Pale yellow bird - albino siskin? (1 Viewer)

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Shirl

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2008

• #1

Hi everyone,

I wonder if there is anyone that can help me ID this unusual visitor to me garden in Scotland. This bird was spotted for the first time yesterday flying in and feeding (at sunflower hearts) with a group of siskins.

Initially I thought it was an escaped canary but I have convinced myself that I can see markings of a siskin. I am very curious what this is but don't have the best of photos so far. It was raining and the photos were taken through glass and through beads of water - my excuse for the rubbish photos.

Any suggestions please.

Thanks, Shirl
www.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk

 

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Dave Hutton

Warwickshire Birder

• Mar 30, 2008

• #2

Looks like a Siskin to me (Leucistic bird)

 

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2008

• #3

Hi there Dave

Sorry, but I'm new to birding. Is a leucistic bird different from albino? Looking at photos of leucistic birds they all see to be pale yellow. I have a few partial albino blackbirds regularly visiting my garden. What makes the birds yellow - is it genetic or an abnormality?

Thanks for your help,
Shirl

 

Dave Hutton

Warwickshire Birder

• Mar 30, 2008

• #4

Shirl said:

Hi there Dave

Sorry, but I'm new to birding. Is a leucistic bird different from albino? Looking at photos of leucistic birds they all see to be pale yellow. I have a few partial albino blackbirds regularly visiting my garden. What makes the birds yellow - is it genetic or an abnormality?

Thanks for your help,
Shirl

Click to expand...

Hi Shirl,
Albino would mean no colour pigment at all in the feathers & the eye would be Red,Leucistic birds as you say are mainly Yellow :t:

All the best,

Dave

 

KnockerNorton

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2008

• #5

Wow, what a fantastic-looking bird. yes, it's a leucistic siskin. Leucism means no dark pigment, but not albino (which means no pigment at all).

 

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Shirl

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2008

• #6

Hi again Dave and hello Poecile

Dave – Thanks, yes I did notice my searches for leucistic came up with mainly yellow birds.

Poecile – Thanks, ah… I understand better now - no dark pigments. That is why I can see signs of markings on the wings etc.

I’m pretty sure this is a male siskin as some other photos I have shown its head tilted at a different angle and it appears to have a very light brown tinge at the top of its head. All I need to do now is get photos from outside :-D

 

Macswede

Macswede

• Mar 30, 2008

• #7

Fascinating! Thanks for posting these.

 

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Mar 30, 2008

• #8

Hi there, Graham

Thank-you, I have found this a fascinating trail myself :-D

Shirl

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Mar 31, 2008

• #9

Check out Chris's great commentary on his blog here:
http://www.birdforum.net/blog.php?b=79

 

S

Shirl

Well-known member

• Mar 31, 2008

• #10

Hi there, Alex

Thanks for that - interesting reading.

I am still very new to birds so my blog posting http://blog.shirlsgardenwatch.co.uk/2008/03/spot-birdie.html takes a slightly different spin on my new visitor :-D

Shirl