Frequency of aberrations in plumage coloration of Ecuadorian wild birds
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28947/hrmo.2024.25.2.745Keywords:
Aberrant, albinism, brown, Ecuador, leucism, plumage, progressive greyingAbstract
Records of aberrant plumage in wild birds are increasingly common. Compiling these records sheds light on the causes or signals the most vulnerable species. From 2015 to 2024, we compiled records of aberrant plumage in Ecuadorian wild bird species through field observations, and searches in scientific references, citizen science platforms, and social network groups. We also assessed the correlation between the frequency of these records with species traits: body size, distribution range in Ecuador, presence in urban environments, frequency of observation, and the number of birdwatchers in each province. We present a total of 130 new records of bird species with plumage aberrations, adding 35 species not previously registered. Most records still come from the Andean region, although records were also obtained from the coast, Amazon, and Galapagos Islands. We found positive correlations for the frequency of plumage aberration records with presence in urban areas, and number of observations of the species. Notably, we registered a high number of atypical Colibri coruscans individuals in the city of Quito, as well as records in seabirds and forest-dependent species. Birds with aberrant plumage were more frequent in species that are widely distributed, and inhabit urban or man-made Andean landscapes, such as C. coruscans, Turdus fuscater, and Zonotrichia capensis, suggesting an observational bias and the importance of ecological traits of birds such as tolerance to anthropogenic landscapes.
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