Coturnix Color? Beige to White

[CascadiaRiver]

Hello! I rescued this stray Coturnix from the humane society a few months back, "Mr. Pretty Lady" (thought it was a hen, its a cock lol) was golden when we first got him, but has since molted out into a steely-white. Not quite as pure white as Coturnix I've had in the past.

Some of the family thinks that Mr Lady was just dirty when we got him, but it didn't look like dirt, and it didn't wash off at all with a wet rag when we first brought him home. Has anyone seen a bird that looks like this? Settle the debate! Dirty? Weird color? No history since he came in as a stray to the humane society before we took him home.

Before:

After:

I can try to get additional photos, I have two other quail (hopefully female haha) that are side-by-side with him, one of them is a pharaoh tuxedo and the white on her is much more bright/normal white than his "platinum" white, if that makes sense?

 

[Nabiki]

I'm thinking that he looks kind of like a German pastel. They can change colours when they moult.

 

[CascadiaRiver]

I'm thinking that he looks kind of like a German pastel. They can change colours when they moult.

Interesting! Thank you! So if I have two hens (pharaoh tux & pharaoh pied) I assume pastel genes are going to be recessive if I were to attempt hatching between them? It's okay if you don't know, just curious

 

[Nabiki]

I'm not sure on the genetics, but pharaoh usually mixes well with other colours. You often end up with pieds or other neat combos.