Genetics, Small-Scale Quail

Coturnix Genes

Without digging too deep into the world of genetics, lets explore the basics of the genes behind the various colors and patterns of Coturnix quail. We will use the terms gene, locus, and allele. A locus is a specific location on a gene. Each locus has two or more alleles, which are the different forms of mutation for that location.

For Coturnix colors, there are a few important loci. One locus is the black locus, which has alleles of extended black, fawn, recessive black, wild type, and lethal yellow. There are likely others as well that are not yet identified with certainty. Another locus, which is sex-linked, has wild type, dark brown, and roux dilute. There is also a white locus, which results in various shades and patterns of white, silver, lavender, and albinism.

The alleles, or mutation forms, can be dominant, recessive, or incomplete dominant. When incomplete dominant, a single dose (from one parent only) results in a partial effect and a double dose (from both parents) results in a complete effect. Huge thanks to Martin Yardley for summarizing this information in a useful form.

Sex-linked Genes

Brown (Sex-linked Recessive) – Paler version of pharaoh (wild type)

Roux (Sex-linked Recessive) – Even paler than brown

Cinnamon (Sex-linked Recessive) – Extremely pale brown with red eyes, clearly different from pharaoh chicks at hatch.

Ghost (Sex-linked Recessive) – Half way between cinnamon and albino, red eyes. Clearly different from pharaoh at hatch.

Albino (Sex-linked Recessive) – Pure white with red eyes. Identifiable at hatch.

Autosomal Genes

Fawn (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Heterozygous = Italian, Homozygous = Manchurian

Extended Black (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Heterozygous = Rosetta, Homozygous = Tibetan, often white bibs and dark skin.

Recessive Black (Autosomal Recessive) – Similar appearance to Extended Black but when Heterozygous there is no apparent difference from Pharaoh. No white on bib and pale skin.

Pansy (Autosomal Recessive) – Similar to fawn, but with more splotchy/patchy markings and a dark head.

Lethal Yellow (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Heterozygous = Yellow, Homozygous = dead in shell. Heavily marked fawn appearance with more barring.

Silver (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Heterozygous = Silver Pied, Homozygous = Snow White.

Lavender (Autosomal Recessive) – Pale grey in homozygous form, some red tones on neck.

Andalusian (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) –

Dotted White (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Heterozygous = Tuxedo, Homozygous = English White. Markings on heterozygous form depend on base. Homozygous is white but may have color patches on wings or back.

Fee or “Fairy” (Autosomal Incomplete Dominant) – Still being researched. Results in a lack of brown/gold tones which creates a gray base with various markings and dilutions. Dilutes almost any color it is crossed with. Falb-Fee (fee Pharoah), Pearl-Fee (fee Italian), Grau-Fee (fee Rosetta/Tibetan) are a few varieties.