almost-albino sparrow at Riverdale Farm

[Pat Hodgson]

I seem to recall that someone reported an albino here and thought it was a cardinal, someone else thought it was a white-throated or fox sparrow.  Sorry I cannot find that post now to respond to, despite searching.  Anyways, I saw this(?) bird yesterday, and to me it looks like a song sparrow.  It was foraging on the ground, and not with the two-legged scratch/kick that the 2 aforementioned sparrows use.  It is not an albino, but is missing 98% of its pigment.  It has very faint brown streaking on back and breast, and malar stripe.  It was quite easy to see, along the lowest path east out of the farm, between the Meeting House building and the pond below it, sometimes sitting right on the fence next to the path.

A challenge for you photographers!  Go get it!

[Bob Cumming]

I saw this bird about two weeks ago from the outlook over the pond halfway down the hill. I also think that it is a Song Sparrow. It was foraging with a normal Song Sparrow and appeared to be the same size, shape and pattern. I recall it having a centre spot on its breast. The eyes are dark.