Both mutations are called "Fallow." Both reduce melanin. Both have reddish eyes. Breeders who don't know the difference have mistakenly paired them together, produced no valuable offspring, and lost seasons trying to understand why. This guide gives you the exact differences so that never happens to you.
The quick answer
Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow are two completely separate autosomal recessive genes in Agapornis fischeri. They sit at different loci, they affect different parts of the melanin pathway, and they produce visually distinct birds. The fastest way to tell them apart is by eye colour:
Pale Fallow = pale red / pink-red eyes. Bright, clearly lighter than normal.
Dun Fallow = dark burgundy / cinnamon-brown eyes. Darker, wine-red tone.
Side by side in my breeding room, Pale Fallow birds show a chalky, washed-out green that bleaches further under direct sunlight, while Dun Fallow holds a warm tan-green base with visible depth even in shadow this distinction is reliable enough to call without photography and has saved me from mislabelling stock at every sale.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Pale Fallow | Dun Fallow |
|---|---|---|
| Eye colour | Pale red / pink-red (bright) | Dark burgundy / cinnamon-brown |
| Plumage tone | Noticeably lighter, washed-out green; near-white on face mask area | Duller, brownish-olive green; warm earthy tones |
| Melanin affected | Partial TYR-based eumelanin reduction | Different gene — different eumelanin pathway |
| Inheritance | Autosomal recessive (AR) | Autosomal recessive (AR) |
| Can females be splits? | Yes | Yes |
| Combined value | Very high — Aqua Pale Fallow is premium | Moderate — less sought-after combined |
| Market price (visual) | Higher | Lower |
Pale Fallow — in detail
Pale Fallow is caused by a partial reduction in TYR-gene eumelanin production. Unlike full albino mutations (Ino) which eliminate all melanin, Pale Fallow only reduces the dark eumelanin pigment — leaving the psittacine (green/yellow) pigment largely intact but making the overall plumage appear significantly paler and softer.
The face mask, normally a deep orange-red, appears lighter on Pale Fallow birds. The green body shows a visibly washed-out, mint-like quality. The eye colour is the clearest diagnostic feature — a bright, clean pink-red that is unmistakeable once you have seen it.
Combined with Aqua, Pale Fallow produces one of the most visually spectacular Fischer's lovebirds: a bird with the turquoise body of Aqua softened by Pale Fallow's reduction to a pastel, near-white aqua-teal. These birds — Aqua Pale Fallow — command premium prices in most markets. See: Aqua Homo × Pale Fallow: Full Pairing Breakdown →
Dun Fallow — in detail
Dun Fallow affects a different gene from Pale Fallow and produces a distinctly different appearance. Where Pale Fallow brightens and washes out the plumage, Dun Fallow adds a warm, dull, earthy tone — a brownish-olive quality that gives the bird a slightly drab appearance compared to a normal green.
The dark eye markings are reduced but not eliminated. The eye colour lands somewhere between normal dark and the bright pink-red of Pale Fallow — a darker, wine-toned burgundy or brownish-red. Breeders sometimes describe the colouration as "fallow-green" — lighter and duller than normal, but lacking the bright pastel quality of Pale Fallow.
Dun Fallow birds are traded at lower prices than Pale Fallow in most markets. Their combined-mutation combinations are less sought-after, though Dun Fallow × Opaline produces an interesting warm-toned visual.
Genetics of each
- 25%Visual Pale FallowHomozygous — shows pink-red eyes and pale plumage
- 50%Normal / Pale Fallow (split)Looks normal — carries one copy of the gene
- 25%Normal (pure)No Pale Fallow gene
- 100%Normal / Pale Fallow (split)All offspring are confirmed carriers — both male and female
Used to introduce Pale Fallow genetics into a new line or widen the gene pool. All offspring are confirmed splits. In the next season, breed two of these splits together to produce 25% visual Pale Fallow (Pairing 1).
Try this pairing →- 100%Visual Pale FallowEvery chick in every nest is Pale Fallow visual — maximum efficiency
Once you have two Visual Pale Fallow birds of the same line, pair them for 100% visual offspring. This is the standard established-line pairing.
Try this pairing →- 50%Visual Pale Fallow
- 50%Normal / Pale Fallow (split)
50% visual per clutch — a productive pairing for Pale Fallow lines. No pure normals — all non-visual offspring are confirmed splits.
Try this pairing →Building a Pale Fallow line: season-by-season guide
Starting from scratch with a single Visual Pale Fallow bird, here is the most efficient path to a productive Pale Fallow line:
Season 1: Pair the Visual Pale Fallow with a quality Normal (ideally from a good combination line — e.g., an Aqua carrier). All offspring will be splits. Retain the best-quality splits — ideally 2 males and 2 females.
