Aberrant birds: five cases of progressive graying in southern brazil

The plumage of birds can exhibit various chromatic aberrations, with progressive graying being one example. This condition is characterized by the presence of randomly scattered white feathers, giving the bird a mottled appearance. In this study, we present records of five new cases of birds with progressive graying across five different species. Notably, species such as Phimosus infuscatus, Pygochelidon cyanoleuca, and Aramides cajaneus represent the first documented cases of this type of chromatic aberration. These records spanned the years 2022 to 2023 and were documented in the municipalities of Pelotas and Rio Grande, located in the southern coastal region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The findings presented here contribute to our understanding of birds with progressive graying, documenting the occurrence of this aberration in new species and reinforcing its presence in those previously documented.