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Volume 51, No. 1

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Observation of a leucistic Brown Noddy Anous stolidus in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia


Authors

SIMON DUCATEZ1 & JAYNA L. DEVORE2
1Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité Mixte de Recherche 241 - Ecosystèmes Insulaires Océaniens, Campus d'Outumaoro, 98702 Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia (simon.ducatez@ird.fr)
2Tetiaroa Society, Motu Onetahi, Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

Citation

DUCATEZ, S. & DEVORE, J.L. 2023. Observation of a leucistic Brown Noddy Anous stolidus in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. Marine Ornithology 51: 23 - 25
http://doi.org/10.5038/2074-1235.51.1.1505

Received 08 November 2022, accepted 19 November 2022

Date Published: 2023/04/15
Date Online: 2023/04/10
Key words: Anous stolidus, Brown Noddy, Gygis alba, Laridae, leucism, Tetiaroa

Abstract

We observed a leucistic Brown Noddy Anous stolidus on the atoll of Tetiaroa in French Polynesia. This individual was mostly light grey, similar in coloration to a Blue Noddy Anous ceruleus. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a Brown Noddy with such plumage. Brown Noddies and White Terns Gygis alba were particularly aggressive towards the aberrantly colored Brown Noddy.

Nous avons observé un Noddi Brun Anous stolidus leucistique sur l'atoll de Tetiaroa en Polynésie française. Cet individu était principalement gris clair, d'une coloration similaire à celle du Noddi Bleu Anous ceruleus. À notre connaissance, il s'agit du premier signalement d'un Noddi Brun avec un tel plumage. Les Noddis Bruns et les Sternes Blanches Gygis alba étaient particulièrement agressifs à l'encontre de ce Noddi Brun aux couleurs aberrantes.

References


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