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

We assessed the prevalence of white spotting in the plumage of a population of Fulvous Wren Cinnycerthia fulva and present evidence that this phenomenon occurs in other populations of the species. 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 surveyed had at least one individual with facial white spotting. An examination of photographic records of the species on citizen science platforms showed that white spotting occurs in other populations across the distribution of the species, with most photographic records from Bolivia showing some degree of facial white spotting. Our study exemplifies the utility of citizen science platforms for documenting the occurrence of atypical plumage in wild bird populations.