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Cockatiel Color Mutations Trivia Quiz

The cockatiel is undisputably the domestic parrot with the second most recognized color mutations (after the budgie), coming in a rainbow of avian colors. Cockatiels are generally a beautiful and sweet species, and I hope you learn a bit about them.

A multiple-choice quiz by jadranska. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
jadranska

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
88,909

Updated
Jan 29 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1027

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Goldcheek cockatiel is very similar, if not identical, to what other mutation? Hint

Lutino

Australian Platinum

Charcoal

U.K. Pastelface

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Question 2 of 10

2. The lutino cockatiel inherits this deformity through its parents and the majority of lutinos have it. What is it? Hint

Splayed hips

Baldness

Wing deformities

Lack of oil

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which cockatiel mutation inherits a lack of oil from its preen (uropygial) gland? Hint

Lutino

Goldcheek

Silver

Cinnamon

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these colors of cockatiel is generally the healthiest? Hint

Pearl

Albino

German Yellowcheek

Grey

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Question 5 of 10

5. When a Pearl cockatiel grows up, which gender of bird retains its beautiful scalloped markings?

Answer: (Male or Female, m or f?)

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Lutino cockatiel has feathers of which color? Hint

Green

Yellow

Red

Gray

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Question 7 of 10

7. A mutation in a cockatiel is more likely to be picked on by predators than a grey will be?

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. What color eyes does a recessive silver cockatiel have? Hint

Blue

Brown

Red

Black

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Question 9 of 10

9. Cockatiels are prone to night frights. Which is the most so? Hint

Fallow

Grey

All of them are equally prone.

Pastelface

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Question 10 of 10

10. The suffused yellow cockatiel is sometimes mislabeled as... Hint

Blue, Cerulean, or Navy

Green, Emerald or Olive

Red, Brick, or Violet

Silver, Gold, or Platinum

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Goldcheek cockatiel is very similar, if not identical, to what other mutation?

Answer: U.K. Pastelface

Goldcheeks are currently quite new and rare. They are a mousy brown color (the oil helps them absorb vitamin D, which is good for the plumage. Goldcheeks don't have oil.), have peachy colored cheeks, a bit of yellow on the face, and some whitish spots upon the head. My female is a goldcheek.

This is almost definitely a sex-linked breed, every single one I've seen (both in person and in pictures, and through owners) has been female.

2. The lutino cockatiel inherits this deformity through its parents and the majority of lutinos have it. What is it?

Answer: Baldness

Any cockatiel can inherit these, but the lutino is particularly known for it. Lutinos are yellow with red eyes. Lutinos are sex-linked recessive, and they are almost definite females.

3. Which cockatiel mutation inherits a lack of oil from its preen (uropygial) gland?

Answer: Goldcheek

This deformity prevents the bird from being waterproof and gives the feathers a different texture. They also can't absorb vitamin D as well as a normal bird. I believe that this breed also inherits a deformity which prevents wing and tail feathers from growing back properly.

4. Which of these colors of cockatiel is generally the healthiest?

Answer: Grey

The grey is the natural mutation. It is grey with a nice yellow face and orange cheeks. It is extremely hardy and intelligent and tends to live MUCH longer than its more ornamental friends. There are regular reports of these birds living to over 30 years old! I've never seen any other breed, not even pearl, live so long. My male is a grey.

5. When a Pearl cockatiel grows up, which gender of bird retains its beautiful scalloped markings?

Answer: F

The male loses his ornamental feathers and becomes an extremely dark grey. In my opinion, a pure pearl tends to be not as intelligent as his friends (he crashes into walls and cacti on a regular basis, some go "brain dead" if the owner goes on vacation), but he has a lovely talking ability. A bird doesn't need intelligence for that!

6. The Lutino cockatiel has feathers of which color?

Answer: Yellow

The yellow coloring is a mutation, which can vary from very pale, almost white, feathers to a deeper gold shade. The birds also have orange patches on their cheeks.

7. A mutation in a cockatiel is more likely to be picked on by predators than a grey will be?

Answer: True

In the wild, a pretty spotted cockatiel would attract more attention than a drabber grey cockatiel, and thus, the mutation is more vulnerable. Even in my home, the two mutations (pearl and goldcheek) are much more likely to be attacked by my Cape parrot then my grey is. Even my grey cockatiel hunts the mutations down and attacks them!

8. What color eyes does a recessive silver cockatiel have?

Answer: Red

The lutino and albino do as well. A silver is a light grey. It is autosomal recessive, which refers to general inheritance.

9. Cockatiels are prone to night frights. Which is the most so?

Answer: All of them are equally prone.

They can be very bloody. I recommend taking your bird to the vet after a night fright, they can be life-threatening. A night fright is when something scares the bird at night and it flies, in a panic, into the bars of its cage. They can break new, growing "blood feathers," or otherwise injure themselves.

10. The suffused yellow cockatiel is sometimes mislabeled as...

Answer: Green, Emerald or Olive

They supposedly have a greenish sheen, but cockatiels are unable to produce green pigment. Suffused yellows look like lutinos.

Source: Author jadranska

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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