Blackbird marking (1 Viewer)

Yesterday in a local wood a Blackbird landed on a log quite close to me and it clearly showed a large white stripe along it,s wing.

I am sure my eyes were not deceiving me.Is this unusual?Have I seen something rare?

MAX.

Hi Senatore,

Don't think so but probably the experts wll say different. I have one in my garden, last year's young, don't know yet if its male or female but it has a definite white stripe (feather) on its left wing, noticed yesterday it is wearing away. Sad that I could tell it apart from the others. Also have a Male Sparrow with 2 definite white tail feathers and a Robin with one white wing feather (wonder how long they live, as for the last 3 years the resident winter Robin has had this white feather.

Ann Chaplin

Blackbirds are often known to have white patches on them, they are prone to varying degrees of albinism. Look at the photos in the links below:

http://users.utu.fi/hlehto/photo/color/turmer/kl87-26.jpg

http://users.utu.fi/hlehto/photo/color/turmer2/103_0316_pieni.jpg

http://www.uksafari.com/jpeg2/blckbrd2.jpg

http://www.kolkatabirds.com/sujan/scwhitecollbbird8.jpg


These Blackbirds all have white in different places, this is fairly common, I have seen a Blackbird with a white half collar and one with a white primary.

Once saw a Blackbird which had 3 black feathers in its tail, the rest was all white!

They seem to be more prone to albinism than most other birds.

Thaks for the replies.I have learned something new!

MAX.