<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Birds with atypical colours in their plumage are not uncommon however, the potential causes of such aberrations have not been widely examined. Aberrant brownish-rufous phaeomelanin is one type of plumage colour that has been recorded in numerous bird species, including those which essentially contain only eumelanin (black) pigments, including several European woodpeckers. A Middle Spotted Woodpecker <italic>Dendrocoptes medius</italic> with aberrant phaeomelanised plumage observed in the Bükk Hills, Hungary, is detailed here and an evaluation of the possible nature of this form of plumage discussed.</p>
</abstract>

Birds with atypical colours in their plumage are not uncommon however, the potential causes of such aberrations have not been widely examined. Aberrant brownish-rufous phaeomelanin is one type of plumage colour that has been recorded in numerous bird species, including those which essentially contain only eumelanin (black) pigments, including several European woodpeckers. A Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius with aberrant phaeomelanised plumage observed in the Bükk Hills, Hungary, is detailed here and an evaluation of the possible nature of this form of plumage discussed.

Observation of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker <italic>Dendrocoptes medius</italic> with aberrant, brown-coloured plumage

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Observation of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker  with aberrant, brown-coloured plumage

Birds with atypical colours in their plumage are not uncommon however, the potential causes of such aberrations have not been widely examined. Aberrant...

Observation of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius with aberrant, brown-coloured plumage

Published Online: Jun 12, 2024

Page range: 231 - 237

Received: Dec 18, 2023

Accepted: Apr 28, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2024-0017

Keywords
woodpeckers, aberrant plumage, phaeomelanised

© 2024 Gerard Gorman, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Observation of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius with aberrant, brown-coloured plumage

Published Online: Jun 12, 2024

Page range: 231 - 237

Received: Dec 18, 2023

Accepted: Apr 28, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2024-0017

Keywordswoodpeckers, aberrant plumage, phaeomelanised

© 2024 Gerard Gorman, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
woodpeckers, aberrant plumage, phaeomelanised