Peteandsharon
Well-known member
So while recuperating from surgery I get to do some things that I don't normally get much time to do. I was watching the bird feeder here in Illinois and we were getting our usual group of red winged blackbirds, finches, cardinals etc. But in a group of grackels feeding off the ground I saw one grackel-like bird with a completely white tailfeather. He was completely like the others except for the tail. It looked like someone had taken a white paint brush and ran it right down his tail feathers. I looked in my bird books with no luck. I then went to the internet and found some fascinating information. It seems that this guy is somewhat of a freak of nature. One website talked about albino birds while others mentioned that dietary problems could cause this in some birds.
Either way, it appears I saw something pretty unusual. So....... my question is this: Has anyone spotted such a beastie before? Is this guy more common than I think. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Pete
Either way, it appears I saw something pretty unusual. So....... my question is this: Has anyone spotted such a beastie before? Is this guy more common than I think. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Pete