A case of partial leucism in the American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) (Temminck, 1827), from Buenos Aires province, Argentina

The diverse colorations of a birds’ plumage are due to either structural colors or pigments that are synthesized in specialized cells or incorporated through the diet. However, plumage color aberrations can occur; several cases of albinism and leucism have been reported for different bird species and some examples are found in Strigiformes. A specimen of the American Barn Owl ( Tyto furcata ) with partial leucism was found in Carhué, Buenos Aires province. The plumage of its facial disc, tail and the ventral region was completely white; furthermore, the neck, primaries, and secondaries were pigmented although in a significantly lighter fashion than in normal-phenotype specimens. The rest of the body presented a normal pattern for the species.