Most parakeets – also known as budgies – have light grey or light brown eyes. However, a rare few might have red eyes, which in addition to being unusual are also strikingly beautiful.
The main reason why a parakeet will have red eyes if it is a Lutino/Albino or Recessive Pied genetic mutation, which makes the eyes of the bird appear completely red.
Let’s explore further details about this rare and lovely little birds.
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What are the features of Lutino/Albino Parakeets:
Lutino/albino parakeets do not come in the wide variety of brilliant green and blue colors that standard parakeets boast on their feathers.
Instead, they have a vibrant yellow color on the feathers of their head and body, and a paler yellow color on their primary flight feathers and tails.
They frequently feature whitish silver patches on their cheeks and, as noted, pink or red eyes. Their bills and legs also have the same reddish tint.
This vastly different appearance is due to a sex-linked gene mutation and is a recessive gene, which means that two non-lutino/albino parakeets could produce lutino/albino babies.
Features of Recessive Pied Parakeets:
A red-eyed parakeet might not necessarily be a lutino/albino bird. Instead, it might be a recessive pied parakeet. But it’s easy to tell the difference between the two based on other noticeable features.
Recessive pied parakeets do have the standard blue colored feathers a typical budgie, just not as many.
The colored regions are small and only appear in patches, usually on the rump, between the legs, or on the lower belly.
The rest of its feathers are “clear,” which means they appear either white or yellow depending on the color of the bird’s skin.
Are parakeets with red eyes rare?
Yes, parakeets with red eyes are relatively rare. The most common eye color for parakeets (also known as budgerigars or budgies) is dark or black.
This is the typical eye color for the wild-type budgerigars. However, there are some color mutations that can result in red or pink eyes.
One such mutation is the “Ino” or “Albino” mutation, which affects the pigmentation of the feathers and eyes.
Ino budgerigars have a lack of melanin, which causes their feathers to be white or yellow and their eyes to appear red or pink due to the blood vessels showing through the unpigmented irises.
While Ino budgerigars with red eyes are not as common as the typical dark-eyed budgerigars, they are sought after by some bird enthusiasts for their unique appearance.
As with any rare color mutation, they may also be more expensive than regular budgerigars due to their scarcity and increased demand.
Keep in mind that the popularity and availability of specific color mutations can vary by region and time, so it’s always best to consult with reputable breeders or bird enthusiasts in your area if you’re looking for a parakeet with red eyes.
They are just as equally low maintenace pet parakeet to take care of just like the other common parakeets colors.
Conclusion:
A parakeet with red eyes is either a lutino/albino or a recessive pied parakeet, depending on its genetic makeup.
There is nothing wrong with the bird – it should be just a healthy, sweet, and playful as a normal parakeet. It just has a more unique look!
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