White feathered blackbird
Jan 5th, 2008 by Birdy Trish
A white feathered blackbird has just made a striking appearance at my bird table.
Blackbirds are regular feeders in my garden. They make themselves at home feeding on the lawn and from the bird tables. They flit between hedge, bush, birdtable, ground feeder and lawn, all the time finding bird food I’ve put out.
It is their black shiny feathers that make blackbirds easy to recognise so I was surprised when I saw a blackbird with one large white tail feather fly into the garden and land on the fence.
It seems the correct name is ‘albino blackbird’.
I’ve seen this blackbird two or three times now. It’s nice to know that the same blackbird is visiting me time and again.
Because he stands out from the blackbird crowd I recognise him and find myself looking for him among the other ordinary blackbirds.
For this reason I decided to name him. The name ‘Al’ short for albino seemed too ordinary, so I’ve decided to call him ‘Bino’.
I’m going to put on my blog whenever this blackbird ‘Bino’visits my bird feeders.
For the blackbirds I put grated cheese and chopped apple out every day, along with bird food. Blackbirds didn’t seem to get much of a look in at my bird table so I got a meshed ground feeder which I put bird food inside and also put bird feed on the lawn and near a bush. (am I mad?).
Here are some other blackbird notes from last year. Where has 2007 gone? -
Because of one blackbird I decided to keep feeding the birds
Another white feathered blackbird living 15 miles away
I’d love to know about any blackbirds, ordinary or albino that you see or feed.
Tags: albino, bird-table, blackbird, blackbirds, feathers, hedge
Hi
I love blackbirds. I have been trying to atract them in my little garden for some time and finally I have succeded ! They are actually building a nest in a big shrub for a week. I have been watching the female tearing bits of plants and dry lobelias, and coming and going into the shrub with them in her beak. There is what looks to me like the start of a nest amongst the branches at about 6ft. To day though there seems to be no bird at all around. I have only seen the female feeding this morning and that’s it. I wonder if is something to do with the weather. Where do they disappear ?
Cheese and apple ? I must give it a try. I have been giving them live meal worms and they seem to love them.
Hi Angelo, Did you give the cheese and apple a try? There was a time when there weren’t any blackbirds in my garden. Now not a day goes by when I don’t see one. Best.
You seem interested in blackbirds. What do you make of the ones in my garden grabbing nuts from the nut feeder. There’s a pic here.
http://fenimages.blogspot.com/2008/03/blackbirds-eating-from-nut-feeder.html
Hi fengirl, I really like your blog. I think that the people who have commented on the blackbird have covered everything. It’s very strange. I put down some soft bill bird food and some grated cheese. They seem to like it.
I think you should contact the RSPB and tell them. Trisha
We have a blackbird with one white tail feather who visits our garden and our neighbours’ garden every day. His mate often accompanies him and she is perfectly normal. We do not feed them but they seem to find plenty to eat in our lawn. He also seems to make a strange squawking noise, unlike the melodious song blackbirds normally make.
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