Unusual Zebra Finch Mutation?

[boonze]

Hello I have an unusual zebra finch mutation in my colony, it almost looks like a roan (didn't think birds came in that colour) with a dark hood and light cheek patches. It also has white tail spots, very faint. It's got a sibling the same colour, from the same clutch. The parents are a white male and a wild coloured female. Does anyone know what this might be? I've spent hours searching online but I couldn't find any that look like this. Maybe I've got a new mutation - that'd be nice!

Some pics:

Chick with parents


Chick on his own (gender unconfirmed, but for sake of ease and familiarity I'm calling it male)


Another one of the chick


I'll get some pics of his almost-fledged sibling when it's light tomorrow. 

Ideas?

[avinet]

Hi and welcome to the Forum,

The baby is very young and it will likely change quite a bit in appearance over the next couple of months.  It might even end up a White male like it's father, and that is probably the most likely outcome.  I have had a fair number of whites that started out with a fair bit of grey in their feathering.  Another more remote possibility is a Silver, in which case it should have a light grey wash through the back, and a light grey chest, in part striped.  My betting is that it will mature into a White male - in two or three months you will know so please come back with some more photos - I will be curious to see how it develops.

White in Zebras is a recessive gene so a white male and a normal female split to white will give you on average 50% white babies and 50% nornals.  Are there more babies in the clutch - if so what colour are they.

cheers,

Mike