Partially Leucistic American Robin

Wow!! Beautiful series!

Amazingly cool find and capture, KateCampbell! :-)

Awesome ..nice capture

wow cute!

beautiful bird!

hermoso

Beautiful! The second image doesn't appear to be uploaded correctly.

Very nice!

As long as it's not singled out by a predator it will survive fine, it;s not Albino and it appears to be healthy and see fine. Great find!

Thanks Lori and Gale for your positive responses.

Others might find it pretty and maybe it will prove good camouflage under dappled light conditions? Maybe creating a new way to survive?

Like your distinction Lori!

I think she meant "ridiculous" as in "specularity different", as opposed to "deserving of ridicule". I hope he/she survives to pass on the gene(s), and found generations of speckled robins in your area. You never know, other robins might find that pretty.

I agree too - not ridiculous! Poor little guy is just extra special! I think that he is absolutely beautiful!!!!!!

Agree

I am not sure how to take that response- ridiculous? Not sure that is how it should be noted. Hmmm.

Hahaha I don't think it is ridiculous, I think it is beautiful and maybe the latest fashion for robins. That dappling looks like it might be great camo in the woods. Great you joined, heard back from them, and perhaps will enter the annals of robin history!!

Thanks

Memo to Galewhale, Lori.tas and CynthiaMHori.

I heard back from the Cornell Institute regarding our funny little friend.

This is her email:

Hi, Kate,

That is the most ridiculous looking robin I have ever seen! Seriously! And I often receive photos of leucistic birds. Thanks so much both for sending the photos and for helping support bird conservation by your membership in the Lab!



Cheers, Anne

Thanks for all the interest:) I will look into joining the Feederwatch Project.

It's nice.

Kate it would be great if you sent this photo to them! Neat article Cynthia.

Hi
I ran across this from Project Feederwatch at Cornell - thought you all might be interested
http://networkedblogs.com/fTGP6

I'd love to know what they say!

Thanks for all the great info on this fabulous little robin. I have learned tons and have contacted The Cornell Lab of Ornithology to see it they are interested.

I bet Cornell Lab of Ornithology would be interested in this!
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/searc...

Kate, I assume you are asking about Leucanism. There are three main types of pigment variations. The most common is melanism, where the pigments are darkened. Lots of hawks have a melanistic form. Then there is Leucanism, which reduces the amount of black pigment. The best example I can think of is white tigers, which still have their with brown stripes. Albinism is when there is no pigment, so the animal is white, usually with pink eye, like a lab rat.

I mentioned the possibility of some sort of pied gene. Which is what causes pinto horse and other white spotted animals. There are also terms like dilution (palomino horses) diffusion (dun striped donkeys) etc., etc. Pigment genetics can go on and on. But mostly, in the wild, pigment variation within a species is limited to what can survive. I've seen an albino robin, but it was in a wildlife park because it could barely see and someone caught and donated it so it wouldn't die. I hope that was what you were asking.