LittleGreenDarcyAviary, Species Information: Ringneck Dove

Species Information: Ringneck Dove

Colour & Feather Mutations

Mode of Inheritance

Gene

Genotype

Name & Phenotype

Notes

Sex-linked Dominant

D+

	= D+_
	= D+_ or D+D+

Dark, Normal or Wild-type

Wild-type

As D+ is sex-linked, only one copy of the gene occurs, on one chromosome - the X. The Y chromosome (female = XY in birds) is shorter and thus does not have the length of chromosome to hold the gene.

If the diluting Fawn (dB) or White (dw) genes are not present, all other colours are heterozygous Dark (D+_) i.e. all other colours must carry a sex-linked colour.

Dark Combinations

Sex-linked Recessive

	= dB_
	= dB_ or dBdB

Fawn or Blond

Dilution

If a hen has the dB gene, it must be expressed as there is no corresponding area on the Y chromosome to mask the gene.

Therefore hens are always heterozygous.

Cocks can be heterozygous (i.e. split, carrying) or homozygous.

Dominant to White (dw), as carried at the same locus (location of the gene on the cromosome). Therefore a hen can only inherit the fawn (dB) gene, not the White (dw) gene; whilst a cock can inherit both but the white gene will be masked by the Fawn gene and therefore the male will be Fawn split to White.

i.e. Male dBdw = Fawn / White

Fawn Combinations

	= dw_
	= dw_ or dwdw

White

Dilution

If a hen has the White (dw) gene, it must be expressed as there is no corresponding area on the Y chromosome to mask the gene.

Therefore hens are always heterozygous.

Cocks can be heterozygous (i.e. split, carrying) or homozygous.

Recessive to Fawn (dB), meaning even if the dove is phenotypically White, if carrying a Fawn (dB) gene, they will be phenotypically Fawn.

White Combinations

Autosomal Dominant

Tf_ or TfTf

Tufted

Feather Structure

Does not affect colour expression, and can exist in any colour or combination.

Autosomal Incomplete Dominant

Ta_ or TaTa

Tangerine

Dilution

On a heterozygous Tangerine (Ta_), the neck ring and flight feathers are a pale silver grey and the tail feathers are orange.

On a homozygous Tangerine (TaTa), the neck ring and flight feathers are white and the tail feathers are grizzled at the tips with white.

M_ or MM

Modifier or Pearl

Dilution

The Modifier gene causes a pearl effect, which explains it's alternative name.

Only phenotypically expressed on tangerine birds or combinations.

On a heterozygous Tangerine (Ta_), the modifier creates the Tangerine Pearl - white tertial flights, primary coverts and tail feathers, and a pearled secondary coverts, scapulars, back and rump.

On a homozygous Tangerine (TaTa), the modifier creates the Tangerine Whiteback - white tertial flights, primary coverts, secondary coverts, and tail feathers, and a pearled , scapulars, back and rump.

L_ or LL

Silky

Feather Structure

Does not affect colour expression, and can exist in any colour or combination.

Homozygous Silky (LL) produces what is known as a Super Silky, which is undesirable as the feather structure is completely depleted and the dove cannot fly. Therefore never breed two Silkies together.

Autosomal Lethal Incomplete-Dominant

Fr_ or FrFr

Frosty

Dilution

Homozygous Frosty (FrFr) is lethal, therefore never breed two Frosty together.

Autosomal Recessive

alal

Albino

Colour Masking - Blocks Melanin

Albino in the Ringneck Dove is a non-sex-linked Ino. It is recessive.

Therefore, must be homozygous to be expressed phenotypically.

Homozygous Albino (alal), masks all other colour genes, including homozygous traits.

iviv

Ivory

Dilution

ryry

Rosy

Dilution

pipi

Pied

Pattern of White

Does not affect colour expression (i.e. in the solid-coloured non-pied feathers), and can exist in any colour or combination.

crcr

Crested

Feather Structure