Mottled Budgerigar

A & E Dobie bred the first mottled budgerigar in their aviaries in Adelaide, SA, in 1967. These birds end in a similar appearance to a recessive pied, but interestingly leave the nest as a normal UBC, and continue to “mottle” through each subsequent moult. The vary from the Danish Recessive Pied, in so far as they lack the plumb eye and the irradiance of plumage.

Mottled budgerigars, a beautiful and unique variation of the popular budgie, are shown in the pied class. They characterize these birds by their patchy or “mottled” feathers that appear in a range of colors, from white and yellow to blue and green. Budgie enthusiasts naturally seek mottled budgerigars for their striking appearance and rare nature.

The WBO website is one of the best resources available to learn more about mottled budgerigars. To this end, the WBO dedicates itself across the globe to promote and preserve rare varieties of budgerigar. The website offers a wealth of information on the various types of budgies, including mottled and other rare varieties and mutations.

The WBO divides mottled into two main categories: clear body and traditional pied. Clear body mottled budgies have a solid color on their bodies, while mottling only occurs on the wings and tail. In contrast, traditional pied mottled budgies have a mix of mottle and solid-colored feathers on their bodies, wings, and tail. Both types of mottled can be further classified based on their specific coloration and pattern. The mottled budgie shown above from John Ennis shows the traditional pied mottled variant of the Mottled Budgerigar. Very few mottled budgies are in Australia, and this beautiful bird is one of them. As these birds continue to moult, the mottling effect becomes more prominent.

Click here for the Mottled Budgerigar from the ANBC