March 15, 2026
The Big Dead-Fish Clean-Up
A huge thank you to the volunteers who pitched in yesterday to remove all those dead fish from the Celery…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
May 16, 2011
Monday Morning Mystery 051611
Diana A. writes:
Can you help me identify a bird in my neighborhood that is mostly white, about a mocking bird size and has dark tail and wings, yellow beak. I got a picture of it — not the best though.
Anyone got any ideas?
3 comments
-
I didn’t know there were albino birds ! That’s probably what it is. Weird ! Thanks for the info.
-
I’m leaning toward leucistic Robin…Interesting photo!
-
Wow. That’s tricky, Diana! It’s not really clear enough to tell. However, it does seem American Robin-shaped. Perhaps it’s a leucistic Robin?
Some photos for comparison:
http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/gallery/Higgens/amro.html
http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/gallery/Woollen/amro.html
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/white-american-robin.html#cr
With leucistic birds, there can be a wide range of possibilities. This robin is also leucistic:
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/5569003
So really, if the bird above is leucistic (leucistic anything, really) – the plumage could really vary.
I’d say more photos of the bird in question are necessary to get a better idea. Or, Diana, spend some time watching the bird’s behavior and really focus on the shape of the bird to try and figure it out.
The yellow beak also made me think starling, but this bird doesn’t have a starling’s shape or posture.
More on leucism: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm
But, watch her bird turn out to be a weird Cockatiel or other escapee. 😉
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 14, 2026
Massive Fish Die-off @ Celery Farm
A huge thank you to the volunteers who pitched in today to remove all those dead fish from the Celery…
March 12, 2026
Horned Grebe at the Celery Farm
My first ever here. And the spring arrivals are arriving! The grebe was No. 186 on my Celery Farm life…
March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
3 comments
Diana
I didn’t know there were albino birds ! That’s probably what it is. Weird ! Thanks for the info.
RF
I’m leaning toward leucistic Robin…Interesting photo!
julie mccall
Wow. That’s tricky, Diana! It’s not really clear enough to tell. However, it does seem American Robin-shaped. Perhaps it’s a leucistic Robin?
Some photos for comparison:
http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/gallery/Higgens/amro.html
http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/gallery/Woollen/amro.html
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/white-american-robin.html#cr
With leucistic birds, there can be a wide range of possibilities. This robin is also leucistic:
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/5569003
So really, if the bird above is leucistic (leucistic anything, really) – the plumage could really vary.
I’d say more photos of the bird in question are necessary to get a better idea. Or, Diana, spend some time watching the bird’s behavior and really focus on the shape of the bird to try and figure it out.
The yellow beak also made me think starling, but this bird doesn’t have a starling’s shape or posture.
More on leucism: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm
But, watch her bird turn out to be a weird Cockatiel or other escapee. 😉