Bird Table News

A pure white blackbird has been seen in a garden in Lincolnshire.  It would certainly stand out from all the other birds. 

I myself have seen two blackbirds with patches of white on them.

Evolution is a funny thing.  I bet the white blackbird does not last long.  It will stand out, be seen more easily be predators, and so be hunted more.

White feathered Blackbird July 2007

White Feathered Blackbird in my garden - January 2008

As you can see I had a white feathered blackbird visit my garden this winter.  I haven’t seen it since then.

The white feathered blackbird that was seen in Lincolnshire had black eyes - which means it’s not an albino blackbird.  Albinism turns the eyes pink.  It seems that the this blackbird has a condition which affects the pigments of theskin - technical name is leucism.  Whatever name we give it it shows how nature can adapt and diversify

I suppose if this white feathered blackbird survived in it’s environment better than our usual blackbirds, then white feathered blackbirds would become more predominant.  This won’t happen though.

I knew someone who had pet rabbits.  One got out and mated with the wild rabbits in the field next door.  For a week or two there were a sprinkling of brown and white wild rabbits hopping about in the field.  They soon disappeared - predators - these rabbits would have just stood out and been conspicuous to any predator passing by.

Trisha

Still not sorted my bird feeder problem out.  I have noticed there are more birds at the feeders at the front of the house. 

 

Tags: blackbird, white feathered blackbird