Firstly, let me apologize for the picture, I really need to bring my camera in more when these little hooligans are out.  I have two lovebirds--sex unknown but I'm leaning toward same-sex pair.  However Puffin (green) has done the paper strips stuck in the rump routine whereas Dolly (pied) has never done that.  I've had a nest box set up, and they've done a wonderful job of turning every bit of shavings and shredder material into sawdust, and do spend an awful lot of time together in there, but so far no eggs.  Anyway, in the off-chance that they do lay eggs, is there any way for me to tell either visually from the two birds or by youngsters what mutations they might be carrying?  I know that Puffin's parents were a "normal" green and a dutch blue...I was able to see both parents and the rest of the clutch at the time Puff came home with me.  I have no idea what recessives Dolly might be carrying, since I never saw the parents.  Puff was the lightest of the youngsters, but once molted into adult colors the forehead band and chest colors are almost indistinguishable.  Not sure if you can see it well, but Puff's rump feathers are also a darker blue.  Is there a dark factor in lovebirds as well?  I know very little about genetics of these guys, having never been serious about trying to breed.  But since others have asked questions about their youngsters, I thought it might be an idea to fantasize about lovie babies around here.