The Clearwing Budgerigar
During the 1930s, a remarkable event occurred in Australia – the emergence of the Clearwing Budgerigar mutation. This mutation was bred in both green and blue form and named “Clearwing”. Experts agree this is one of the most outstanding mutations to ever occur. It was Mr. Harold Peir of Sydney who witnessed the first Clearwing in his aviaries. Moreover, Mr. J. Catt of Carlingford, New South Wales, is credited with possibly establishing this mutation in all the colour varieties, which then continued under the legacy of Harley Yardley of Fivedock, New South Wales.
Having developed his Clearwing budgerigars to an outstanding degree until his death in 1957, they became almost unbeatable on the show bench. Fanciers worldwide, who viewed the Yardley stud at its peak, will never forget the magnificent depth of colour and contrast in Clearwings. Indeed, the excellence achieved may never be seen again in the fancy.
Image Courtesy of Rod Turnbull and the ANBC
Identification of the Clearwing Budgerigar
The Clearwing Budgerigar showcases a bird with a solid and uniform general body colour, rump, and underparts. Moreover, the bird features an appropriate normal equivalent ground colour face with a clean forehead. In the green series, the face and forehead ground colour is yellow, while in the blue series, it is white. Additionally, the mask is deep and wide. It extends beyond two large cheek patches. Unlike most varieties, clearwings feature no spots. The Clearwing Budgerigar has an appropriate ground color for the mask without any cleft. Additionally, the markings on the cheeks, back of the head, neck, and wings are black, pure ground colour. These markings are free from any intrusion of body color or ‘bloom.’
It is worth noting that the primary flights of the Clearwing approach ground colour, and the tail feather is neutral with ground or body colour suffusion. Additionally, the bird has a black eye with a white iris ring, and its feet are blue/grey in colour. The cock has a blue cere, whereas the hen has a brown cere.
To clarify, the Greywing, Clearwing and Dilute budgerigars are allelic mutations of the same gene. Meanwhile, the Black Eyed Self a phenotypic variant of Dilute created by selection of the Dilute mutation for colour modifiers. There is some phenotypic continuity among all four of the varieties. Therefore, onus is on the judges to ensure fidelity with the variety descriptions in the Standard when breeders stray from the ideal.
Below is a summary of the Clearwing Budgerigar’s cheek patch, tail quill, and tail feather colors.
Clear wing Pairing Expectations
The following table gives the clearwing budgie pairing expectations.
Click here to view The Clearwing Budgerigar pairing expectations in full.
