Whipper (budgerigar)
Encyclopedia
Whipper is a Budgerigar
from Winton
, Southland District
, New Zealand
. Its unusual appearance, long curly plumage
, and vocalisations, which were caused by a genetic mutation
made it famous in its home country.
After being placed with, and rejected by its mother, its owner took personal care of Whipper. This early separation from its own species may have resulted in its unique vocal sounds, and later reintroduction to other budgerigars caused normal calls to be more evident.
Mutation is common within the species, caused by "budgerigar colour genetics". However, Whipper's unique mutation is long curly feathers, short flightless wings and apparent blindness. It is suspected that the mutation, which is known to Budgerigar breeders as the "feather duster" mutation, caused unrestricted feather growth, resulting in the budgerigar's dishevelled appearance.
Budgerigar
The Budgerigar , also known as Common Pet Parakeet or Shell Parakeet informally nicknamed the budgie, is a small, long-tailed, seed-eating parrot, and the only species in the Australian genus Melopsittacus...
from Winton
Winton, New Zealand
Winton is a town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located close to the east bank of the Oreti River, 30 kilometres north of Invercargill and 50 kilometres south of Lumsden. It is named after Thomas Winton, a local stockman who lived in the area in the 1850s...
, Southland District
Southland District
Southland District is a territorial authority in the South Island of New Zealand. Southland District covers the majority of the land area of Southland Region, although the region also covers Gore District, Invercargill City and adjacent territorial waters...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Its unusual appearance, long curly plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
, and vocalisations, which were caused by a genetic mutation
Mutation
In molecular biology and genetics, mutations are changes in a genomic sequence: the DNA sequence of a cell's genome or the DNA or RNA sequence of a virus. They can be defined as sudden and spontaneous changes in the cell. Mutations are caused by radiation, viruses, transposons and mutagenic...
made it famous in its home country.
After being placed with, and rejected by its mother, its owner took personal care of Whipper. This early separation from its own species may have resulted in its unique vocal sounds, and later reintroduction to other budgerigars caused normal calls to be more evident.
Mutation
Whipper's vet declared him as a mutant. Bird mutations are well documented and can cause health problems.Mutation is common within the species, caused by "budgerigar colour genetics". However, Whipper's unique mutation is long curly feathers, short flightless wings and apparent blindness. It is suspected that the mutation, which is known to Budgerigar breeders as the "feather duster" mutation, caused unrestricted feather growth, resulting in the budgerigar's dishevelled appearance.
Public Notability
- Whipper Fan Page "Fan Page Dedicated To Everything Whipper"
- U-ZOO Feature, United Kingdom (YouTube): "Really Weird-Looking Bird"
- Promotional Appearance (July 2004)"Local veterinary clinic promotion"
- Honkonui Gold Interview (audio): "Chirping alone with owner, on his favorite radio station"