Yellow markings on the green feathers of A King-Parrots are occasionally reported. Below is an example in Narrabundah in 2013, an immature male.
There are a small number of examples in the Cornell Lab Macaulay Library, the first photo of an AKP as displayed in response to my prompt being a striking male at home in wild tobacco at Kyogle, 23 July 2022. This shows that the yellow
discolouration is quite different from the pale green shoulder stripe of the male.
There are reports, perhaps best described as speculation, that the yellow colour might be a sign of malnutrition or beak and feather disease. https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/King-Parrot-odd-yellow-feather
-----Original Message-----
From: Canberrabirds <> On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Saturday, 23 July 2022 10:04 PM
To: ; ;
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] FW: King Parrot with yellow markings
The basic answer it is a colour mutation, in this case a deficiency in the production of structural blue. Though in this bird it is randomly patchy and that aspect is not very often shown. The normal green is produced by yellow pigment
combined with structural blue (that means the blue colour produced by feather structure, rather than pigment). Where the structural blue is absent (in those patches), the bits that should be green only have the yellow pigment remaining, to provide the yellow
colour. It is basically the same process that produces an all yellow, rather than mostly green, budgerigar.
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Canberrabirds [m("lists.canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds-bounces");">] On Behalf Of
m("internode.on.net","julian.robinson");">
Sent: Saturday, 23 July, 2022 9:02 PM
To: m("lists.canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
;
m("internode.on.net","Barry.Millar");">
Subject: [Canberrabirds] FW: King Parrot with yellow markings
Hi Barry - I am forwarding your message to COG's chatline and will pass on any responses that might help with your question. Cheers, Julian Robinson
Chatliners - Any more informed thoughts than I can offer would be appreciated.
-----Original Message-----
From: Barry Millar <m("internode.on.net","Barry.Millar");">>
Sent: Saturday, 23 July 2022 3:57 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","cogwebmaster");">
Subject: King Parrot with yellow markings
This bird is a frequent visitor to our garden in Isabella Plains. Can someone please explain the bright yellow markings that almost form a solid band across the wings when fully closed.
Barry Millar
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