Aberraciones cromáticas en el Pingüino Patagónico (Spheniscus magellanicus) y la Gaviota Cocinera (Larus dominicanus) en la costa atlántica de Santa Cruz, Argentina

Ian A. Walker

doi:10.56178/na.vi70.1081

Articles Published 26 August 2025 https://doi.org/10.56178/na.vi70.1081

Plumage color aberrations in the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) on the Atlantic coast of Santa Cruz province, Argentina

color aberrations Kelp Gull Magellanic Penguin plumage seabirds

Ian A. Walker Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino Makenke (PIMM), Puerto San Julián (9310), Santa Cruz, Argentina

Abstract

Plumage color aberrations in wild birds are of interest since they are rare and poorly documented worldwide, particularly in seabirds. They may result from temporary external factors or heritable mutations. The most common heritable chromatic aberrations in birds are albinism, leucism, brown mutation, dilution and melanism. This work compiles records of chromatic aberrations observed in the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and the Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) on the Atlantic coast of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Cases of partial leucism, total leucism and brown mutation were observed in Magellanic Penguins, while cases of dilution and partial leucism were recorded in Kelp Gulls. This work emphasizes the importance of reporting these cases in order to determine their prevalence and potential ecological and evolutionary implications.

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References

Carpenter-Kling T, Dyer BM, Makhado AB, Pistorius PA (2017) Plumage aberrations in macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Polar Biology 40: 1907-1911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2080-9
Cieślińska K, Bodson P, Gruber E, Piening K, Syposz M, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Jakubas D (2025) An illustrated key for identification of colour aberrations in alcids with a revision of nomenclature used. The European Zoological Journal 92: 238-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750263.2024.2447447
Everitt DA, Miskelly CM (2003) A review of isabellinism in penguins. Notornis 50: 43-51
Fox HM, Vevers G (1960) The nature of animal colours. Sidgwick and Jackson, Londres
Fuentes D, González-Acuña D (2011) Aberraciones cromáticas del plumaje en aves: nuevos reportes en Chile. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 17: 113-121
Golubev SV (2020) Aberrant and deformed Antarctic penguins and unusual eggs. Notornis 67: 459-468
Imberti S, Tiberi E (2016) eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S29948640. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accedido el 21/8/2025
Kerbage M (2021) eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S84265110. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accedido el 21/8/2025
Leichtle J (2019) Reporte de leucismo parcial en ejemplar de pingüino de Magallanes (Spheniscus magellanicus) de la región del Biobío, Chile. Revista de Medicina Veterinaria e Investigación 2: 61-65
Lubnow E (1963) Melanine bei vögeln und säugetieren. Journal für Ornithologie 104: 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01677680
Oosthuizen WC, de Bruyn PJN (2009) Isabelline king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus at Marion Island. Marine Ornithology 37: 275-276. http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.37.3.856
Petracci PF, Delhey JKV, Pérez CHF (2001) Albinismo en Carancho (Caracara plancus) y Gaviota Cocinera (Larus dominicanus). Nuestras Aves 42: 28. https://doi.org/10.56178/na.vi42.978
Petry MV, Corrêa LLC, Benemann VRF, Werle GB (2017) Brown plumage aberration records in Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) and Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de ornitologia 25: 125-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544388
Ramírez-Alvarez D, Gachot J (2024) Registro de una gaviota dominicana (Larus dominicanus) melánica en Cáhuil, región de O’Higgins, Chile central. Revista Chilena de Ornitología 30: 62-65
Traisnel G, Pichegru L, Visser HJ, Edwards LC (2018) Colour aberrations in African penguins Spheniscus demersus. Marine Ornithology 46(1): 19-22. http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.46.1.1243
van Grouw H (2006) Not every white bird is an albino: sense and nonsense about colour aberrations in birds. Dutch Birding 28: 79-89
van Grouw H (2013) What colour is that bird? The causes and recognition of common colour aberrations in birds. British birds 106: 17-29
van Grouw H (2021) What’s in a name? Nomenclature for colour aberrations in birds reviewed. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 141(3): 276-299. https://doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v141i3.2021.a5
Vanstreels RET, Hurtado R, Egert L, Mayorga LF, Bhering RCC, Pistorius PA (2018) Discolored and worn-out plumage in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found ashore in southeast and northeast Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 26: 202-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544430
White J, Mattern T, Pütz K, Mattern H, Houston D, Long R, Keys BC, Ellenberg U, García-Borboroglu P (2023) Plumage colour aberrations in erect-crested penguins (Eudyptes sclateri) on Antipodes Island. Notornis 70: 143-146

