Birds in the garden

Is anybody an ornithologist on Gardeners Corner? We have a white blackbird in our garden, well he has about 4 black feathers, otherwise he is all white. Is this very unusual? Cannot get near enough to take a pic and my camera hasn't got a telephoto lens. :confused:

 

Yes it is - I am no ornithologist,only a keen birdwatcher and feeder but whilst I have seen blackbirds with the odd white feather, never one that is mainly white. Albino's occur in all animal species, I wonder if they occur in birds as well. Logic says they must do, hair/fur/feathers/scales.

 

Corr Jjordie! why don't you contact your RSPB - I'm sure they would be interested!

 

Hi, if you put birdforum.net in Google search you'll get to another great site ( I belong to it too ) and there find your way to Q&A and ID-ying birds you'll find your answer, very comprehensively, under 'white blackbird ?'I stuck that in last night and the folks there are just like here - ultra quick, kind and helpful.
Blume

 

Darn, I actually forgot to say what it is: not an albino but a leukistic bird, in a nutshell - lack of pigment in the feathers. But the super explanation lies with BIRDFORUM.
( If I was cleverer with computers I could probably post a link or some such amazing thing, but I'm afraid I've only progressed this far, nonew of the frilly bits yet as I call it!!!! )
Fran,like you I'm a keen birdwatcher and -feeder, I think gardening and birds ( and insects in the middle ) belong so wonderfully together - except when WW3 erupts 'cos something eating all your stuff....
Blume

 

Got my vote there - my tolerance and enjoyment only goes so far :D

 

blume -thanks for info re BIRDFORUM. Have signed on and as you do on this site had an answer in less than an hour! Seems white blackbirds are not that uncommon these days so I'm not expecting crowds of birdwatchers coming to see it.

 

Now that is helpful - I didn't know about a bird forum with prompt response - very useful.