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Opaline is a new mutation
discovered in 1997 in Becky Anderson's aviary in Michigan. The 1st
Opaline baby was hatched on January 18th, 1997. This mutation was bred
from 2 seemingly common green birds. What a beautiful mutation! The
green opaline has a full red head almost like a hood and a red-orange
tail. Opalines also differ from normal greens in that they are a
lighter shade of green. The rump, unlike the normal green bird is not
blue, but green like the rest of the body. Babies are easily
identifiable with their thick yellow down and the red on the back of
the head when they are a little bit older. When the babies go through
their adult molt, then the red covering the whole head will begin to
develop. Opaline is a sex-linked mutation and can be combined with many
other mutations to produce even more beautiful birds.
In 2003, the ALBS Membership
voted to add a Section
for Opalines in the show classifications. It has only been a couple
of years, but Opalines are now being bred all over the world!! To learn
more about how the Opaline was discovered, read this article.
To view more Opaline variations, check out the ALBS Picture
Library.
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Photo Credits: Linda Brandt -
Green, Medium Green, and Dark Green Opalines
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Photo Credits: Blake Ma -
American Cinnamon Opaline Baby
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Photo Credits: Lisa Viteri -
Green Opaline Pied
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Photo Credits: Royan Webb -
Lutino Opaline and Australian Cinnamon Opaline
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Royan Webb - Medium Seagreen
Opaline
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