DISTRIBUTION OF PHENOTYPIC BODY COLORS VARIANTS Columba domestica Linnaeus, 1758 (Vertebrata: Reptilia: Aves) FROM SELECTED LOCATIONS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

In populations of wild pigeons (Columba domestica Linnaeus, 1758), the cause of various phenotypic variations is the eumelanin pigmentation of feathers. Analysis of photographs taken in 2023 and 2024 at several locations (11) revealed (according to K. Seung-Gu et al. who defined four phenotypic variants) the presence of three phenotypic variants: darkly pigmented feathers on the entire surface of the body; intensely light wings, (so-called pigeon grey), with two always present dark stripes on the back (phenotype 2), other, darkly pigmented feathers on the whole body; light wings covered with dark spots or spots, with two dark stripes present, almost invisible (phenotype 3) and a third variant, with extremely dark feathers on the body and wings so that the wing patterns are not visible (phenotype 4). The variant with dark pigment of feathers on the body, very light wings (pigeon gray) without stripes (or possibly once) was not noted (phenotype 1). By applying basic statistical patterns according to: Petz, 1964, i.e. Lelo & Lukić-Bilela, 2012, average values (2.2-3.4) and standard error values (0.11-0.19) and coefficient variability (21-32). Based on the results of recalculated relative values, variant phenotype 2 is the most represented (57.78%), followed by variant phenotype 3 (22.22%) and variant phenotype 4 (20.00%).