Think you know your #GardenBirds? Here’s a tricky one for you! 🧐 This rarity was spotted recently by one of our volunteers, Nick Truby —can you identify it? 👀 Drop your best guess below! ⬇️ We’ll reveal the answer at 6 PM and what's special about this bird. 🪶🔍 #UKBirding #CitSci - ThreadSky

bto-gbw.bsky.social • 126 days ago

Think you know your #GardenBirds? Here’s a tricky one for you! 🧐

This rarity was spotted recently by one of our volunteers, Nick Truby —can you identify it? 👀

Drop your best guess below! ⬇️

We’ll reveal the answer at 6 PM and what's special about this bird. 🪶🔍

#UKBirding #CitSci

Comments

bto-gbw.bsky.social•126 days ago

It's a leucistic Magpie! ⚫⚪

Leucism is a genetic condition where pigment production is reduced, but not entirely—notice the dark eyes.

#GardenBirds like this one are uncommon, and we need your help to learn more!

Submit your sightings to https://bit.ly/AbnormalPlumageSurvey

#CitSci #UKBirding

timairwolfhound.bsky.social•126 days ago

Leucistic magpie ?

bto-gbw.bsky.social•126 days ago

😀

helenbennett.bsky.social•126 days ago

I'm not sure but if it is a UK resident bird then its shape looks like a Magpie, maybe a leucistic one? 🤔

bto-gbw.bsky.social•126 days ago

Excellent!

stevedudley.bsky.social•126 days ago

The tail gives it away, as well as the ghosting of the chest band. Leucistic (schizochroic?) Magpie.

bto-gbw.bsky.social•126 days ago

Nice! Schizochroism removes black but leaves brownish tones, while leucism results in a more overall pale look. If the bird is more bone white than tan or rusty, it's most likely leucistic. A genetic test would be the only definitive way to confirm, but based on colour, leucism is the better fit!

stevedudley.bsky.social•126 days ago

I had multiple generations of schizochroic Collared Doves in our last garden. The mutant gene, passed down the female line, is regressive so after four generations your back to nearly normal plumage before the gene kicks in again and you end up with an uber pale bird - I called these Iceland Doves

bto-gbw.bsky.social•126 days ago

Brilliant! Gotta love garden genetics!

niallchains.bsky.social•126 days ago

One has noticed a lot of pale Collared Doves among normal ones whilst visiting Gran Canaria. Some people think these might be Barbary Doves or hybrids or something. But going off what you say here, it seems to me likely those ones could be schizochroic ones too. What do you think please?

stevedudley.bsky.social•126 days ago

Not been so don’t know what’s going on. But if there are multiple birds then I’d expect them to be showing up as a range of shades from pale first-winter Iceland Gull with three more shades thru to one being only just lighter than normal and only noticeable when alongside a normal one.

niallchains.bsky.social•126 days ago

Yes, I think what you say is indeed the case in the Canaries. I did see paler birds mixed in with normal ones. It may be they sometimes breed doves in this part of the world and feral birds get mixed in with wild ones. I just don't know but your post was very good food for thought

yellowhammer.bsky.social•126 days ago

Fascinating. Think I may have a female sparrow with this gene, we call her Rusty.

dawnbirder.bsky.social•126 days ago

There's a grey one that knocks around Attenborough in Notts, but I've never seen any bird looking like this

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