European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) in an ‘Ivory’ colour morph

Description:

A few years ago, whilst judging at a show abroad, I made a surprising discovery. A European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) displaying a particularly striking ‘Ivoire’ factor. I won’t hide the fact that I spent a long time observing this exceptional bird. The discussion I had with the breeder after the judging did not confirm that it was indeed an ‘ivory’, as the bird was a male which, according to him, was the offspring of two green birds; and as the ‘ivory’ trait is sex-linked and recessive, it would have been impossible to produce an ivory male from that mating. However, as he had entered his bird in the ancestral category and had not identified the ivory factor (to him it was a green), it is possible that the mother of this male was in fact an ivory female (which he had not identified), and that the father was a green bird carrying the ivory gene. Looking at certain photographs, one can notice a pale yellow sheen on some of the tail feathers.  This detail rules out the possibility that this is a recessive blue.  The breeder was hesitant about keeping him; I was interested… and in the end he kept him in his breeding stock, only to lose him a few weeks later… To date, this is the only Ivory Greenfinch I have ever seen. (Photo Copyright JM EYTORFF)