Case report: Olive-backed Euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) with deformed beak in Guatemala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54495/Rev.Cientifica.v33i1.496Keywords:
deformidades del pico, tipos de picos deformes, mandíbula superior elongadaAbstract
Beak deformities are physical abnormalities that impair foraging and feather maintenance in wild birds. Severe cases can significantly affect the health and survival of the individuals. Most documented cases have occurred in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. However, in recent decades, several countries in the Neotropical region have also reported species affected by this unusual condition.
This report describes a case of an Olive-backed Euphonia (Euphonia gouldi) with a deformed beak, observed in the core zone of a nature reserve in Guatemala in 2017. The deformity consisted of an elongated upper mandible. This is considered the first documented case of beak deformity for this species, as well as the first photographic record of a bird with a deformed beak in Guatemala.
The finding contributes to the identification of species with beak deformities in protected areas. In the Neotropics, it is essential to report such deformities in both urban and natural habitats, as additional records are needed to better understand the distribution and frequency of this phenomenon across the region.
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