New pigeon pattern/colours

[Johannes]

I’m just wondering with incredibly important sites like this where people from all over can share and ask, whether any new phenotypes have ever been identified. I’m sure there must be some out there being kept by fanciers who might not realise their significances. Just a thought.

[AdamArcher]

I think typically new genes or phenotypes are discovered by people who do understand the significance. People who aren't into colours usually ignore or misidentify them.

In performance breeds the bird will often be flown (and possibly lost) regardless of the colour, and when breeding to type for exhibition any bird that doesn't conform to the breed standard may be culled even if it is expressing an undiscovered gene.

[Johannes]

I’ve always kept performing (as opposed to show) Birmingham rollers and could never understand those people marketing their flying birds based on their colours. My loft is full of blue checkers. When I buy in birds, I’ve seen them fly.