White blackbird lands in Hereford garden (UK)

[Donna]

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THIS little chap seems to have drawn the short straw in life – as a blackbird who was born mostly white.

The feathery creature, an albino of the animal world, was immediately recognised as a rarity by keen bird watcher Eileen Hackley when he stopped by her Hereford garden.

The albinistic male, as they are known, was snapped in Holmer on a few separate occasions by the Salvation Army Photography Club member before she contacted Tim Town at Herefordshire RSPB. Ms Hackley said: “They still mate apparently but the baby ones won’t have the white feathers.

“I rang Tim and he said to come round straight away with the photographs.�

Albinism is caused by a defective gene inherited from both parents and makes birds more conspicious to predators and sometimes causes difficulty in finding a mate.

The blackbird is among the most susceptible of British species but on the whole only a minute proportion of wild birds anywhere are albinistic.

Mr Town said: “There are different degress of albinism, ranging from all white to only a few white feathers on an otherwise normal coloured bird.

“Progressive albinism can also occur as a bird gets older, in the same way as people go grey.

“This had been recorded particularly in blackbirds.�

[Annette]

Albinos or partial albinos are very rare.
Many years ago I saw a House Sparrow, similar to the blackbird.