Season 2: Pair two retained splits together (Pairing 1). Expect 25% Visual, 50% split, 25% normal per clutch. Select the best Visual Pale Fallow offspring for your breeding pairs.
Season 3: Pair visual × visual (Pairing 3) for 100% visual offspring per clutch. By this point your line is producing reliable, consistent Pale Fallow birds.
If your splits also carry Aqua (from a deliberate combination cross in Season 1), Season 2–3 offspring begin producing Aqua Pale Fallow birds — the premium combination that commands top market prices.
Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow are at different gene loci. A visual Pale Fallow bird is NOT split for Dun Fallow. A bird cannot carry "splits for both fallows" without being specifically bred from lines carrying both genes. Crossing a visual Pale Fallow with a visual Dun Fallow will NOT produce double fallow visuals in the first generation — it will produce offspring that are split for each, separately.
Combined with other mutations
Both fallow mutations are autosomal recessive and combine freely with other AR mutations, sex-linked mutations, and dominant mutations. The most commercially valuable combinations involving these mutations:
- Aqua Homo Pale Fallow — the turquoise pastel combination; extremely rare, top of market
- Aqua B1 or B2 Pale Fallow — softer version; still premium
- Opaline Pale Fallow — the Opaline pigment redistribution enhances the Pale Fallow brightness
- Dun Fallow Opaline — warm brownish-green with Opaline patterning
Model Fallow pairings and combinations
The calculator handles Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow as separate mutation slots — combine with Aqua, Opaline, or any other traitIdentifying chicks at hatch
Both Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow can sometimes be identified at hatch by eye colour, though colours deepen slightly as chicks mature. Pale Fallow chicks tend to show the brightest pink-red eyes from the start. Dun Fallow chicks may appear similar at first but their eye colour will settle into the darker burgundy tone within the first weeks.
If you have bred a line where both mutations are present and you need to identify chicks definitively, note the eye colours at 2–3 weeks. By this point the distinction is usually clear. When in doubt, wait until the bird is fully fledged and compare against a known visual of each type.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow in lovebirds?
Pale Fallow has pale red to pink-red eyes and a washed-out, lighter plumage. Dun Fallow has darker burgundy or cinnamon-brown eyes and a duller, brownish-olive plumage. They are two separate genes at different loci — both autosomal recessive.
How do you tell them apart by eye colour?
Pale Fallow = bright pink-red eyes (clearly lighter than normal). Dun Fallow = dark burgundy or cinnamon-brown eyes (darker, wine-red tone). If the eye is bright and clearly pink, it is Pale Fallow.
Can Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow be combined in the same bird?
Yes, but only if both parents carry both genes independently. A visual Pale Fallow bird is not automatically split for Dun Fallow. You need to specifically breed lines that carry both mutations to eventually produce a double fallow visual.
Which is more valuable — Pale Fallow or Dun Fallow?
Pale Fallow generally commands higher prices, especially in combination with Aqua or Opaline. Aqua Pale Fallow birds are among the most valuable Fischer's mutations. Dun Fallow combinations are less sought-after in most markets.
Are both mutations autosomal recessive?
Yes. Both Pale Fallow and Dun Fallow are autosomal recessive in Agapornis fischeri. Both males and females can be splits. Standard 25% visual / 50% split / 25% normal ratios apply for split × split pairings.
How many seasons does it take to produce Aqua Pale Fallow birds?
Starting from a Pale Fallow visual and an Aqua carrier: Season 1 produces splits for Pale Fallow (some also split for Aqua). Season 2 pairs of split × split begin producing birds split for both. Season 3 can yield Aqua Pale Fallow visuals if you carry both genes in the same birds. With careful breeding record keeping and selective pairing, 3 seasons from separate mutation lines to double-visual combination birds is achievable. The calculator helps model which crosses produce which combinations.
What does a split Pale Fallow lovebird look like?
A split Pale Fallow looks completely normal — green plumage, normal dark eyes, no pale or washed-out features. There is no visual difference between a split Pale Fallow bird and a pure normal bird. The only way to confirm split status is through test pairings (pair with a visual Pale Fallow and look for pale-eye offspring) or DNA testing.
Can a bird be both Pale Fallow and Lutino?
Yes, in theory — both mutations are autosomal recessive and carried on different gene loci. A bird homozygous for both Pale Fallow and Ino would express both, though the Ino mutation's complete melanin removal would likely dominate the visual appearance. Such a double-mutation bird would be extremely rare and would require deliberate line breeding to produce.