88 BirdingASIA 30 (2018): 88–89

NOTEBOOK

A note on progressive greying in Ashy Prinia

Prinia socialis in Vadodara city, Gujarat, India
TAPAS K. SHAH, SIDDHARTH M. AMIN & HIREN J. PATEL

Introduction
Plumage colouration in birds is created by the
deposition of natural pigments in the feathers
(biochromes—colouring matter that can be
extracted from plants or animals), structural
colour (selective reflection of light due to the
structure of the feathers), or a combination of
the two (Mahabal et al. 2016). Melanins are the
most common pigments and are of two types:
eumelanin (black) and phaeomelanin (brown).
The second most common pigment types in birds
are the carotenoids, which give rise to shades of
yellow, orange and red (McGraw 2006). In wild
birds throughout the world, plumage aberrations
are not uncommon and are generally caused by

genetic mutation, although they are rarely found
in carotenoid-based pigments (van Grouw 2013,
Mahabal et al. 2015). Factors causing aberration in
birds are genetic mutation, disease, insufficiency of
food, age, injury and parasites (van Grouw 2006,
Guay et al. 2012).
In the field it can very difficult—and sometimes
impossible—to identify true colour mutations
(van Grouw 2013). For example, feathers may be
simply bleached by sunlight and can even become
almost white. Hence for the correct identification
of colour mutations, it is essential to know what
changes have occurred to the original pigmentation
(van Grouw 2013). The six most common heritable
avian colour aberrations are defined, grouped and
named by their pigment reductions (gene action),
i.e. albinism, leucism, brown, dilution, ino and
melanism (van Grouw 2006, 2013). An inclusive
review of colour-aberrant birds seen and recorded
in India was conducted by Mahabal et al. (2016).
Here we report on ‘progressive greying’ in Ashy
Prinia Prinia socialis in Vadodara city, Gujarat.
However, it should be noted that progressive
greying may be an unusual form of leucism.
Progressive greying is the ongoing loss of
melanin pigment with each successive moult,
perhaps as a consequence of the gradual reduction
of tyrosinase activity in the pigment cells as
well as the death of pigment cells. In its early
stages, the affected feathers are usually randomly
spread across the body, resulting in areas of white
plumage, but in some cases the whole plumage
may eventually become white. Different forms of
TAPAS K. SHAH
Plate 1. Aberrant Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis, Vadodara, Gujarat,
India, 27 July 2018.
progressive greying occur and the causes are often
unknown— the condition is usually associated with
factors such as age or environmental parameters,
but in some cases it may simply be inherited,
although this seems to be rare (van Grouw 2018).
Observation
On t he morn ing of 22 July 2018 we were
birdwatching at Gotri, Vadodara city, Gujarat, India
(22.313°N 73.136°E). At 09h44 one of our team saw
a white-coloured bird in flight which then perched
on a nearby shrub. On closer inspection using
binoculars and captured images we concluded
that it was a colour-aberrant bird. It had white
feathers all over the body but the flight feathers
were still coloured brown; the bill was pinkish,
while the feet and eyes were normal colour. We
were unable to identify it at first but as soon
as it started calling—jimmy-jimmy-jimmy—we
recognised it as an Ashy Prinia (Grimmett et al.
1998). We observed the individual for 30 minutes
until it flew away and disappeared. Members of
other avian species, as well as other Ashy Prinias,
maintained a distance from this colour-aberrant
individual. After a literature survey and with the
help of Hein van Grouw, we concluded that the
BirdingASIA 30 (2018)
aberration was the result of Progressive Greying
(see below). Subsequently we visited the same
area several times and the aberrant bird was seen
occasionally. In this case, the Ashy Prinia had
brown feathers which might be a possible effect
of a heritable form, as the rest of the plumage was
white (Hein van Grouw pers. comm.). In another
example of aberrant plumage, an ‘ino’ Ashy Prinia
with almost entirely white plumage but normally
coloured eyes was reported by Koparde et al.
(2014). Other examples of progressive greying are
illustrated in Harrison & van Grouw (2012).
Comment from Hein van Grouw
‘Regarding the aberration involved; in my opinion
the birds white plumage is the result of Progressive
Greying, the progressive loss of pigment-producing
cells. There are many forms of PG, and the real
nature of most of these is still not fully understood.
Some forms are clearly straightforward inheritable,
but for others we still don’t know the precise
causes. The bird you photographed is probably
affected by a heritable form, as most of the plumage
is already white. I expect that after the next
moult the last coloured wing feathers also will be
replaced by white feathers.’
Acknowledgement
We are very grateful to Hein van Grouw for helping
with the identification of the colour aberration
exhibited by this bird.
References
Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C. & Inskipp, T. (1998) Birds of the Indian
subcontinent. London: Christopher Helm.
van Grouw, H. (2006) Not every bird is an albino: sense and nonsense
about colour variation in birds. Dutch Birding 28: 79–89.
van Grouw, H. (2013) What colour is that bird? British Birds 106: 17–29.
89
van Grouw, H. (2018) White feathers in black birds. British Birds 111:
250–263.
Guay, P. J., Potvin, D. A. & Robinson, R. W. (2012) Aberrations in plumage
coloration in birds. Aust. Field Ornithol. 29(1): 23.
Harrison, T. & van Grouw, H. (2012) Abnormal plumage survey: an update.
Bird Table Spring 2012: 14-15. Accessed at https://www.bto.org/
sites/default/files/u23/images/about_gbw/plumage_survey/
bt69_lr_14-15.pdf.
Koparde, P., Bangal, P. & van Grouw, H. (2014) Brown kites and white
crows: understanding colour aberrations in birds. Hornbill (July-
September): 10–13.
Mahabal, A., Sharma, R. M. & Sayyed, A. (2015) Colour aberrations in
Indian birds. BirdingASIA 24: 119–121.
Mahabal, A., van Grouw, H., Sharma, R. M. & Thakur, S. (2016) How
common is albinism really? Colour aberrations in Indian birds
reviewed. Dutch Birding 38: 301–309.
McGraw, K. J. (2006) Mechanics of carotenoid-based coloration.
Pp.177–242 in G. E. Hill & K. J. McGraw, eds. Bird coloration,
Volume 1: mechanisms and measurements. Cambridge MA: Harvard
University Press.
Tapas K. SHAH
Vinoba Ashram, Gotri Road
Vadodara, Gujarat 390 021, India
Siddharth M. AMIN
C/129 Bhagyoday Society
Opposite Sahyog Police chowki
Gorwa Refinery Road, Vadodara, Gujarat 390 016
India
Hiren J. PATEL
Division of Avian Biology, Department of Zoology
Faculty of Science
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
Vadodara, Gujarat 390 002, India
Email: hirenp9408@gmail.com