Green opaline paired with pied fisheri.

When breeding a Green Opaline Fischer's Lovebird with a Pied Fischer's Lovebird, the resulting offspring will display a variety of colors and patterns due to the genetic traits inherited from both parents. Here’s a detailed explanation of the potential outcomes:

1. Coloration and Mutations:

Green (Wild-Type):

The green coloration is dominant, so many of the offspring will likely have a green base color.

Opaline:

The opaline mutation is recessive, and it causes a dilution of body color and enhances the color on the wings and back. For offspring to exhibit the opaline trait, they need to inherit the opaline gene from both parents.

Pied:

The pied mutation, which creates a patchy coloration with irregular patterns of white or yellow feathers mixed with the base color, is typically semi-dominant. Offspring can show a wide range of pied patterns depending on the specific pied genetics of the parent.

2. Genetic Scenarios:

Case 1:

Green Opaline × Single Factor Pied

Offspring Colors:

- Green (with some carrying the opaline and pied genes)

- Green Opaline (if opaline is expressed)

- Green Pied (if the pied gene is present in the single factor form)

- Green Opaline Pied (if both opaline and pied traits are expressed)

Case 2:

Green Opaline × Double Factor Pied

- **Offspring Colors**:

- Green (with some carrying the opaline and pied genes)

- Green Opaline (if opaline is expressed)

- Green Pied (more likely with double factor pied parent)

- Green Opaline Pied (more extensive pied patterns if double factor pied gene is present)

3. Breeding Outcomes:

1. Green Offspring:

- Dominant green coloration will result in many offspring being primarily green, especially if the opaline and pied genes are not both present.

2. Pied Offspring:

- Offspring will display pied patterns if they inherit the pied gene. The extent of the pied pattern can vary from minimal to extensive depending on whether the pied gene is single or double factor.

3. Opaline Offspring:

- Opaline coloration occurs when both parents carry the opaline gene. If only the Green Opaline parent carries it, offspring will be split for opaline but won’t display it unless both parents carry the gene.

4. Opaline Pied Offspring:

- For offspring to be Opaline Pied, they must inherit both the opaline and pied genes. This outcome depends on the presence of these genes in both parents.

4. Possible Genetic Combinations:

Homozygous Dominant:

(e.g., Green/Green) – Green offspring.

Heterozygous:

(e.g., Green/Pied) – Green split for pied, some displaying pied patterns if the gene is present.

Homozygous Recessive:

(e.g., Opaline/Opaline) – Opaline offspring if both parents carry the gene.

Semi-Dominant:

(e.g., Pied/SF Pied or DF Pied) – Pied offspring with varying pattern intensity depending on whether the pied gene is single or double factor.

Example Genotypes:

1. Green Opaline Parent:

- Genotype: GreenOp (may or may not carry pied gene)

2. Pied Parent:

- Genotype: SF Pied or DF Pied

Offspring Genotype and Phenotype Ratios:

Green:

(Green/Green, Green/Pied) – Dominant green coloration.

Pied:

(SF Pied/Pied, DF Pied/Pied) – Pied pattern, intensity varies.

Green Opaline:

(GreenOp/GreenOp, GreenOp/Pied) – Green with opaline traits.

Green Opaline Pied:

(GreenOp/PiedOp) – Green with opaline and pied traits, pattern intensity varies.

Conclusion:

Breeding a Green Opaline Fischer's Lovebird with a Pied Fischer's Lovebird will produce offspring with a mix of green, opaline, and pied traits. The exact distribution will depend on whether the pied gene is single or double factor and if both parents carry the opaline gene. The offspring will show a range of color patterns and markings, creating a diverse group of visually unique lovebirds. For precise outcomes, knowledge of the genetic makeup of both parents is essential.