Rainbow Budgies | Rainbow Budgerigar

Keston Foreign Bird Farm first coined the name “rainbow” to describe a colourful composite variety in their budgerigar breeding aviaries. The Rainbow Budgerigar is a composite variety, consisting of the Australian Golden Face, Opaline, and Clearwing. The resulting combination is a striking budgerigar that is incredibly popular. In the Opaline AOSV class at the ANBC National Championships, exhibitors display rainbow budgies. Here they judge it against powerful Opaline Cinnamons and other similar varieties. As such, no dedicated standard or class exists for the rainbow budgie variety yet here in Australia.

Rainbow Budgies – WBO Standard of Perfection

The WBO calls out the following Standard of Perfection for Rainbow Budgerigars or Budgies as the following:

The standard for the Rainbow Budgie will be as for the Opaline Clearwing Skyblue, Cobalt, Mauve, Violet or Grey. The exception to this is for the following details:

The expression of yellow coloration will vary dependent upon which of the yellowface mutations is visibly present in each case. For instance, Yellowface Mutant 1 will be lemon yellow. Meanwhile, Yellowface Mutant 2 double factor will be buttercup yellow. Finally, Goldenface double factor will be an even deeper yellow. The otherwise white areas of the mask, frontal, crown and the very faintly discernible undulations at the back of the head will be in the shade of yellow coloration appropriate to the Yellowface mutant form.

Markings on cheeks, back of head and neck will have a light flush of the appropriate shade of yellow visible on the otherwise white areas at the edge of the markings. The Wings may have a very light flush of the appropriate shade of yellow visible on the otherwise white areas at the edge of minimal body colour markings. Primary wing flights are grey/white. The primary tail feathers are neutral with ground or body colour suffusion. Secondary tail feathers are blueish/grey at the tip. An overlay of the appropriate shade of yellow on the otherwise white areas is permissible.

You should also apply the notes for the single factor and double factor of the Yellowface and Goldenface mutations to the written standard for the Rainbow Budgerigar variety.

Varietal Notes

The Rainbow Budgerigar must visibly be Opaline, Clearwing, Yellowface, or Goldenface to exemplify its variety. Rainbow budgies are extremely popular for their vivid contrast. As a result, the rainbow budgie is one of the most sought-after varieties for budgerigar pets.