Black& White Bird! (1 Viewer)

Tockman

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #1

Hi All,
An unusual visitor called last week, a Black and White bird! I've seen them with just a white spot or two on the wings, but never one like this! anyone else seen one?
Apologies for poor quality photo, taken with digital video camera in snapshot mode, just happened to be handy at the time!
Scope now trained on the bird table, but as yet (you guessed) not a sign of it.

Alan.

 

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Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #2

Hey, if he starts singing, you've got a Black and White Warbler

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Nov 12, 2004

• #3

My first thought from the thumbnail was a Blackbird, but I think the bill is wrong, and I think it might be some sort of Mynah.

If so, then an escape or, because I guess it ain't s'posed to be that colour, maybe someone just let it go.

Anyone agree?

 

B

BarbaraM

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #4

Looks like a leukistic Blackbird to me. See this photo in the gallery:
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/data/527/6697Blackbird01.jpg[/img]
Leukistic refers to missing pigmentation. Apparently it is quite common. If you do a search on forums for leukistic and/or albino you'll find a wealth of information and examples. Barbara

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Nov 12, 2004

• #5

Very similar looking bird, I agree Barbara... although this bird has no orange eye-ring. Could be due to the age of the bird, but that bill is very orange.

Not sure if leukism could affect the eye-ring?

Mind you I'm not happy about the eye for my mynah guess either... that bill does look awful heavy for a Blackbird though...

(BTW Alan, you've probably guessed that I'm certainly no expert on these matters!)

 

Keith Reeder

Watch the birdie...

• Nov 12, 2004

• #6

I think the heavy look to the bill might just be because of the angle of the photo and the fact that it's open - it does look heavy though.

Even so, I think it's most likely a leucistic blackbird.

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Nov 12, 2004

• #7

Two to the blackbird, then... :-C

 

Jos Stratford

Eastern Exile

Staff member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #8

Nought needed with the :-C Reckon we should go for the hybrid theory - world's first Myna-Blackbird cross, with a splash of Dalmation thrown in for good luck

 

Allen

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #9

Coincidentally my daughter spotted a white bird today at the school and asked me what it was. It was a completely albino blackbird feeding next to a normal one! Very odd to watch. Enabled me to give a good lesson in why albinos aren't very common though as I asked her to imagine herself as a sparrowhawk and tell me which bird she would go for first!!!

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Nov 12, 2004

• #10

Jos Stratford said:

Nought needed with the :-C Reckon we should go for the hybrid theory - world's first Myna-Blackbird cross, with a splash of Dalmation thrown in for good luck

Click to expand...

Not sure about Dalmatian... can't see its paws!!!

 

B

BarbaraM

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #11

birdman said:

Very similar looking bird, I agree Barbara... although this bird has no orange eye-ring. Could be due to the age of the bird, but that bill is very orange.

Not sure if leukism could affect the eye-ring?

Mind you I'm not happy about the eye for my mynah guess either... that bill does look awful heavy for a Blackbird though...

(BTW Alan, you've probably guessed that I'm certainly no expert on these matters!)

Click to expand...

I don't know if the lack of pigment could affect the eye-ring color in Tockman's bird. There is one shot of a "young male blackbird" in the gallery that doesn't show an orange eye ring. What about size? What's the difference in size between Mynah and Blackbird? Aren't Mynahs a fair amount bigger than Blackbirds? I also think the "heaviness" of the bill/beak is due to the angle. Barbara

 

birdman

Орнитол&

• Nov 12, 2004

• #12

BarbaraM said:

I don't know if the lack of pigment could affect the eye-ring color in Tockman's bird. There is one shot of a "young male blackbird" in the gallery that doesn't show an orange eye ring. What about size? What's the difference in size between Mynah and Blackbird? Aren't Mynahs a fair amount bigger than Blackbirds? I also think the "heaviness" of the bill/beak is due to the angle. Barbara

Click to expand...

I think that young males that are of an age not to exhibit eye-ring colour also do not exhibit the orange bill.

As for size, the only two "mynah" species I have seen have been birdhouse specimens, one (I think) Common, the other Bali. The Common I seem to recall would be larger than the Blackbird by some way, though I think the Bali is of a similar size... just the wrong shade of black!!!

To be fair, I don't think there is enough in Alan's photo to determine size, at least until he comes back and says it was "blackbird-sized".

That said, I am happy to lean towards everyone else's suggestion that it is a Blackie, as much as I am beguiled by Jos's hybrid!

 

Last edited: Nov 12, 2004

B

BarbaraM

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2004

• #13

birdman said:

I think that young males that are of an age not to exhibit eye-ring colour also do not exhibit the orange bill.

Click to expand...

Could be - the "young male blackbird" in the gallery: http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/data/527/1266Svarttrostur_041107_netid-med.jpg[/img]

has a black beak...! Barbara

 

Tockman

Well-known member

• Nov 13, 2004

• #14

Thanks for your input everyone,
Personally I would go for the Leukistic Blackbird theory, as it was blackbird size,and arrived with a normal blackbird, (definitely no paws) will post better pic if it returns.
Alan. Cheers B