White-headed black bird

[gullshotel]

We've seen a black bird on on our webcam located in West Looe, Cornwall that we can't identify.

It looks like a Blackbird with a white head and short legs.

Any ideas?

[clydebirder]

It is a Blackbird, it's a partially albino male. It's reasonably frequent in Blackbirds for some reason

cheers, John

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by clydebirder

It is a Blackbird, it's a partially albino male. It's reasonably frequent in Blackbirds for some reason

cheers, John

below is a similar bird, it's a genetic defect that can be past on to their young



cheers, John

[Neil Rigby]

We've had Blackbirds with patches of white on them in our garden but not as well defined as this one.

There has been cases in the UK of completely Albino Blackbirds with colourless feathers and pink eyes.

I've posted a couple of images from the RSPB and BTO to show examples of Albinism.

[gullshotel]

Originally Posted by gullshotel

We've seen a black bird on on our webcam located in West Looe, Cornwall that we can't identify.

It looks like a Blackbird with a white head and short legs.

Any ideas?

Thanks. I cannot work this computer, but i think i uploaded some moore picks of the black bird.

[isandell]

Originally Posted by clydebirder

It is a Blackbird, it's a partially albino male. It's reasonably frequent in Blackbirds for some reason

cheers, John

I remember seeing a number of part-albino blackbirds in my youth but have not seen one for years. Perhaps it was a family trait in the population at that time and place?

Ian