Abnormal Plumage Research Articles

Abnormal Plumage in Adult Common Terns Sterna hirundo during the Breeding Season

Some bird species change their plumage colour on a seasonal basis, mostly between cryptic non-breeding plumage and conspicuous breeding plumage. Adult Common Terns Sterna hirundo moult their body feathers twice each year, resulting in two types of plumages, those typical to breeding and non-breeding seasons, which exhibit minor differences in the colours of some feathers, as well as the bare parts. Here, we report evidence of an abnormal plumage in adult Common Terns (sometimes referred to as ‘portlandica’), with two individuals exhibiting non-breeding like plumage during the breeding season. These terns were documented in a breeding colony in Northern Israel. This report could lead to future research into the causes and consequences of plumage maturation avoidance in adult birds.

Bird parasites: Part 1

ECTOPARASITES Ectoparasites are perhaps the most obvious form of parasitism to an owner, although it is also common for owners to suspect ectoparasitism even when parasitic disease is unlikely. In particular ‘feather plucking’ behaviour in psittacine birds rarely has an ectoparasitic cause (Fig. 1). Other common causes of abnormal plumage in psittacine species include husbandry and nutritional factors and circovirus infection.

AN ADULT MALE BLACKPOLL WARBLER IN FEMALE-LIKE PLUMAGE

We describe a breeding male Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) in aberrant female-like plumage captured on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont, in 1998. The bird had been banded the previous summer in typical alternate-male plumage. This appears to represent the first documentation of a wild adult male bird in female-like alternate plumage. We suspect that the abnormal plumage reported here was due to hormonal influences on pigmentation. The bird's between-year change in appearance appeared to have no effect on its reproductive behavior.

Bh(black at hatch) Gene Appears to Cause Hemorrhage in the Homozygous Quail Embryo Lung

Abstract Abnormal development in Bh quail embryos was histologically examined. In addition to the abnormal plumage pigmentation in Bh-heterozygotes and homozygotes, and subcutaneous hemorrhage and liver degeneration in homozygotes as previously reported, the lungs in all 10-day homozygotes examined showed hemorrhage, suggesting that the Bh gene may also be expressed in this organ. Other organs, including the esophagus, the gizzard, the small intestine, the large intestine, the pancreas, the metanephros, the heart, the gonads and the hemopoietic organs in heterozygotes and homozygotes were histologically normal on days 7 and 10, though the development of homozygotes was slightly delayed. Primordial germ cells and hemopoietic cells were normally developed in gonads and hemopoietic organs such as the bursa of Fabricius and the spleen of the homozygote, respectively. These results suggest that Bh is a mutation inducing pleiotropic effects such as plumage pigmentation changes in both heterozygotes and homozygo...

Papovavirus‐like infection in budgerigars (Melopsittacus Undulatus)

Outbreaks of a disease in two budgerigar aviaries caused 20% and 53% mortality respectively in recently hatched chicks during the 1985 breeding season. Clinical signs were first observed at 5 to 7 days of age. In most birds darkening of the normal skin colour was followed by death in 2 to 10 days. In individual nests all or part of a hatch could be affected. Occasional survivors had abnormal plumage. Few gross lesions were found at post-mortem examination. Histologically, many large basophilic intranuclear inclusions were present in multifocal degenerative lesions throughout the epidermis, kidney, heart, brain and other tissues. These inclusions were shown by transmission electron microscopy to contain numerous virus particles which, on direct examination, had a .diameter of 46 to 56 nm and a papovavirus-like morphology. These outbreaks were considered to be cases of budgerigar fledgling disease, a syndrome that has been reported in other countries but not previously described in Great Britain.

Re-occurrence of a Schizochroismic Corvus macrorhynchos in Tokyo

A schizochroismic Corvus macrorhynchos was found in 1974 (among group of young birds), spent territorial life during 1977 and 1978, paired with a normal bird, but breeding was not successful and the bird finally disappeared. It suddenly occurred again solitary in 1981 and 1986 (Jan. 4), and was chased by other crows. This may suggest a case of individual life history of this species, but may also be a special case owing to its abnormal plumage colour.

Heart Rate Studies with Scaleless Chickens

INTRODUCTIONA NUMBER of single gene mutations in the chicken result in abnormal plumage; reviewed by Abbott (1967). Birds with deficient insulation, are particularly susceptible to subnormal environmental temperatures. By far the most severe feather tract deficiency occurs in the autosomal recessive, scaleless (Abbott and Asmundson, 1957). Selection first for resistance to cold stress and then for increased and decreased numbers of feathers resulted in two lines well separated in degree of feathering (Abbott and Asmundson, 1962; Abbott, 1965). Many scaleless birds in the high feather line (ScHi) are now completely covered with plumage; albeit this remains primarily juvenile in form. Birds from the low feather line (ScLo) are virtually naked. These provide an excellent tool for studies of the many effects of prolonged hypothermic stress.In this study, heart rate and heart size of the two selected scaleless lines were compared with three different sources of normal chickens; Single Comb…

Dietary Factors Affecting Feather Growth

LACK of proper feather development is of considerable economic importance, particularly in the broiler industry where the occurrence of “barebacks” presents a serious problem. This is a condition in which the birds fail to feather properly over the dorsal region, and it is highly undesirable from a market standpoint.Improper growth of feathers manifests itself in several ways other than the “bareback” condition. Faulty structure of the feather itself and abnormal plumage patterns are among the most obvious, and these conditions result in an unthrifty appearance of the poultry flock.That many factors are involved in normal feather development is evidenced by the large variety of reports dealing with feather studies. However, most of the earlier investigations were confined to studies of genetic and hormonal influences.Several investigators have reported that cereal grains differ markedly with regard to their influence upon growth and feather development. Branion (1934), Wilcke (1936), and .

Abnormal Plumage of the Scarlet Tanager

Abnormal Plumage of the Scarlet Tanager

Strong on a Case of Abnormal Plumage A Case of Abnormal Plumage R. M. Strong

Strong on a Case of Abnormal Plumage A Case of Abnormal Plumage R. M. Strong

Correction: Abnormal Plumage in a Pine Grosbeak

Correction: Abnormal Plumage in a Pine Grosbeak

Abnormal Plumage of a Pine Grosbeak

Abnormal Plumage of a Pine Grosbeak