One of the most commonly used names for mutations in the parakeets and parrots is without a doubt the “Isabel”, at least if we can start from the popular name. On a scientific level, there is a lot more involved.

Science has enough evidence to say that “Isabel” as a mutation does not appear among parakeets and parrots. “Isabel” is mainly found among the songbirds and pigeons. This has to do with the fact that parakeets and parrots do not have phaeo-melanin. “Isabel” actually influences the phaeo-melanin. The so-called “Isabel” is characterized as a bird that is lighter than the wild form, the bleaching factor can vary greatly. Usually the paws are also partially bleached and the eyes
are also slightly changed. Six mutations meet this short and concise description, all of which have their own characteristics.The relevant “Isabel” mutations in order of bleaching strength:

Fallow

There are different types of Fallow types, such as Bronze Fallow, Dun Fallow and Clearhead Fallow. All these Fallow types are always autosomal recessive. In appearance, the Fallow isa little darker than the Misty. Fallow has clearly red eyes, with or without an eye ring, depending on the Fallow type. The legs and nails are light in color, almost flesh-colored. Depending on the Fallow type, the range of the fading is between the Faded and the Pallid. For convenience selected the darkest Fallow type (Clearhead Fallow). Also incorrectly called “Isabel”.

Misty

A recently discovered mutation that is always autosomal dominant inherited. The body color
is lighter than the wild form. The eyes and legs are just like the wild form.
With the Misty we also see that the black pigment remains almost the same in color as with
the wild form.
Also incorrectly called “Dominant Cinnamon” or “Dominant Isabel”.

Edged:

The Edged mutant can inherit differently, from autosomal dominant to autosomal recessive
with the corresponding combinations. The most common is the dominant.
The body color is lighter than the wild form and slightly lighter than the Misty mutation. The
eyes and legs are just like the wild form.
The wings and the wing feathers show the characteristic edged pattern which is more visible
in one species than in another species. Especially the last causes problems with recognizing
this mutant.
Also incorrectly called “Dominant Isabel” or Fallow.

Faded:

Faded is a lesser known mutation that is always autosomal recessive. She has dark red
(brown) eyes. This mutation is similar in appearance to the Cinnamon but without the brown
haze and usually slightly darker. The legs and nails are lighter than the wild form, almost
similar to the Fallow. Characteristic of Faded is the fact that the split birds are often slightly
lighter than the non-split birds.
Also incorrectly called “Recessive Cinnamon” or “Isabel”.

Cinnamon:

One of the best known mutations that always inherits sex-linked recessive. Due to a change
in the eumelanin, this does not become black but brown in color, so everything that is black
becomes brown and Cinnamon clearly shows the brown haze. Cinnamon is similar to the
Faded, but with the characteristic brown haze.
Newly hatched chicks have reddish brown eyes that darken within a few days. The legs are
almost the same as the Faded with the difference that the nails are colored brown.
Also incorrectly called “Isabel”.

Pallid:

Pallid, which is an allele of the sex-linked Ino mutation, also inherits sex-linked recessive.
The young are born with red eyes which later become slightly darker. The body color is
slightly brighter in color than the Cinnamon and lacks the brown haze.
The wing feathers are light (beige) grey. The legs and nails are light (flesh-colored) in color.
Also incorrectly called “Isabel” or “Pastel”.
This list provides some clarification, clarity and characteristic features in recognizing the
“Isabel” mutants, but it remains difficult, especially for a beginner, to distinguish these
different mutants.
Another point for determination of the “Isabel” mutants is the inheritance, together in
combination with external characteristics (eye color) and gender.
Hereby a number of pairings to serve as baken for finding out the inheritance of the mutation
and thus which mutation it is.
Mutation X Wild form
50% Wild form
50% Mutation
This result indicates a sex-linked mutation, Cinnamon or Pallid, or dominant mutation, Misty.
The eye color and gender will provide a definitive answer. In case of dominant mutation, both
males and females as mutation should be present.
In case of sex-linked mutation, all mutation birds will be females and the wild form will be
males and these are then split for the mutation.
A noteworthy fact is that with sex-linked mutations (initially) a few to extremely rare mutation
males are available, but females and split males are more.
Pairing 1:
Mutation X Wild form
100% Wild form
Here you can see that it is an autosomal recessive mutation, Fallow or Faded. The eye color
will also provide a definitive answer here. Both the males and the females are split for the
mutation.
Pairing 2:
Wild form X Mutation
100% Wild form
A mutation female will always provide 100% wild form as a sex-linked mutation and also as
an autosomal recessive inherited mutation. In the case of a sex-linked mutation, only the
males are split for the mutation, otherwise all offspring are split for the mutation.
Pairing 3:
Mutation X Mutation
100% Mutation
Mutation X Mutation will not be recommended in practical, because this can influence the
quality of the birds and make it possible to breed weaker birds.
This pairing will normally always produce 100% Mutation, except for an autosomal dominant
mutation such as Misty or Edged.
This will also include 25% Wild form and 25% Double Factored (DF) Mutation.
Pairing 4:
Mutation (EF) X Mutation (EF)
25% Wild form
50% Mutation (EF)
25% DF Mutation (DF)
In addition to these guidelines, to gain more clarity, a feather study can be initiated to
determine the mutation through research and comparisons with mutations of other species.
Please note that a feather test alone cannot always provide a definitive answer, this will
always be in combination with the inheritance and appearance.