Leucism and Reproduction in the Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) in the Golfo de Fonseca, Honduras

Abstract

The neotropical cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) is a bright black bird, aquatic, and of a wide distribution. Color aberrations are rare in wild animals; however, there exist chromatic variations mainly due to genetic alterations. Here we report the presence of a leucistic adult neotropical cormorant. We observed this individual in a mangrove tree (Conocarpus erectus) at 0920h on August 14, 2013. This individual was a member of a mixed nesting colony located in a water supply canal for shrimp production lagoons belonging to Granjas Marinas San Bernardo, Choluteca, southern Honduras. The complete plumage of this individual was dirty white, non pigmented beak and legs, and greenish blue eyes. On August 17, 2013 we observed the same individual nesting and feeding two nestlings of normal coloration.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/ceiba.v52i2.1756