Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Tml4everx on December 16, 2007, 12:48:37 AM

Title: White purple finch?
Post by: Tml4everx on December 16, 2007, 12:48:37 AM

A friend suggested I post a request for help identifying the white bird in the 4 photos posted below.  I think this forum will be very helpful.

   http://www.flickr.com/photos/tml4everx (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tml4everx)

This bird visited my feeders a least a dozen times last Sunday.  I have many House Finches at the feeders, but I have not seen any Purple Finches.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Brad

Title: Albino Finch
Post by: worth on December 16, 2007, 07:05:37 AM

The House Finch looks like a partial albino (pink legs & bill, white feathers) although the eye is still dark.
Most Purple Finches have  already moved farther south through your area.
Dave

Title:
Post by: Brian Bailey on December 16, 2007, 11:37:40 PM

It appears to be a house finch which is lacking some colour.  There is another recent discussion on this board about what this should be called:
http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1363

So whether you call it "partial albino", "amelanistic", or "leucistic", it is a House Finch with a white head and some white wing feathers.  It's interesting that this bird has pink legs and bill.  Most photos I've seen of partially white birds have normally coloured legs and bill, with only the feathers abnormal.

BB

Title:
Post by: Tyler on December 17, 2007, 04:17:40 PM

Nice partial Albino female House finch.

I had one at my feeders in Oshawa 3 years ago. It look alot like your except it had some red mottled in the white head and on the top of the breast. Attractive birds

Title:
Post by: Tml4everx on December 18, 2007, 12:23:28 AM

Thank for the responses.  This is the first House Finch that had me jumping out of my chair!  

Now after reading what this should be called, I can really say that I've learned something new.