Mystery bird

[bluedook]

Seen in garden Birmingham UK. Does anyone know whta bird this is?

[Colin Key]

The bird is a Blackbird (Turdus merula) which is showing partial leucism (random pale feathers, which should be black or dark brown). Very common in this species.

Colin

[MichaelF]

Broadly agree, except it is a partial albino (patchy white), not partial leucism (patchy pale brown).

[Colin Key]

... except it is a partial albino (patchy white),

Michael,

Is there such a thing as "partial albino"?

Colin

[MichaelF]

Yep, that bird shows it! Anything which shows pure white (no pigment at all) patches where you wouldn't expect them.

[Colin Key]

But I always thought that albinism (whether partial or complete) affected the "non-feathered" parts (eye, bill, etc.) of the bird, which appears not to be the case here.

Have to admit that I am on "shaky ground", biologically speaking, here!!

Colin :err:

[MichaelF]

Albinism can affect any part of the body - all it means is a part of the body with no pigmentation (other than red haemoglobin in the blood).

Ditto leucism, which is reduced, though not fully absent, pigmentation.

[bluedook]

Thanks for the help.