EGG MORPHOMETRY AND EGGSHELL COLOR CHARACTERISTICS OF CHUKAR PARTRIDGE (ALECTORIS CHUKAR)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66211/tmvm.v11i2.336Keywords:
Alectoris chukar, eggshell color, CIE L*a*b*, colorimetry, eggs, Chroma.Abstract
Eggshell color is an important external trait in birds, reflecting pigment deposition and species-specific characteristics. The aim of the present study was to characterize the eggshell color of chukar partridge (Alec-toris chukar) eggs in different shell regions and across egg weight categories using instrumental colorimetric measurements in the CIE L*a*b* system in a population reared in a game farm in Bulgaria. A total of 90 fresh eggs obtained from captive-bred birds maintained for restocking purposes in a game farm in Bulgaria were analyzed. The birds were 12 months old and in the mid-laying period. Eggs were classified into three weight categories (<21 g, 21-23 g, and >23 g). Egg morphometry was assessed through measurements of egg weight, major axis length, and minor axis length, from which the shape index and shell surface area were calculated. The mean color coordinates (L* = 78.12, a* = 7.71, b* = 17.90) position the eggshell color in the light yellow-ish-reddish region of the CIE L*a*b* color space, corresponding to the pale cream spotted coloration typical of chukar partridge eggs. Minor but statistically detectable regional variations in color parameters were ob-served across the eggshell surface, while no statistically significant differences in color characteristics were detected among the examined egg weight categories. These results indicate that eggshell color in chukar par-tridge eggs is relatively stable across different egg sizes, with slight regional variation reflecting differences in pigment deposition within the eggshell.
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