Aberrant plumage in a Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) from the Dominican Republic
| Authors: | Wayne J. Arendt, María M. Paulino, Luis R. Paulino, Danilo A. Mejía |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | International Institute of Tropical Forestry |
| Source: | Journal of Heron Biology and Conservation |
Abstract
The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is one of the most widely distributed heron species worldwide, absent only from Australasia and the far northern Holarctic. Notable for its pronounced phenotypic and genetic variability in plumage, the species occasionally exhibits rare chromatic aberrations such as melanism, leucism and albinism. These phenomena provide valuable insights into adaptability, underlying genetic mechanisms and ecological and evolutionary implications. Here, we summarize the frequency and geographic distribution of documented plumage aberrations of the Black-crowned Night Heron, with emphasis on melanism, and present a field record from the Copey wetlands, northern Hispaniola. The observed individual exhibited predominantly rufous wing plumage reminiscent of the Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus), yet its head and neck coloration were more consistent with Black-crowned Night Heron. Based on morphology, geographic distribution and regional biogeography, aberrant plumage is considered more likely than hybridization. Genetic analysis is recommended to confirm this hypothesis.