Albino house sparrows (1 Viewer)

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #1

We have two visiting Albino House Sparrows, to our makeshift bird table, one appears a little larger than the other one & can be seen occasionally feeding him seeds.
This I take it will be the father feeding the smaller albino whilst the mother is probably preparing for a new clutch.
Just wondering are they a rare occurrence? Are the parents often Albino too?

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #2

I’ve been Birding a long...long time, and have yet to see an albino or leucistic House Sparrow, thus I’d have to assume that rightly or wrongly....Passer domesticus (House Sparrow) in this phase is very unusual.

Cheers

 

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #3

I’ve got a couple of not too good pics on my phone, I’ll upload shortly to see what the general consensus is.
Thanks for your info.

 

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Jun 24, 2019

• #4

I'm anxious to see your pics.

BTW, a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

 

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #5

Apologise for very poor quality.

 

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G

GoG

Member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #6

They keep arriving whilst we’re busy so it’s always a mad scramble for a phone to snap him with. Will try to get better ones.

 

J

Jack Dawe

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2019

• #7

KenM said:

I’ve been Birding a long...long time, and have yet to see an albino or leucistic House Sparrow, thus I’d have to assume that rightly or wrongly....Passer domesticus (House Sparrow) in this phase is very unusual.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Leucistic ones at least do exist though.

 

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Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jun 25, 2019

• #8

KenM said:

I’ve been Birding a long...long time, and have yet to see an albino or leucistic House Sparrow, thus I’d have to assume that rightly or wrongly....Passer domesticus (House Sparrow) in this phase is very unusual.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Have I taught you nothing.......grrrrrr

 

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #9

This might be better. Excuse the bird poo on the window......

 

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tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Jun 25, 2019

• #10

looks to be a House Sparrow indeed, as to know what kind of albinism it is, this is not possible without better pictures

 

tconzemi

Tom

Supporter

• Jun 25, 2019

• #11

andyadcock said:

Have I taught you nothing.......grrrrrr

Click to expand...

and things do not get easier, for those interested in the matter a very nice FB page here: Understanding & identifying Color Mutations in Wild Birds and Animals
https://www.facebook.com/groups/387147351626014/?ref=group_header

new definitions are Oca4/Slc45a2 or Oca2/P and the like :eek!:

 

KenM

Well-known member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #12

andyadcock said:

Have I taught you nothing.......grrrrrr

Click to expand...

:eek!:

GoG said:

This might be better. Excuse the bird poo on the window......

Click to expand...

Have you noted the bare parts (bill, legs, feet) and eye colour GoG?

Cheers

 

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #13

tconzemi said:

looks to be a House Sparrow indeed, as to know what kind of albinism it is, this is not possible without better pictures

Click to expand...

I’ll certainly try to get better shots.

 

G

GoG

Member

• Jun 25, 2019

• #14

KenM said:

:eek!:


Have you noted the bare parts (bill, legs, feet) and eye colour GoG?

Cheers

Click to expand...

Haven’t really, Im not a bird watcher but thought I’d let people “try” to see the images.
Will try to look closer.

 

A

Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Jun 26, 2019

• #15

Some years ago, a similar all white plumaged House Sparrow frequented the island of Föhr/Germany. It still had a dark eye.
Picture was taken on 24.4.2010 at Wrixum/Föhr.

This is the only all-white House Sparrow, I saw in all the years.
If its of interest, I have more pictures of this bird.

Alexander Stöhr

 

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KenM

Well-known member

• Jun 26, 2019

• #16

Alexander Stöhr said:

Some years ago, a similar all white plumaged House Sparrow frequented the island of Föhr/Germany. It still had a dark eye.
Picture was taken on 24.4.2010 at Wrixum/Föhr.

This is the only all-white House Sparrow, I saw in all the years.
If its of interest, I have more pictures of this bird.

Alexander Stöhr

Click to expand...

WOW that’s a real stunner Alexander! Yes...I’m sure more images would be welcome by the readership. :t:

 

A

Alexander Stöhr

Well-known member

• Jul 8, 2020

• #17

Hello Ken and all,

here are more pictures: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPesqrA
I hope its not too late!

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jul 8, 2020

• #18

KenM said:

I’ve been Birding a long...long time, and have yet to see an albino or leucistic House Sparrow, thus I’d have to assume that rightly or wrongly....Passer domesticus (House Sparrow) in this phase is very unusual.

Cheers

Click to expand...

I have, a leucistic bird was present in the hedges of a supermarket car park when I was on Shetland once. It was just a few wing and back feathers which were white.

 

J

Jack Dawe

Well-known member

• Jul 8, 2020

• #19

I am reminded of a leucistic male I saw in a flock of sparrows at Radipole, many, many years ago. For a moment I thought I'd found a Desert Sparrow. Beautiful bird.