culture results and
characteristics of the Opaline mutation.