An unusual ring-necked parakeet? (1 Viewer)

[Mis]

This has arrived on the feeders today along with the normal ring-necked parakeets. It appears to have the same markings, and be the same size, as a male ring-necked parakeet. It's not an albino. I know that breeders have produced colour variations, but this is the first time I've seen anything other than green in the wild.

 

[chris3871]

This has arrived on the feeders today along with the normal ring-necked parakeets. It appears to have the same markings, and be the same size, as a male ring-necked parakeet. It's not an albino. I know that breeders have produced colour variations, but this is the first time I've seen anything other than green in the wild.

What a very unusual bird, Mis. As you've said there are a lot of colour moprhs in RNP, most notably a 'lutino' yellow morph and a blue morph. Your bird looks like the blue morph, but with the blue colour so washed out that it appears grey. Why breeders would try to achieve a boring grey bird, when the green wild type is so attractive, I do not know, but I guess it's just to say they can. I wonder if this bird is an escaped bird, or whether it's a throwback bird that's been born in the wild?

 

[Ruth Daniel]

Very interesting Glenn......I haven't a clue what it is except a grey Ring Necked Parakeet.......I hope you find out more......let us know if you do.

 

[chris3871]

A quick bit of research, apparently there's over 80 colour mutations, including a grey morph.
http://www.mresource.com/sites/birds/Photos.asp?GroupID=31

 

[Kits]

Well captured, Mis. Very interesting to see a different colour.