Peafowl Mutations Visual Guide
What is this page?
This is a companion guide to the Peafowl Genetics Calculator. It exists to help folks browse peafowl colors and patterns to learn the genetics associated with them, and a small amount of history associated with them.
What does "color" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
COLOR is the pigment or pigments of the peafowl. Genes which affect color typically affect how and which pigments are produced. An example of this would be a gene which reduces or eliminates the melanin production, like in albinism.
What does "pattern" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
PATTERN is the arrangement in which the pigments are arranged. Genes which affect pattern typically affect how the pigments are applied. Patterns may affect the entire bird or just part of a bird. Sometimes pattern genes affect the order in which the pigments are applied (for example, applying all one color pigment to the wing [blackshoulder] instead of two colors in bars [wild wing]).
What does "leucistic" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
LEUCISM is a genetic condition which causes white spotting, white dilution, or total white color all over the bird. Leucism causes pigment cells (called melanocytes) to fail to develop properly in embryos, resulting in patches of skin that have no melanocytes with which to deposit pigments onto the feathers. This is different than albinism, which has melanocytes, but they cannot produce melanin.
Leucism isn't technically a color or a pattern, which is why I have separated it into its own category. Most people will refer to white as a color, most people will refer to pied and silver pied and white eye as patterns. It's not exactly correct, but it's common parlance and how most understand leucism.
Why didn't you use real photos?
I would love it! But, I don't have photos of my own of all of these mutations, nor do I have photos donated by others for educational purposes. If you would like to contribute to this knowledge base with real photos, I would happily accept some good, clear reference photos of any of these mutations, both males and females.
For now, I have used the sprites created for my peafowl genetics calculator. They are used here for educational purposes under the same creative license, and should give people a general idea of the colors and patterns compared to one another.
This is a companion guide to the Peafowl Genetics Calculator. It exists to help folks browse peafowl colors and patterns to learn the genetics associated with them, and a small amount of history associated with them.
What does "color" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
COLOR is the pigment or pigments of the peafowl. Genes which affect color typically affect how and which pigments are produced. An example of this would be a gene which reduces or eliminates the melanin production, like in albinism.
What does "pattern" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
PATTERN is the arrangement in which the pigments are arranged. Genes which affect pattern typically affect how the pigments are applied. Patterns may affect the entire bird or just part of a bird. Sometimes pattern genes affect the order in which the pigments are applied (for example, applying all one color pigment to the wing [blackshoulder] instead of two colors in bars [wild wing]).
What does "leucistic" mean when speaking about peafowl genetic mutations?
LEUCISM is a genetic condition which causes white spotting, white dilution, or total white color all over the bird. Leucism causes pigment cells (called melanocytes) to fail to develop properly in embryos, resulting in patches of skin that have no melanocytes with which to deposit pigments onto the feathers. This is different than albinism, which has melanocytes, but they cannot produce melanin.
Leucism isn't technically a color or a pattern, which is why I have separated it into its own category. Most people will refer to white as a color, most people will refer to pied and silver pied and white eye as patterns. It's not exactly correct, but it's common parlance and how most understand leucism.
Why didn't you use real photos?
I would love it! But, I don't have photos of my own of all of these mutations, nor do I have photos donated by others for educational purposes. If you would like to contribute to this knowledge base with real photos, I would happily accept some good, clear reference photos of any of these mutations, both males and females.
For now, I have used the sprites created for my peafowl genetics calculator. They are used here for educational purposes under the same creative license, and should give people a general idea of the colors and patterns compared to one another.
Colors
Since we are only showing COLOR mutations in this section, all birds will be on the wild type pattern base (barred wing, no leucism).
Wild Type - WT/WT or WT/*
The wild type color is the phenotype when a bird has no visible color mutations, or only carries one copy of a recessive mutation. This is one of the most common phenotypes. This phenotype often gets called "IB" or "Blue" and while that's not necessarily inaccurate, it's an incomplete label. "IB" refers to the species "Indian Blue," but it is often erroneously applied to hybrids (Spaldings) to indicate color. The problem is that even if it's a pure IB species, ALL of the mutations could be called "IB." A pure Pavo cristatus bronze IS an "Indian Blue," it's just a bronze color mutation of the Indian Blue species. "Blue" is slightly more accurate, but infers that "blue" is a color mutation rather than the wild type. "Wild Type" color covers all your bases; it doesn't speak of species, it doesn't infer mutations that aren't there, and it correctly conveys the color situation.
