black bird, white wings (1 Viewer)

thewhites

Active member

• Nov 13, 2005

• #1

any ideas what this is that has been passing by lately.

 

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Andrew Rowlands

Well-known member

• Nov 13, 2005

• #2

Carrion Crow - this type of aberrant plumage seems to be not uncommon around towns - not seen them out in open countryside. The feathers affected often have a translucent quality.

Birds affected by this are often targetted by other 'normal' crows though they do seem to survive for several years.

Cheers,

Andy.

 

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Bubbs

Well-known member

• Nov 13, 2005

• #3

Andrew is quite correct. We have a single Carrion Crow flying around Clifton, York, trying to do an impression of a Verreaux's Eagle.

John.

 

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BarbaraM

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2005

• #4

It is referred to as leucistic - caused by lack of pigment in those feathers. If you do a thread search using leucistic or albino you'll find old threads with lots of detailed info. Barbara