The Pastelface Cockatiel is the latest mutation available to Australian Cockatiel Breeders. It is a wonderful mutation for cockatiel breeders young and old.

The Pastelface Cockatiel was first bred in the United Kingdom by Bob Crossley in 1989. It was the second Cockatiel mutation produced in the UK, the first being the Dominant Silver in the early 1980's. The Pastelface is an Autosomal Recessive mutation with on exception, it is dominant to the Whiteface mutation. Therefore a Whiteface cannot be split to Pastelface. This means that breeding a Pastelface to a Whiteface you will either get Pastelface or Whiteface offspring.
 

Pastelface (light Pied) cocks, Cinnamon cock & Whiteface cock

The Pastelface mutation dilutes the yellow pigment throughout the body. This results in a pale buttercup yellow cheek patch on a very pale lemon coloured face.

There are two forms of Pastelface. To make it easier for you to understand, I will call them Double Factor and Single Factor. Double Factor Pastelface is where there are two Pastelface genes. These birds cannot be split to Whiteface and when they are bred to Whiteface all offspring will be Single Factor Pastelface. Single Factor Pastelface is when the bird carries one Pastelface gene and one Whiteface gene. The bird is still visually the same as the Double Factor Pastelface but when bred to a Whiteface you get half the offspring Pastelface and half Whiteface. Most Pastelface Cockatiels in Australia are Single Factor and are often displayed as being Pastelface/Whiteface. Some simple Pastelface pairings are as follows:

Double Factor Pastelface x Double Factor Pastelface
100%    1/1    -  Double Factor Pastelface

Double Factor Pastelface x Whiteface
100%    1/1    -  Pastelface/Whiteface

Double Factor Pastelface x Pastelface/Whiteface
50%    1/2    -  Double Factor Pastelface
50%    1/2    -  Pastelface/Whiteface

Pastelface/Whiteface x Whiteface
50%    1/2  -  Pastelface/Whiteface
50%    1/2  -  Whiteface

Pastelface/Whiteface x Pastelface/Whiteface
25%    1/4    -  Double Factor Pastelface
50%    1/2    -  Pastelface/Whiteface
25%    1/4    -  Whiteface

Breeding Pastelface is similar to breeding Whiteface except you get a more sellable nest. Instead of getting Whiteface & Normal/Whiteface you get Pastelface & Whiteface.
 

Pastelface cock	Pastelface Pied
Juvenile Pastelface Pearl Pied & Pastelface Cinnamon Pearl Pied

I have bred Pastelface in Lutino, Cinnamon, Platinum, Pearl, Pied and their different combinations. I am hoping to breed the Pastelface with the Pastel Silver. I have already bred the birds that will be able to produce this so maybe next year will be the year.

The Pastelface is a truly amazing cockatiel and is the next greatest mutation after the Whiteface as it changes the whole bird, not just the cheek patch.