Our garden birds - Harsh winter weather can spell doom

[MsAnneThrope]

I've never seen a blackbird with that white patch before. Would it be moulting or something like that?

I'd just think it's that particular bird's genetics/make-up. Albinism is also common in blackbirds, though I have never seen a full albino blackbird myself in Ireland. I have seen ones that look like they were feeding under someone whitewashing a house however.

Albinism and leucism is common in Blackbirds, but there are even more that are "partially albino" (e.g. white head, or white patches on the wings, see photographs below). Albinism is a complete lack of pigment whereas leucistic birds have weak pigmentation and appear "wishy-washy".

British Garden Birds: Blackbird


True Albino Blackbird


Albinism in a Male Blackbird

Good discussion thread, with photos, about albino blackbirds here:

Wild About Britain: Albino Blackbirds

[Toland]

I'd just think it's that particular bird's genetics/make-up. Albinism is also common in blackbirds, though I have never seen a full albino blackbird myself in Ireland. I have seen ones that look like they were feeding under someone whitewashing a house however.

Albinism in a Male Blackbird

Good discussion thread, with photos, about albino blackbirds here:

Wild About Britain: Albino Blackbirds

There's an albino blackbird living in the allotments near our house in Northern Berlin. He seems very healthy. Dunno if he gets it regular.

By the way, the sub-species of blackbird that lives here has a much more orangy beak than the more yellow one you see in Ireland. I wonder if sexual selection is behind this difference.

People in Berlin also wear black much more than in Ireland. This may have to do with sexual selection too, but is probably not a genetic trait.

[Didimus]

People in Berlin also wear black much more than in Ireland. This may have to do with sexual selection too, but is probably not a genetic trait.

Don't know about that - did the Goths not pass through there some millennia ago?

[Baron von Biffo]

I don't think a kestrel would ever do that. Surely it was a sparrowhawk?

Anyway, a rare and wonderful sight.

No doubt about it this time. A sparrow hawk has just made two high speed passes over the garden. It didn't seem to have any particular target but it caused utter pandemonium. They are very beautiful creatures.

[fiannafailure]

You know sometimes it seems that people start an argument just for the sake of it.

Albino birds it seems may simply be leucistic

Is ?albino? the white ID for this blackbird - Features - Peterborough Today

I love the phrase white blackbird, it sounds plausible unlike using similar logic as in FG FFer.

[Fantasia]

direct rip-off from the Daily (hate) Mail

[Baron von Biffo]

Looks like we're facing another cold snap - http://www.politics.ie/current-affai...-tues-bbc.html

Our feathered friends will appreciate a hand for another while yet.

[theghost]

I'd like to make a suggestion to any dog owners here - when you brush your dog put the hair out in the garden so the birds can use it in their nests.

[soubresauts]

The last time I saw yellowhammers in Ireland was several years ago, on Lehaunstown Road, Carrickmines, Co Dublin. I was saying at that time "they won't be here for much longer", as we were overlooking the Cherrywood development. The latter is in the news again...

Back when I saw the yellowhammers the area was recognizably farmland, though disused for a couple of years. Perhaps the fact that it wasn't being actively farmed was encouraging the yellowhammers. Now, looking at Google Maps, it seems that nothing much has changed, presuming that the satellite picture is recent. In other words, the Cherrywood development hasn't spread up the hill and hasn't changed Lehaunstown Road. Of course there would have been a huge amount of noise, dust and pollution from the surrounding developments over the last few years, especially from the M50. But, you never know, maybe the yellowhammers are still around there.

[soubresauts]

Top ten for this thread, I seen a Merlin earlier or it could have been a juvenile Peregrine...it was that fast. For the more knowledgeable? do Peregrines hunt low down when they're young

You'd expect to see a merlin low in the air, and peregrines are usually high up. A peregrine is much bigger than a merlin.

Here's a remarkable photo of a peregrine.