BirdForum

PAA · Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:11

Hi everyone

In our ringing sessions in Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugal) we've caught a very strange female Great Tit (Parus major). Please see the photos:

http://anilhagemdeaves.weebly.com/parusmajor.html

The bird looks pale all around. I've searched for an answer, but it doesn't seem to fit the established colour aberrations. I've read Hein van Grouw's excellent and thourough article (see here: http://www.vogelringschier.nl/DB28%282%2979-89_2006.pdf), but nothing seems to match. The first thing that one notices in the bird is some of the black feathers are whitish, which is to be expected in a leucistic bird. However, according to Grouw, cases where individual feathers are partially discolored are rare, and you can see that clearly in the tail feathers.

I'd go with the bird having a rare type of leucism, but what about the white patches in blue and green feathers in the wing and back? These colours are not produced by pigments... surely the bird shouldn't have two colour disorders caused by two unrelated problems. Unfortunatelly I forgot to take a good shot at the yellow belly, but I recall the bird also being pale there!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

**delia todd** · Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:17

Hi Pedro

I've moved your post to the ID forum, as I think you may get more help in there.

D

PAA · Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:23

Thanks delia! I searched for previous discussions on colour aberrations and found some had taken place at "Birds and Birding" forum, so thought that would be the best place to post.

PAA · Sunday 14th March 2010, 20:59

Sorry for bumping the thread, but doesn't anyone have any idea about what this is? Has anyone ever seen a bird like this, even if it's from another species?

Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:11	#1
PAA Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 5	Strange leucistic Great Tit Hi everyone In our ringing sessions in Parque Biológico de Gaia (Portugal) we've caught a very strange female Great Tit (Parus major). Please see the photos: http://anilhagemdeaves.weebly.com/parusmajor.html The bird looks pale all around. I've searched for an answer, but it doesn't seem to fit the established colour aberrations. I've read Hein van Grouw's excellent and thourough article (see here: http://www.vogelringschier.nl/DB28%282%2979-89_2006.pdf), but nothing seems to match. The first thing that one notices in the bird is some of the black feathers are whitish, which is to be expected in a leucistic bird. However, according to Grouw, cases where individual feathers are partially discolored are rare, and you can see that clearly in the tail feathers. I'd go with the bird having a rare type of leucism, but what about the white patches in blue and green feathers in the wing and back? These colours are not produced by pigments... surely the bird shouldn't have two colour disorders caused by two unrelated problems. Unfortunatelly I forgot to take a good shot at the yellow belly, but I recall the bird also being pale there! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:17	#2
delia todd Moderator but.......If I say the wrong thing put it down to Senior Moments Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Perthshire Posts: 90,237 My location	Hi Pedro I've moved your post to the ID forum, as I think you may get more help in there. D __________________ In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed 2006 63, 2007 52, 2008 46, 2009 32, 2010 31, 2011 27 Total 81 Latest Patch tick: Magpie The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing - Socrates
	Click here to Support BirdForum

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Strange mallard (hybrid or leucistic?) - Ottawa, Ontario	pjblake	Bird Identification Q&A	2	Thursday 20th August 2009 00:52
Coal Tit/Great Tit? United Kingdom	Chewbaxter	Bird Identification Q&A	9	Thursday 18th September 2008 20:08
Very strange Great Tit behaviour	The Analog Kid	Bird Behaviour	4	Monday 3rd July 2006 08:40
Blue tit and great tit joy of joys	Joolz	Garden Birds, Bird Feeding & Nestboxes	5	Sunday 23rd April 2006 23:27
leucistic great skua?	postcardcv	Sea Watch	8	Thursday 26th February 2004 20:50

Saturday 13th March 2010, 16:23	#3
PAA Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 5	Thanks delia! I searched for previous discussions on colour aberrations and found some had taken place at "Birds and Birding" forum, so thought that would be the best place to post.

Sunday 14th March 2010, 20:59	#4
PAA Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 5	Sorry for bumping the thread, but doesn't anyone have any idea about what this is? Has anyone ever seen a bird like this, even if it's from another species?

BirdForum

The net's largest birding community, dedicated to wild birds