Albino birds

wildone · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 02:03 PM

Am I wrong in thinking that albino birds have no colour in the feathers and pink eyes?

Airehead · #2 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 02:22 PM

As I understand it, this is true of all albinos both bird and mammal.
However, there are often birds with a random number of white feathers which are not albino.

Diane E · #3 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 07:32 PM

Wildone, you are right, though apparently 'true' albino birds are very rare. There is a section on this on the rspb site:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/health...m/albinism.asp

Beryl · #4 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:05 PM

We have some albino Mallards in Exmouth. They look as though they are naked and thir feathers are white and yes they have red eyes. I have put some in the Gallery

glsammy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:17 PM

I always thought a true Albino had no colour in their eyes or anywhere else?? So a true Albino should show only pink eyes..I could be wrong!!

eeyore · #6 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:21 PM

you are correct graham - however you also get leucistic birds such as luke the kite at gigrin which are white but do have coloured eyes

glsammy · #7 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:26 PM

Thanks for that Pete, I didn't know that. Beryls Mallards are probably leucistic birds then? (Red eyes)

Beryl · #8 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

I always thought a true Albino had no colour in their eyes or anywhere else?? So a true Albino should show only pink eyes..I could be wrong!!

Yes. The ducklings, their eyes are pink/red and their feathers are white and they look naked.
I could be wrong too

wildone · #9 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glsammy

Thanks for that Pete, I didn't know that. Beryls Mallards are probably leucistic birds then? (Red eyes)

Graham, I think not because Beryl's birds have coloured feathers among the white. Very pale I admit but coloured none the less. As far as I know true albinos are pure white with pink eyes. They lack the pigment melanine which give colour, hence melanistic birds which have an abundance of the stuff and are very dark.

glsammy · #10 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildone

Graham, I think not because Beryl's birds have coloured feathers among the white. Very pale I admit but coloured none the less. As far as I know true albinos are pure white with pink eyes. They lack the pigment melanine which give colour, hence melanistic birds which have an abundance of the stuff and are very dark.

Of course. All added to the Data Bank!!