The wild type color is the phenotype when a bird has no visible color mutations, or only carries one copy of a recessive mutation. This is one of the most common phenotypes. This phenotype often gets called "IB" or "Blue" and while that's not necessarily inaccurate, it's an incomplete label. "IB" refers to the species "Indian Blue," but it is often erroneously applied to hybrids (Spaldings) to indicate color. The problem is that even if it's a pure IB species, ALL of the mutations could be called "IB." A pure Pavo cristatus bronze IS an "Indian Blue," it's just a bronze color mutation of the Indian Blue species. "Blue" is slightly more accurate, but infers that "blue" is a color mutation rather than the wild type. "Wild Type" color covers all your bases; it doesn't speak of species, it doesn't infer mutations that aren't there, and it correctly conveys the color situation.
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Amethyst - o/o:Z(va)Z(va) or o/o:Z(va)/W
Amethyst is a compound mutation made from homozygous opal combined with homo/hemizygous Sonja's Violeta. Amethyst originated in 2016 at Legg's Peafowl in the USA.
Amethyst is a compound mutation made from homozygous opal combined with homo/hemizygous Sonja's Violeta. Amethyst originated in 2016 at Legg's Peafowl in the USA.
Black - N/N
Black is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Black originated in France, with the first bird (a black pied) appearing prior to 2020.
Black is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Black originated in France, with the first bird (a black pied) appearing prior to 2020.
Buford Bronze - br/br
Bronze is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Bronze originated in the 1980s, at Buford's farm.
Bronze is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Bronze originated in the 1980s, at Buford's farm.
Cameo - Z(c)/Z(c) or Z(c)/W
Cameo is a single-gene, sex-linked recessive mutation. Cameo originated around 1967, as a hen hatched by Mr. Oscar Mulloy of Maine, USA. Cameo was originally called "Silver Dun." While some believe it originated in Spalding birds, record shows the first cameos mutated in pure blues.
Cameo is a single-gene, sex-linked recessive mutation. Cameo originated around 1967, as a hen hatched by Mr. Oscar Mulloy of Maine, USA. Cameo was originally called "Silver Dun." While some believe it originated in Spalding birds, record shows the first cameos mutated in pure blues.
Charcoal - ch/ch
Charcoal is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Charcoal is a medically significant gene; charcoal hens are sterile and charcoals often suffer from poor feather quality and short lifespans. Charcoal originated in the 1980s.
Charcoal is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Charcoal is a medically significant gene; charcoal hens are sterile and charcoals often suffer from poor feather quality and short lifespans. Charcoal originated in the 1980s.
Cinnamon
Cream Bronze
European Violet
Fawn (Australia)
Hazel/Indigo
Hazel- First appeared as a silver pied bird at Texas Peafowl
Indigo- First bred by Clifton Nicholson
Hazel- First appeared as a silver pied bird at Texas Peafowl
Indigo- First bred by Clifton Nicholson
Holla Metallic
Ivory (US)
Ivory (EU)
Jade - j/j
Jade is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Jade originated around 1995, on a farm in Nebraska, USA, and was later propagated by Legg's Peafowl. The mutation appears to have first occurred in Spalding birds, making it a Spalding-only mutation (that is, ALL Jade birds are Spaldings).
Jade is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Jade originated around 1995, on a farm in Nebraska, USA, and was later propagated by Legg's Peafowl. The mutation appears to have first occurred in Spalding birds, making it a Spalding-only mutation (that is, ALL Jade birds are Spaldings).
Midnight
Midnight is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Midnight originated in 1995 on a farm in Kansas, and was later propagated by Legg's Peafowl.
Midnight is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Midnight originated in 1995 on a farm in Kansas, and was later propagated by Legg's Peafowl.
Mocha - mc/mc
Mocha is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Mocha originated
Mocha is a single-gene, autosomal recessive. Mocha originated
Montana
Montana- First found by Brad Legg in a feral flock in montana and bred from there. It is its own mutation.
Montana- First found by Brad Legg in a feral flock in montana and bred from there. It is its own mutation.
Onyx
Opal
First appeared in the 1990s
First appeared in the 1990s
Peach
Peach is a compound color mutation, but it travels like a single-gene, sex linked recessive. It is comprised of cameo and purple, and cannot be created from scratch on purpose, due to the fact that breeders cannot purposely cause a purple or cameo gene to migrate from one Z chromosome to the other during gamete cell meiosis. This means that to get peach, you must have peach, or experience a random chromosomal crossover event during breeding. Peach originated in 1991, a hen hatched at Roughwood Aviaries in Scottsburg, IN, USA, produced by Clifton Nicholson.
Peach is a compound color mutation, but it travels like a single-gene, sex linked recessive. It is comprised of cameo and purple, and cannot be created from scratch on purpose, due to the fact that breeders cannot purposely cause a purple or cameo gene to migrate from one Z chromosome to the other during gamete cell meiosis. This means that to get peach, you must have peach, or experience a random chromosomal crossover event during breeding. Peach originated in 1991, a hen hatched at Roughwood Aviaries in Scottsburg, IN, USA, produced by Clifton Nicholson.
