Date: 8/26/25 3:24 pm From: pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] possible melanism in Pigeon Guillemot
Tweets,
Yesterday morning, Alec Roseto and I observed a Pigeon Guillemot at fairly close range foraging and resting on the water near West Point in Seattle's Discovery Park. The bird's plumage was all black, except for some occasional white bits visible if the undertail feathers were disturbed. Its feet were dark dusky gray to brown, with some dark orange parts. Bill and eyes were dark, and we didn't get to see the inside of the mouth. The plumage looked to be in good shape, not worn or tattered.
Immatures present now are in typical mottled gray and white plumage, though wing patches can be inconspicuous. Adults are in typical breeding plumage, with large white wing patches, though some are worn or mottled, and with bright red legs and feet. Birds of the World says first year summer plumage has more dark feathering in the white wing patches. It also says immature birds have duller feet, dark gray to dull orange as they age.
Oiled birds aren't usually so black, and usually show some difference in feather condition or texture from unstained birds.
Birds of the World says there are no records of melanism in Pigeon Guillemot, but there are reports of melanism, including the absence of white wing patches, in the closely related Black Guillemot from five countries.
It seems likely this is a melanistic Pigeon Guillemot, which could affect both feather and leg/foot color.
26 August, 2025,
Alan Grenon
panmail AT mailfence PERIOD com
Seattle
Ewins, P. J. (2020). Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole and F. B. Gill, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Butler, R. G., D. E. Buckley, D. N. Nettleship, P. F. D. Boesman, and E. Garcia (2020). Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA.
