v7i4.201

Submitted date: 10 Sepetmber 2014
Accepted date: 2 April 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 258–259.

A note on deformities in the rosy starling (Pastor roseus), Telangana, India

B.L. Narayana*, G. Surender & V.V. Rao
*Corresponding author. E-mail: narayana.laxmi8@gmail.com

On 16th November, 2012, we observed a flock of nine individuals of the rosy starling (Pastor roseus), while conducting faunal surveys at Azmapur village (16.704987°N, 79.039952°E), Nalgonda District, Telangana State, India. The flock was found perching on a Prosopis juliflora tree (Fabaceae). All except three individuals were found with different abnormalities: two individuals had partially bald heads, without feathers on the neck, nape, head and crown regions, three individuals were totally/partially without feathers from the neck up to the crown region. In general, albinism, bill deformity and blindness were found among the individuals.

Section Editor: Varadharajan Gokula