How to cite

Ian A. Walker (2025). Plumage color aberrations in the Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) and Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) on the Atlantic coast of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. Nuestras Aves, No. 70 (2025), 101-106. https://doi.org/10.56178/na.vi70.1081

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[1] Carpenter-Kling T, Dyer BM, Makhado AB, Pistorius PA (2017) Plumage aberrations in macaroni penguins Eudyptes chrysolophus at sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Polar Biology 40: 1907-1911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2080-9

[2] Cieślińska K, Bodson P, Gruber E, Piening K, Syposz M, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Jakubas D (2025) An illustrated key for identification of colour aberrations in alcids with a revision of nomenclature used. The European Zoological Journal 92: 238-257. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750263.2024.2447447

[3] Everitt DA, Miskelly CM (2003) A review of isabellinism in penguins. Notornis 50: 43-51

[4] Fox HM, Vevers G (1960) The nature of animal colours. Sidgwick and Jackson, Londres

[5] Fuentes D, González-Acuña D (2011) Aberraciones cromáticas del plumaje en aves: nuevos reportes en Chile. Boletín Chileno de Ornitología 17: 113-121

[6] Golubev SV (2020) Aberrant and deformed Antarctic penguins and unusual eggs. Notornis 67: 459-468

[7] Imberti S, Tiberi E (2016) eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S29948640. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accedido el 21/8/2025

[8] Kerbage M (2021) eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S84265110. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance. eBird, Ithaca, New York. Accedido el 21/8/2025

[9] Leichtle J (2019) Reporte de leucismo parcial en ejemplar de pingüino de Magallanes (Spheniscus magellanicus) de la región del Biobío, Chile. Revista de Medicina Veterinaria e Investigación 2: 61-65

[10] Lubnow E (1963) Melanine bei vögeln und säugetieren. Journal für Ornithologie 104: 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01677680

[11] Oosthuizen WC, de Bruyn PJN (2009) Isabelline king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus at Marion Island. Marine Ornithology 37: 275-276. http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.37.3.856

[12] Petracci PF, Delhey JKV, Pérez CHF (2001) Albinismo en Carancho (Caracara plancus) y Gaviota Cocinera (Larus dominicanus). Nuestras Aves 42: 28. https://doi.org/10.56178/na.vi42.978

[13] Petry MV, Corrêa LLC, Benemann VRF, Werle GB (2017) Brown plumage aberration records in Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) and Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) in southern Brazil. Revista Brasileira de ornitologia 25: 125-127. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544388

[14] Ramírez-Alvarez D, Gachot J (2024) Registro de una gaviota dominicana (Larus dominicanus) melánica en Cáhuil, región de O’Higgins, Chile central. Revista Chilena de Ornitología 30: 62-65

[15] Traisnel G, Pichegru L, Visser HJ, Edwards LC (2018) Colour aberrations in African penguins Spheniscus demersus. Marine Ornithology 46(1): 19-22. http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.46.1.1243

[16] van Grouw H (2006) Not every white bird is an albino: sense and nonsense about colour aberrations in birds. Dutch Birding 28: 79-89

[17] van Grouw H (2013) What colour is that bird? The causes and recognition of common colour aberrations in birds. British birds 106: 17-29

[18] van Grouw H (2021) What’s in a name? Nomenclature for colour aberrations in birds reviewed. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 141(3): 276-299. https://doi.org/10.25226/bboc.v141i3.2021.a5

[19] Vanstreels RET, Hurtado R, Egert L, Mayorga LF, Bhering RCC, Pistorius PA (2018) Discolored and worn-out plumage in juvenile Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found ashore in southeast and northeast Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 26: 202-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03544430

[20] White J, Mattern T, Pütz K, Mattern H, Houston D, Long R, Keys BC, Ellenberg U, García-Borboroglu P (2023) Plumage colour aberrations in erect-crested penguins (Eudyptes sclateri) on Antipodes Island. Notornis 70: 143-146