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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Emagggie on November 17, 2009, 10:46:23

Title: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Emagggie on November 17, 2009, 10:46:23
About the size of a blackbird, very sleek looking, little white hat on top and white tail feathers, all black everywhere else that I could see. Strutted about in a newly planted field and took no notice of me and my dog! Didn't think to take a photo ::). Can't find anything similar in my Birds of Europe book. No others similar around that I could see.
Anyone got a suggestion?
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: shaun01 on November 17, 2009, 18:10:46
it has been known for some black birds to have a white cap but need a pic to be certain but they are very rare
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Carol on November 17, 2009, 19:54:32
That sounds like a Lapwing.   or  Peewit as I call it.   Maybe you missed the crest on top of its head.

;) ;)
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Emagggie on November 17, 2009, 20:27:40
Definately no crest Carol. Also checked in my book. This was a real  'hat' of white and pure white tail feathers. Maybe Shaun is right.
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Unwashed on November 17, 2009, 20:30:44
Blackbird I'd reckon.  See here (http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/birds/blackbird.htm).
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Emagggie on November 17, 2009, 20:34:21
Not convinced, unwashed. The black was black and the white was white, no mottling. How I wish I'd taken a pic.
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on November 17, 2009, 21:16:01
It could easily be a partial albino blackbird. If the feathers aren't the normal colour, they're dead white.
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: gardentg44 on November 21, 2009, 10:55:47
Theres a pure white sparrow flying around our garden,

its not albino as its got a brown beak, and brown legs.

cannot get close enough to get any pics.
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: star on November 21, 2009, 16:44:31
We have a visiting blackbird with a pure white wing ;D
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: small on November 21, 2009, 20:09:54
I agree with other posters, if it looked like a blackbird in all other respects then it was a partial albino.  We had one in the orchard for several years with a white head and tail.  Wollaton Hall museum in Nottingham used to have a display of stuffed albino things, including a blackbird, does anyone know if it's still there?
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Digeroo on November 21, 2009, 20:20:36
We had a blackbird with a pure white head around here for many years.  Later we had one with a black body and a brown head.  Could not work out whether it was male or female.  When I was a child a friend had a pure white one that visited their garden.  It was stunning.
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Julia on December 09, 2009, 20:31:00
A tern in autumn plumage maybe
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: laurieuk on December 15, 2009, 10:09:42
I am  not sure if I have posted this before but this bird was with us for over 2 years although we have not seen him for a while now.

(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/9521/whitebird.jpg) (http://img692.imageshack.us/i/whitebird.jpg/)
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: Emagggie on December 18, 2009, 20:36:32
Not a tern I'm sure Julia, but thanks for the suggestion. Laurie, what was he/she? Is the beak hooked, or is that just the angle of photography?
Title: Re: Bird ID Please.
Post by: laurieuk on December 19, 2009, 10:19:55
It is a black bird , a national newspaper reporter wanted to do a report about it but the RSPB say white black birds are quite common.