Reported herein is the description of atypical head coloration on a male Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus). This coloration is unique in that feathers on the posterior of the crown lack the typical dark melanin pigmentation, allowing the underlying vivid yellow (carotenoid) pigmentation that is usually revealed on the male's eyebrow stripe to also be revealed here. The non-melanic form of melano-carotenoid schizochroism is a likely explanation for this crown color variation. Given the importance of crowns and their coloration during mate selection among various avian species, their importance for Evening Grosbeaks is worth further investigation.
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17 November 2022
AN EVENING GROSBEAK WITH UNIQUE CROWN COLORATION
P Ross Gorman
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Northwestern Naturalist
Vol. 103 • No. 3
Winter 2022
Vol. 103 • No. 3
Winter 2022
atypical
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Evening Grosbeak
genetic color mutation
non-melanic schizochroism