| | | | | | Photo Gallery 1 | | | |  |  |  | | | | | The pearl mutation, which is sex-linked, removes the melanin from the centers of all grey feathers, giving the affected plumage a "scalloped" appearance. While females retain this coloration throughout their lives, most males lose the pearl markings after their first molt, after which they look like dark normal grey birds.
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This mutation can be combined with others to change the appearance of the pearl markings; a cinnamon pearl, for example, will have brown edgings on the scalloped feathers, and a whiteface pearl's feathers will have white centers rather than yellow ones. | |
