Aberrant plumages in some migratory waders in Australia
Info
Pages
31 – 35
Published
1 August 05
Authors
Doris M. Graham, Peter C. Collins, Rosalind E. Jessop
Correspondence
Doris M. Graham
grahamdm@melbpc.org.au
14 Falconer Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria 3068, Australia.
Files
Public Files
We report aberrant plumages in seven species of migratory waders (shorebirds) seen in Australia over the past 25 years: Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica, Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa, Great Knot Calidris tenuirostris, Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea and Double-banded Plover Charadrius bicinctus. Evidence that a leucistic Bar-tailed Godwit and a Double-banded Plover with diluted plumage each lived for at least seven years suggests that some plumage aberrations may not have an adverse effect in survival.