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I am very interested in the taxonomy of birds, with particular reference to albatrosses.

They are Diomedea epomophora epomophora the Southern Royal Albatross and Diomedia epomophora sanfordi the Northern Royal Albatross. In their juvenile plumage stage, the two birds are virtually identical, with upperwings black with very few traces of white.

It struck me that the difference between them might be due to an epigenetic change: namely, that in the case of sanfordi, an epigenetic change has prevented or modified the development of the full adult plumage. And it is striking that the neotenous plumage is retained in the more northerly taxon. This has wider application, because the of the 7 taxa involved in the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans complex, 6 of them show the preservation of neotenous features into adult plumage.

These differences might well reflect epigenetics changes triggered by the different environments in which the birds live. Does this sound plausible? I know that there has been much debate about the role of epigenetics in the evolution of humans from chimp-like ancestors. But what I am dealing with is a relatively simple change in the external plumage of birds. Any responses or further references to literature are very welcome

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