Anthracite budgerigar mutation
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The Anthracite budgerigar mutation is an extremely rare mutation that occurs in the budgerigar. The mutation, similar to the Violet budgerigar mutation, causes a difference in the coloring of budgerigars. Anthracites have black or very dark gray feathers, possibly with some white depending on the budgerigar in particular. The mutation is believed to have started in Germany, and tends to be local to that area. Currently, most owners wishing to obtain an Anthracite need to import these budgerigars from Germany.
The description and genetic behaviour of the Anthracite and English Grey are identical, insofar as this can now be determined. It seems likely that the Anthracite is the re-emergence of the English Grey.
A bird with two Anthracite factors has an extremely dark grey body, jet black markings and the cheek patches of the same very dark grey as the body. G W von Kamrath describes them as "jet black wing and tail markings and deep black cheek patches".[1]
A single Anthracite factor has a similar effect to the Dark mutation, causing a Skyblue to become Cobalt in appearance.
Historical notes
The Anthracite mutation appeared in Germany in 1998 in the aviaries of Hans-Jürgen H Lenk, who successfully established the strain[2] and continues to report on its development.[3] Initially found only in Germany, by the end of 2008 descendants of this original mutation had been exported to America, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, Holland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Pakistan.