American Yellow (Dilute)
by Doug Bedwell
 American Yellow is one of the older Peachfaced
mutaions. It was first known in the late 1960's, when several birds of
this color were imported by David West. All American Yellows are
descendants of these birds. The original source of the birds is
unknown. (Stephanie Wesloh, Agapornis World, Feb/Mar 1995).
American yellow is a simple
recessive mutation, which results in a reduction of melanin (melanin is
a dark pigment) throughout the bird. The result is a yellow bird, with
a very pale blue rump. The rump color varies from slightly blue to
nearly white. There is often a faint dark edging to the feathers, which
can give the bird a vaguely sculpted appearance. The body color is not
the smooth, bright yellow color of the lutino peachfaced, but is a
vaguely greenish, more subdued yellow. The difference is that with the
lutino, ALL melanin is removed from the feathers, but with the american
yellow a small amount of melanin remains.
The American Yellow is
frequently misidentified, due in part to its similarity to other
mutations, and partly to the fact that it is known by so many different
names. "These names include Golden Cherry, Cherryhead, Dilute,
Edged-yellow , Yellow, par Yellow, and Light Green-Pastel". (Wesloh)
Some of these names are also used for the Japanese Yellow mutation,
which is similar, but unrelated. The ALBS terminology comittee has
settled on the name American Yellow, and this standard name for the
mutation should be used in preference to any other.
The American Yellow is not a
common color, as many breeders and pet owners have chosen to focus on
the brighter, more spectacular Lutino Mutation. Still, some birds of
this color can be found with a little searching. It is often seen in
combination with the Dutch blue mutation. These birds are frequently
referred to as "Silver", or "American White". They are pale grey in
color, with the characteristic edging on the feathers, and a slightly
blue to grey/white rump. The face is the same as for the Dutch Blue.
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| Photo Credits: Kim Frievald - Blue Series American
Dilute(Silver) |
Japanese Yellow (Imperial
Golden Cherry)
 The
Japanese Yellow is a truly beautiful mutation. Birds of this color are
a slightly clearer yellow than with the American Yellow mutation, but
the blue of the rump is more intense.
Unfortunately, Japanese Yellow hens are typically infertile. Since the
mutation inherits recessively, the best strategy with these birds has
been to breed a visual male with a split yellow female. Unfortunately,
this results in fully half the hens being useless as breeder birds, and
most breeders are unwilling, or unable to tackle such a difficult
obstacle.
For this reason, the Japanese Yellow has all but disappeared, at least
in American Aviculture. I am not certain that there are even any birds
of this color remaining in the US. Photo shows
Japanese yellow with dark factor (left) and Japanese yellow,
orange-faced with dark factor (right).
Visit the ALBS Picture Library for more pictures of Dilute
Love Birds.
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