Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Walter Sobchak on January 27, 2007, 08:13:26 PM

Title: Is this a Rare Pink-Legged Chickadee?
Post by: Walter Sobchak on January 27, 2007, 08:13:26 PM

This guy didn't stay put for very long.  It looked like a weird Chickadee.  Things unusual...

1. Pink Feet
2. No Black cap, see how the eye is surrounded by white.
3. Light beak

If this is a new species I will call it the "Pink-Legged Chickadee"

Opinions?


(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/2683/chickawhatqu1.th.jpg) (http://img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chickawhatqu1.jpg)

Title: Chickadee
Post by: JTF on January 27, 2007, 09:15:53 PM

This is a Partial albino chickadee due to the pink legs and unusual coloring on the upper body.

Albinism is a pigment (melanin) deficiency that occurs rarely among birds and mammals, even including humans.  The effects among birds vary from a few white feathers to all-white plumage. A true albino bird is very rare. It would have no pigment in its feathers, bill or legs and its eyes would appear pinkish-red, because the blood vessels can be seen when the typically dark color is missing.

Albinism is normally caused by a genetic mutation that can be inherited if both parents have the albino gene. If it's hereditary, then a new set of feathers will carry the same white pattern.

Title:
Post by: Walter Sobchak on January 28, 2007, 04:23:33 PM

Interesting, thank you for the reply.