Caged fat ball feeders = good, mesh bags and fatballs = bad!
Susan said: Ermmmm. have just double clicked on the photograph and got the answer. Looks like Sparrow was right is that what you meant John when you said it kept flashing lol
Ermmmm. have just double clicked on the photograph and got the answer. Looks like Sparrow was right is that what you meant John when you said it kept flashing lol
Ah ha! fantastic! well done folks! and Susan, thats brilliant - somewhat of a "Doh" **slaps forehead** moment when i doubled clicked to see what you mean't! It is indeed a Melanistic Great tit, thought I'd share as it is a interesting picture and helps show how things aren't always easy to ID even with our common garden birds. Well done all who got there on their own! Next time i'll remember to change the title of the photo!
you can almost see the black line down the belly on this one..
Thanks John,
glad You appreciated the link. Thought I would put it in so others could read it!
I totally agree that they're a great bird, one of the studies that I'm involved with is a RAS (Retrap Adult Survival) on Great Tits, I have never encountered Melanistic birds in this area. This year was the worst for breeding pairs, although the juvenile success rate was higher than the last two years.
When I first saw the photo, the first bird that come to mind was Great Tit, but as it was quite a while ago I read about Melanism they old grey matter and cogs didn't start turning.
I got Leucism stuck in there, as mentioned this is when the pigment turns white.
Thanks again for my mention.
Regards Buzzard
Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way
Hi there
Really interesting replies everyone, and the links are interesting too.
Just to have knowledge of Great tits looking so different just shows us that colouration of birds s changing all of the time. Makes then look like bandits LOL,
Never knew it was food related,or just pigmentation (sp) in the skin, or feathers
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Buzzard said: Thanks John, glad You appreciated the link. Thought I would put it in so others could read it! I totally agree that they're a great bird, one of the studies that I'm involved with is a RAS (Retrap Adult Survival) on Great Tits, I have never encountered Melanistic birds in this area. This year was the worst for breeding pairs, although the juvenile success rate was higher than the last two years. When I first saw the photo, the first bird that come to mind was Great Tit, but as it was quite a while ago I read about Melanism they old grey matter and cogs didn't start turning. I got Leucism stuck in there, as mentioned this is when the pigment turns white. Thanks again for my mention. Regards Buzzard
Hi,
here's an interesting ID point noticeable in the photos. Tits have their outer two forward facing toes fused together to the first joint, it gives better strength for hanging upside down etc. It is visible in the photo.
:)
S
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