White (buttons)

White in button quail is a mutation that creates an all-white colored quail, similar to Dotted/English White in coturnix. It was originally classified as a recessive gene, however test breeding proves that there is a heterozygous phenotype (3).

With one copy of white, the bird can have white across the breast, face, and wingtips (1)(3). The amount of white can vary depending on the line, and it is possible to breed for more or less white. "Tuxedo" and "splash" are names given to lines with differing amounts of white. Whether these are separate genes or just birds with the initial white gene that were selectively bred for different patterns of white is unknown, but they originated from classic white birds (2) (1).

With two copies of the gene, the bird will be white from head to tail, with black eyes (1) . It is not possible to feather sex an all-white bird, sexing must be done by behavior or vent sexing (1). It is also likely that you can breed for a bird to have colored patches with two copies of the gene, as similar patterns are seen in coturnix quail. Again, whether these birds with colored patches have a separate mutation from the initial white gene or if they are just that same gene selectively bred for more color expression is unknown.

In general, splash is used to describe a bird with two copies of the gene that starts with minimal white feathers and grows out more white feathers after the first adult molt (3). White tends to concentrate around the wings, head, and breast of the bird. It is considered "recessive" in the same way that the overall white is considered recessive(3) and likely has a heterozygous phenotype. However, these birds originated from the original, all-white buttons (3). This is sometimes also called Pied abroad and in other animals.

Tuxedo is used to describe a bird where the white is concentrated to the wingtips and breast. It is likely the most common form of white. It is said to not breed true (1), likely because it is just one copy of the white gene. With two copies, the bird would be all white (1).

More research needs to be done on the different lines and variations on the general white gene to determine if these are in fact separate genes.

For simplicities' sake, White is going to describe an all-white bird, Tuxedo will describe the heterozygous phenotype, and wildtype will be a bird without any white. The pattern will also follow simple Coturnix English White genetics, it is possible that results may vary from this depending on the strain of white used.

Breeding with White: For more information about breeding with this kind of gene, including tips and tricks and a full explanation of how these results were calculated, please see here.

White x White = 100% White

White x Wildtype = 100% Tuxedo

White x Tuxedo = 50% White, 50% Tuxedo

Tuxedo x Tuxedo = 25% White, 50% Tuxedo, 25% White

Tuxedo x Wildtype = 50% Tuxedo, 50% Wildtype