Two new reports of leucistic birds from Mexico

Abstract

We present two new records of leucism in two bird species from two locations in Mexico. First, we report one leucistic Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica); the individual was a nestling observed between 15 July and 6 August 2010, in a suburban area of central Jalisco, showing gray-whitish coloration and dark eyes. We also report of one leucistic Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) spotted during the afternoon of 4 November 2014, flying overhead while migrating in the city of José Cardel, Veracruz; the individual showed white primary feathers interspersed with dark secondaries, white primary coverts, white neck, and chest feathers. Our records represent the first Mexican report of leucism in the Barn Swallow, and the first published report of a leucistic vulture migrating across central Veracruz, respectively. Our observations also show that both leucistic individuals were accomplishing regular life-cycle activities, enriching the available knowledge of chromatic abnormalities in Mexican birds.

Keywords

• Leucism
• partial amelanism
• Barn Swallow
• Turkey Vulture
• color aberration
• suburban area