The Whiteface Cockatiel

The Whiteface male cockatiel, shown here, is a strikingly beautiful bird with its charcoal colored feathers and bright white face.

The Whiteface mutation prevents the deposition of lipochrome (yellow and red) pigmentation on the feathers, causing the dark melanin plumage and the white face.

Female whiteface cockatiels retain the immature grey face (without the cheekpatch) and the barring of the underside of the tail feathers.