Progressive Greying in the Blue-Gray Tanager, Thraupis Episcopus (linnaeus, 1766), in Costa Rica

Published In

Caribbean Journal of Science

Document Type

Citation

Publication Date

8-25-2024

Abstract

Chromatic disorders in birds are often difficult or even impossible to identify properly, are presumably rare, and have not been systematically quantified across multiple species and populations. The pigmentary abnormality with the greatest prevalence among birds is Progressive Greying, although most forms are not straight forward heritable. Besides, Progressive Greying is often confused with Leucism and Albinism. The Blue-gray Tanager, Thraupis episcopus, is distributed from Central Mexico to Northwest Bolivia and Amazonian Brazil. This tanager is a common resident in lowlands up to 2,300 m, frequenting subcanopy to canopy in a wide variety of non-forest, arboreal habitats including urban areas. Here we report the first case of Progressive Greying for the Blue-gray Tanager based on an individual observed at San José de Rivas, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica. This individual had white feathers almost all over its body, while just some feathers maintained their blue coloration, mainly on the wings and tail.

Rights

© Copyright 2024 by the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez

DOI

10.18475/cjos.v54i1.a4

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/42522

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