PREVALENCE OF WHITE SPOTTING IN THE PLUMAGE OF THE FULVOUS WREN CINNYCERTHIA FULVA IN THE BOLIVIAN ANDES

Abstract

We assessed the prevalence of white-spotting in the plumage of a Fulvous Wren Cinnycerthia fulva population and present evidence that this phenomenon occurs in other species populations. We captured and observed individuals with varying white facial patches in Cotapata National Park (La Paz, Bolivia). Fifty-two percent of the captured individuals (N=17) showed some degree of white feathering; in all cases, white patches occurred only on the head and fitted the description of ‘white-spotting’, a pattern likely associated with age, physical fitness and status. In avian community surveys, we often observed Fulvous Wrens attending mixed-species flocks, and 36% of all the flocks had at least one individual with facial white-spotting. An examination of photographic records of the species showed that spotting occurs in other populations, with most records from Bolivia showing some degree of facial white-spotting. Our study exemplifies the utility of citizen-science platforms for documenting atypical plumage in wild bird populations.