Rigaud, Quebec, 17th March 2023. Reviewing clips recorded today (with a Campark Trail camera) of woodpeckers on my suet feeder I noted a female Downy with atypical plumage pigmentation. Frame grab from clip:
The continuous black stripe that normally runs down the back of the head is fragmented (missing between the crown and nape) and is tan colored. Tinges of brown can also be seen on the wings and tail. I haven't seen this before. Suggests some anomaly in melanin pigment synthesis ?
Here's a typical female for comparison:
The continuous black stripe that normally runs down the back of the head is fragmented (missing between the crown and nape) and is tan colored. Tinges of brown can also be seen on the wings and tail. I haven't seen this before. Suggests some anomaly in melanin pigment synthesis ?
Here's a typical female for comparison:
