Abstract
A review of the color aberrations in Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is presented, adding 62 individuals with aberrations. A full white individual and a family of four melanistic individuals were monitored in Ecuador, the first relevant for living for a considerable time with his condition and the second case for the evidence of reproduction, and the inheritance of his condition. In addition, we found 29 individuals that are documented in previous papers and another 28 from online citizen science databases (eBird and iNaturalist), covering the species’ broad distribution. We re-identified and identified the aberrations, and found individuals’ representative of seven kinds of commonest aberrations (Leucism, Progressive Greying, Albinism, Brown, Ino, Dilution, and Melanism), Progressive Greying was the most common condition encountered, with 39 individuals. Ecuador was the country with the most records, with 25 individuals. This paper aims to contribute to properly identifying color aberrations using as an example this common species and to motivate the continued formal publication of these records that have relevant implications as we discuss.