SO MANY MUTATIONS!
A Look at Truth and Deceit in Advertising
By  John LaTorre

A Glut of Mutations
      I just read some advertisements on the Internet for ringneck mutations. Some of the colors were listed, and the breeders boasted of having 18, 23 and 27 mutations, respectively. In other advertisements I've seen breeders list even more!
      Well, this gave me pause for thought. I just don't understand where so many mutations come from? I have as many breeding pairs of mutations as the next guy, and all I produce is maybe ten or so true mutations!

How Do We Know We Have A True Mutation?
      I therefore ponder the question of mutations. What is the real number out there? By what criteria do these breeders determine that they have bred a separate mutation? The fact is this: we have primary and secondary ringneck mutations, and this is what the number of mutations should be based upon. For example, we cannot count "splits" as individual color mutations, nor can we count a color variation of the primary mutation as a separate mutation.
      The latest report claims that there may be as many as 16 to 24 primary mutations, according to the Parrot Society of England, but George Smith, venerated expert and breeder of UK fame, writes that he cannot attest to this number.

Some Examples
      In sex-linked Yellowheads we have a Lacewing that is accepted as being a primary mutation, and a Yellowhead Cinnamon that is called a secondary (or combination) mutation. But, by changing the head and body color, one is not creating a new or separate mutation, one is creating a color variation of the primary mutation, which is the Lacewing.
      By breeding the Ino factor into the Lacewing, you get a secondary mutation: the Yellowhead Cinnamon. The foregoing are all sex-linked mutations.
      The same is true for the Red-eyed Yellowhead. This is a recessive mutation but, again, any color change to the body does not count as a separate mutation, but only as a color variation!

Misinformed, Misled, or Duped?
      Which leads us again to the question about why we see ringneck breeders advertising in such a misleading way? Of course, some of them may simply be misinformed when it comes to genetics. Others quote large numbers of mutations in an attempt to outsell the next guy. There are also some who claim to be veritable genetics gurus by virtue of the fact that they claim to breed dozens of mutations. This ruse will only work with a buyer that is naive and poorly informed.

Should the Truth be Known
      So, if we are to seriously consider the information recently published in the Parrot Society of England's magazine, authored by George A, Smith, we must accept that we have 16 to 24 primary mutations, It follows, then, that any other claims in articles or advertisements should be correctly listed as either secondary mutations or variations. Armed with this knowledge, the consumer is now able to unmask the false advertising and decide for himself whether the claims are accurate, or just so much advertising hype!

Some Examples
      For your further reference, here follows a partial list of the primary mutations:
Lutino
Blue
Greygreen
Isabel (Fallow)
Pied
Yellowhead (sex-linked Lacewing)
Cinnamon
Yellowhead-Yellowtail
Yellowhead Red-eyed (recessive)
Turquoise
Dark-factor Green

      Some of the secondary mutations are:
Albino
Grey
Cream Albino (Creamino)
Isabel Blue
Cinnamon Blue
Isabel Turquoise
Whitehead Cinnamon Blue
Cinnamon Turquoise
Whitehead Lacewing Blue
Whitehead-Whitetail Blue
Whitehead Blue Red-eyed

This article was originally printed in The Quarterly Psittaculids Review/ Summer, 1998.  Rewritten with permission from author.