Platinum
Platinum is a compound color comprised of the opal and bronze mutations. As of 2026, it is the only fully-autosomal compound color mutation. Platinum birds must be homozygous for opal and homozygous for bronze. Platinum was originally called "Noir Opal," and later Mocha, before being registered as Platinum. This mutation originated at Clifton Nicholson's farm.
Platinum is a compound color comprised of the opal and bronze mutations. As of 2026, it is the only fully-autosomal compound color mutation. Platinum birds must be homozygous for opal and homozygous for bronze. Platinum was originally called "Noir Opal," and later Mocha, before being registered as Platinum. This mutation originated at Clifton Nicholson's farm.
Purple (US) - Z(pl)/Z or Z(pl)/W
Purple is a single-gene, sex-linked recessive mutation. Purple originated in 1987 in Arizona, out of a blackshoulder hen. The first purple was sold to and first propagated by Roughwood Aviaries in Texas, USA.
Purple is a single-gene, sex-linked recessive mutation. Purple originated in 1987 in Arizona, out of a blackshoulder hen. The first purple was sold to and first propagated by Roughwood Aviaries in Texas, USA.
Raw Umber
Rosewood
Sonja's Violeta
Steel
Steel- first bred by Clifton Nicholson.
Steel- first bred by Clifton Nicholson.
Taupe -
Taupe originated in 2005 from Legg's Peafowl.
Taupe originated in 2005 from Legg's Peafowl.
Ultramarine
Patterns
Blackshoulder - bs/bs
Brown Wing - bw/bw
Brown Wing- First bred by Clifton nicholson. It is its own mutation
Brown Wing- First bred by Clifton nicholson. It is its own mutation
Leucistic Mutations
White - W/W
White is a single-gene, autosomal incomplete dominant gene. It is an allele to the pied gene. White is the oldest documented peafowl mutation, appearing in artwork as far back as at least the 17th century (the painting below is by Jan Weenix, from 1692, and the bird pictured is an adult). Leucism is a common wild mutation, and white likely appeared in wild/feral or at least free-roaming flocks rather than being bred by anyone specific.
White is a single-gene, autosomal incomplete dominant gene. It is an allele to the pied gene. White is the oldest documented peafowl mutation, appearing in artwork as far back as at least the 17th century (the painting below is by Jan Weenix, from 1692, and the bird pictured is an adult). Leucism is a common wild mutation, and white likely appeared in wild/feral or at least free-roaming flocks rather than being bred by anyone specific.
Het White - WT/W
Het white gets its own section because white is an incomplete dominant, and the het form looks different than the homozygous form, but also looks different than the wild type. Het white shares a phenotype with het and homozygous pied.
Het white gets its own section because white is an incomplete dominant, and the het form looks different than the homozygous form, but also looks different than the wild type. Het white shares a phenotype with het and homozygous pied.
Pied (Phenotype)- W/p
The pied mutation is a compound heterozygous mutation, comprised of one copy of the white gene and one copy of the pied gene, which are alleles. The pied mutation originated prior to the 1800s, although early documentation (in the form of a handcoloured copperplate, drawn and engraved by Edward Donovan from his own Natural History of British Birds London, 1794-1819, pictured below) does not suggest how long before. Given that it is a combination of white and pied, it can be presumed that it came about around the same time, but I could not find records further back than the 18th century/1700s.
The pied mutation is a compound heterozygous mutation, comprised of one copy of the white gene and one copy of the pied gene, which are alleles. The pied mutation originated prior to the 1800s, although early documentation (in the form of a handcoloured copperplate, drawn and engraved by Edward Donovan from his own Natural History of British Birds London, 1794-1819, pictured below) does not suggest how long before. Given that it is a combination of white and pied, it can be presumed that it came about around the same time, but I could not find records further back than the 18th century/1700s.
Pied (genotype), AKA: "Dark" Pied - p/p
Het Pied - WT/p
Het Pied - WT/p
White-eye - we/we
Silver White-eye - sWE/sWE
It is currently not known for sure if white eye is a single-gene or polygenic, but there appear to be two variants of the gene- one with a silvering factor, and one without. White eye has been documented as early as the 17th century, but the most recent iterations of it first appeared in the late 1970’s in USA, and were bred by Ernie West in Fortana, CA, USA.
Silver White-eye - sWE/sWE
It is currently not known for sure if white eye is a single-gene or polygenic, but there appear to be two variants of the gene- one with a silvering factor, and one without. White eye has been documented as early as the 17th century, but the most recent iterations of it first appeared in the late 1970’s in USA, and were bred by Ernie West in Fortana, CA, USA.
Silver Pied - W/p:sWE/sWE
Silver pied originated in 1991 on three different farms in the same year, with all blood tracing back to white-eye birds produced by Ernie West in Fortana, CA, USA.
Silver pied originated in 1991 on three different farms in the same year, with all blood tracing back to white-eye birds produced by Ernie West in Fortana, CA, USA.