Leucistic Crow

[Chris J]

Happens to many of us. doesn't it?
As you age your ability to produce pigment in hair - in this case feathers - diminishes and you begin to go white - called leucism.
Happens in birds, as in this crow -



Seen at Ferry Meadows park in Peterborough. Light was almost non-existent so had to push ISO up to 1600 with the 100-400L hand-held at some low shutter speed. Hence not a marvellous image, but more of a "record" shot.

Leucism can be genetic - mine came from my father, but like him I have gone a distinguished silver rather than an ageing white.... Or so I like to think.....

Cheers, Chris.

[Tigger]

Re: Leucistic Crow

so what type of age are you talking about when birds start showing this ?

[Stan]

Re: Leucistic Crow

As you age your ability to produce pigment in hair - in this case feathers - diminishes and you begin to go white - called leucism.

not just age some birds are born like it such as the leucistic kites (white red kites) that are seen at Gigrin Farm feeding station

Stan

[Chris J]

Re: Leucistic Crow

Tigger - don't know much about bird ages but like us it develops later in life. I've watched the family of crows in a different area for quite a few years and have seen it get more intense in what I assume is the oldest individual which then disappeared, I assume dead. Does seem to be genetically controlled, like in us.

Stan - yes, more or less albinism. One gets the occasional white blackbird - doesn't help the survival of that individual in Darwin's struggle for existence - until it snows!

Cheers, Chris.

[tesarver]

Re: Leucistic Crow



Tom

[antoeknee]

Re: Leucistic Crow

Its not an uncommon occurrence in birds and age isn't a factor as Stan mentions. Its quite common in blackbirds and jackdaws.