[Tweeters] how to describe this parrot's plumage colouring?

[Devorah the Ornithologist]

hello everyone,

i've been staring at this wild rainbow lory (photo attached), which some
people are describing as "leucistic". google images link:

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMa54w0MwAL6Gtwem9ewXCQeoFLDPvaCe0xzYys

except ... i don't think it is leucistic because the definition of leucism
is the reduction in one or more melanin-based pigments being deposited into
the feathers. considering this parrot appears to have normal amounts of
yellow pigments, but a lack in blue feather structure that would normally
create its green colouring, i think it is not leucistic at all. (green
colours in parrots are created by a mixture of yellow pigments and blue
structural colours.) however, the only word i can think of to describe this
condition is "pied" or "piebald", which i don't think is particularly
precise. does anyone else know what this feather colouration/condition is
called?

thanks.

-- 
GrrlScientist
Contact: *grrlscientist at gmail.com <grrlscientist at gmail.com>* | Twitter
<https://twitter.com/GrrlScientist>
Words: Forbes <http://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/> | Medium
<https://medium.com/@GrrlScientist> | GoodReads
<https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52557863-grrlscientist>
sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt. [Virgil, Aeneid]
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/pipermail/tweeters/attachments/20210112/8bc7bf26/attachment.html>