Estrilda Astrild Research Articles

PALATE PIGMENTATION IN ADULTS AND SUBADULTS OF SOME AFRICAN ESTRILDIDAE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE PERSISTENCY OF JUVENILE MOUTH-MARKINGS

Summary Kunkel, P. & Kunkel, I. 1975. Palate pigmentation in adults and subadults of some African Estrididae, with special reference to the persistency of juvenile mouth-markings. 46:147-153. The colouration of the mouth interior of birds with adult plumage has been examined in ten species of estrildid finches occurring in eastern Zaire Republic. Three types have been found: in a Cryptospiza and a Nesocharis species as well as in Estrilda astrild adult bill interiors are pale, and the juvenile palate designs fade out slowly; in two Spermestes species, Estrilda nonnula and at least one Lagonosticta species, the bill interior is black or dark slate, and the juvenile spots and lines are merged into this pigmentation; only in Spermophaga the juvenile palate design is fully conserved in adults as it is, according to former papers, in Uraeginthus. It is attempted to correlate these patterns with systematic relationships and with types of social behaviour.