OBSERVATIONS OF PLUMAGE PIGMENT ABERRATIONS OF BIRDS IN ECUADOR, INCLUDING RAMPHASTIDAE

Resumen

The occurrence of plumage pigment aberrations, particularly leucism and to a lesser extent melanism and schizochroism, is well documented in birds yet rarely observed in nature. Documenting cases will help to understand how these aberrations vary among taxa, habitats, and regions. We observed four cases of leucism in four different species: Coragyps atratus, Catharus swainsoni, Turdus fuscater, and Parula pitiayumi, one case of schizochroism in Pteroglossus erythropygius, and one case of erythromelanism in Sporophila corvina, all from various localities in Ecuador.