• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Starling With White Tail tip (1 Viewer)

DenBee

Well-known member
Hi
Can anyone out there shed some light on this colouration, I have noticed this particular bird on numerous occasions on the feeders in my garden over the past few weeks. After checking my previous records over the past two to three years I noted that this appears every year around this period of time, I am therefore wondering if this could be one of our migrant birds or just a abnormal colouration.
Any explanations welcome.

DenBee
 
It's a partly leucustic Starling ie it has a genetic defect affecting melanin in the tail feathers.As were it comes from who knows?It could be a british bird or it could be a continental.Unless it's ringed there's no real way of telling.

Cheers,

Dimitris
 
Dimitris said:
It's a partly leucustic Starling ie it has a genetic defect affecting melanin in the tail feathers.As were it comes from who knows?It could be a british bird or it could be a continental.Unless it's ringed there's no real way of telling.

Cheers,

Dimitris
Thanks Dimitris
I had a feeling that this may be the case, it was that As i have already said I only see this bird at this time of the year, indicative that a may be a migrant.

DenBee
 
Warning! This thread is more than 18 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top