Overview

The ino gene is a sex-linked recessive mutation in budgerigars that removes nearly all melanin pigment from the bird’s feathers, eyes, skin, and feet. As a results, this leads to two distinctive visual outcomes:

• Lutino – A bright yellow budgerigar with red or pink eyes (green-series base).

• Albino – A pure white budgerigar with red or pink eyes (blue-series base).

Because melanin is responsible for dark markings, cheek patches, and throat spots, these features are either absent or greatly reduced in ino birds.

Albino

Lutino

Genetic Mechanism

• The ino gene is carried on the sex chromosome (X chromosome).

• Males (XX) require two copies of the ino gene (homozygous) to display the mutation.

• Females (XY) only need one copy to be visually ino.

• This explains why females are more frequently seen as Lutinos or Albinos, while many males are “split ino” (carriers that appear normal).

Appearance

• Eyes: Red or pink, especially noticeable in young birds.

• Legs/Feet: Pinkish due to lack of dark pigment.

• Body Color:

  • Green-series + ino = Lutino (yellow).

  • Blue-series + ino = Albino (white).

• Other Features: No black throat spots, cheek patches, or wing markings; the overall look is smooth and “clean.”

Breeding Notes

• Symbols:

  • X⁺ = normal allele

  • Xᶦ = ino allele

  • Y = female chromosome

Example: Male split ino × Normal female

Male (X⁺Xᶦ) × Female (X⁺Y)

Punnett Square

Results:

• 25% Normal males

• 25% Split ino males

• 25% Normal females

• 25% Ino females (Albino or Lutino depending on base color)

This is a common breeding setup used to produce ino hens.

Example: Male ino × Normal female

Cross:
Male (XᶦXᶦ) × Female (X⁺Y)

Punnett Square

Results

• 50% Split ino males (appear normal but carry ino)

• 50% Ino females (Albino or Lutino depending on base color)

This is a classic pairing if the goal is to produce guaranteed ino daughters.
Notice that no visual ino males are produced in this combination, only split males and ino hens.

Creamino

The Creamino is the result of combining:

• Blue-series base color

• Ino gene

• Yellowface mutation

Appearance:

• Body is a soft pale yellow-cream color rather than pure white or bright yellow.

• Eyes remain red or pink.

• Wings and markings are absent, as in all inos.

Creaminos are often highly prized for their delicate coloring, sitting visually between Lutino and Albino.

Creamino

Common Misconceptions

• Not rare: Lutinos, Albinos, and Creaminos are often thought of as rare, but they are fairly common in aviaries.

• “Albino” only in blue-series: An Albino is not a general “white parrot” — it specifically refers to blue-series budgies with the ino gene.

Summary

The ino gene is one of the most influential mutations in budgerigars, producing the Lutino, Albino, and Creamino varieties. Its sex-linked inheritance pattern makes it a fascinating study for breeders and a major contributor to the diversity of budgerigar colors seen today.