A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Hobbies, Crafts and Creativity The Bird Lovers Forum Patches, the NewNew Bird

I have never seen a bird like this before today. He mingles with the Oregon Juncos...

wow. what a cool looking bird

Bill That IS an Oregon Junco a leucisitic or partially ALBINO Oregon Junco. Leucism is fairly common in birds. I've personally seen a few myself. Nevertheless these unique individuals are always of great interest to birders and bird researchers. A FULL albino bird is EXTREMELY rare. They have no pigment anywhere and are pure white with pink eyes. I've only seen pictures of one, a House Sparrow taken in Ontario, Canada. A beautiful bird I must say and a zoological treasure. GREAT PICTURES OF YOUR JUNCO!

Patches is pretty. And some good camera work too.

Thank you, Thorny! The pictures don't do him justice at all... He is very bright and beautiful!

The ones I've seen were before the time of digital cameras so I never got pictures of them. American Robins are ESPECIALLY prone to leucism. All The leucisitic birds I have personally seen WERE American Robins.

how did you know that Thornius without the proper markings?

I look at the shape of the bird. Also the shape and color of the bill, side patches, and the non-albino areas. These matched an Oregon Junco PERFECTLY. AND, the fact that it was in a flock of normal Oregon Juncos was the icing on the cake. This is one good reason to look at size, silhouette, flight, and behavior patterns of ALL birds, and learn them by heart. As is shown in this case you CAN'T ALWAYS rely on color and markings. You can 99% of the time but not always. Learn the bird songs and calls, too. Those never change due to leucism or anything else.

ohhh.

Bill, is he still around?