Plumage aberration in Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis

Abstract

The subspecies of Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis present clinal plumage variation. However, aberrant plumages are exceptional. On 2 February 2012, in Sȩdziszów (southern Poland), a dead Northern Goshawk with aberrant plumage was found. The bird was mostly beige but had retained the banding pattern in the flight feathers and streaking on the breast and underwing coverts. Birds in the described aberrant plumage might be confused with the Eastern Palearctic subspecies A. g. albidus. .