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Following on from Soosin's leucistic oystercatcher (Fooled...again thread), I thought it might be interesting to start a thread on all creatures leucistic!
Here's a 'blackbird' that visits my garden each year during the breeding season only! Not seen any offspring either so he must nest some distance away... (not the best of pics as he is rather shy and is always in the shadows - so makes a contrasty picture!)
Anyone else have leucistic visitors?
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Lovely pic, MarJus. I've not seen any such variations myself yet but I will keep a look out. This probably doesn't count but I know of someone who has a couple of white squirrels living nearby.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Hello MarJus,
I occassionally see a leucistic magpie when i take my dog out for a walk, despite seeing it several times, it always makes me do a double take! Though this bird has 'washed out' plumage, the plumage patterning is still discernible, with a coffee brown colour replacing where it would normally be black.
Leucism is a genetic mutation that prevents melanin from occurring in a bird's feathers. Melanin, which is produced by pigment cells within a bird's body is responsible for the colours of birds feathers and can be either brown, chest-nut red or black. Though unusual, leucism is slightly more common than albinism, but still produces some interestingly looking birds!
Nice one Marjus, am cursing not gettting a photgraph, c'est la vie.
All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
Brilliant photo MarJus
Do you think he knows he stands out more than others and that's why he keeps to the shadows, normally blackbirds aren't so shy?
Regards
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Unknown said: Do you think he knows he stands out more than others and that's why he keeps to the shadows, normally blackbirds aren't so shy?
Yes I'm sure that's the reason Kezmo! He only comes when he has young as he fills his beak and goes off again! I've never seen him at any other times of the year (yet - being at work I might just be missing him!)
Thanks everyone for your comments! Anyone else got any piccies??
Just to show that even the 'quality' press do not always get it right, I remember this story from the beginning of the year about somebody who had travelled to Norway hoping to see a snow bunting, only to discover one in her garden when she got home, unfortunately the snow bunting turned out to be a leucistic chaffinch.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5430044.ece
Maybe the Times need to consult the RSPB before publishing?
I have also heard recently of a Great White Egret reported locally that turned out to be a leucistic grey heron, that would have been quite something to have seen.
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins
Goodness! Fancy going all the way to Norway! I was really lucky to see a snow bunting on Skye a couple of years back!
Rockwolf said: Goodness! Fancy going all the way to Norway! I was really lucky to see a snow bunting on Skye a couple of years back!
They're one of our bogey birds, despite there being regular flocks along the Norfolk coast in winter, I think they just hide when they see us coming!!!
I'm told this is a leucistic female pheasant. It came into my garden in Inverness on the morning of
16/01/ 2010, attracted by the bird food
I.
Hi Tammy
I love these photos - leucistic or not it's a beautiful pheasant, very striking!