Albino blackbirds?

[mullein3]

Has anyone else seen an albino blackbird? one appeared in my garden a few weeks ago...silly me i thought i had an exotic bird well i checked it out on bill oddies site and it was an albino blackbird so i reported it to the british ormatholigist society..and they were really pleased and are going to send me a book with some in..we feed it seperately as the other birds dont like him much..and he is getting larger..apparently he is also prey to predators..and is weaker...we have given him a name its ALI B..its funny how the others dislike him because he is different..they try to peck at him..but he seems to be getting braver and more confident..

[lindapinda]

What a lovely question Mullein! I love his name too lol !! I've never seen one myself,although there used to be blackbird near me,that had a white circle arond his neck.Like you,I was looking through books to see what breed it was,but realised that it was a blackbird,and that apparently,as a breed,they do get patches of white feathers. Anyway..hope Ali B thrives,and keep us updated!

[Lonnie]

Absolutely wonderful, well done, but as to the behaviour of the other Blackbirds, no different to humans really.

[pugwash52]

Good luck to AliB. I've never seen a pure white one. We had one visit a few years ago,with just a few white feathers in the wings.

[CT]

Take a picture for us. Not seen an albino bird before

[jaberwocky]

hi mullein,never seen an albino blackbird although i have seen an albino pheasant and just recently an albino squirrel which the dog still chased 'cause he doesn't care what colour they are.

[WendyS]

Hi Mullein - lucky you to see him and am glad you're looking after him. Would love to see a photo if possible. The only other wildlife albino I've seen is a couple of albino badgers who visited our garden occasionally a couple of years ago during the hot drought season. I've read that albinos of any species can be treated with suspicion by other members of their group so do hope he thrives. I'm sure he'll have a much better chance of surviving if he knows he can come to you regularly for food. It will be interesting to see if he ever finds a partner now that the mating season is about to begin, so please keep us all updated.

[Robinia]

Hi mullein! - long time no speak...hope you're ok.

You're as bad as me giving your birds names....funnily enough I've got a blackbird with a few white feathers in her wings but not really enough to make her vulnerable hopefully. Maybe they're related - as the crow flies (haha) you're not too far away I suppose.

there's a lovely pic here

[Robinia]

ps - I've a question in H&G

[mullein3]

Thanks for the replys ali b isnt totally white just his head and neck..apparently they get more white with age..the bird society sent me a book as promised and it said he could be deaf or blind as they are weaker...i dont think for one minute he is blind as he knows his way around too much..the sad thing was they said he will probably never get a mate..as hes odd..he is coming in the garden several times a day now he is more confident...its a genetic complaint and i noticed another blackbird with a touch of white on his wing feathers..ali b looks quite jazzy....Hi robina...

[Robinia]

hi mullein - not seen you around so I've found this old post to tell you I've a Q in H&G. Hope you're ok.