A rare case of brown plumage aberration in the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) from Haryana, India

Abstract Plumage aberrations in wild birds are well-documented, although underreported in large raptors, especially in high-altitude species such as the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis). Here, we report a rare case of brown plumage mutation observed in a juvenile Himalayan vulture in Haryana, India. The morphological characteristics are consistent with known descriptions of brown eumelanin-based aberrations, providing valuable insight into pigment anomalies in this species and highlighting the need for systematic documentation of such rare occurrences in wild raptor populations.