Black and White Blackbird

[shelaghc]

Has anyone got any idea what the story could be behind two male Blackbirds that visit my garden. Both birds have very destinct white random markings on them, an whilst they have the familiar yellow beak, the beaks seem to be slightly larger than the normal Blackbird.

I wondered if it could be a case of cross breeding, but I can't say I have ever heard of this.

My sister who lives four miles away, says she has one that visits her occasionally, but we have no way of knowing if it is one of the two that visit me.

Any suggestions please?

[thebeard]

theres been quite a few threads on this recently. the phenomenon is known as 'leucism' and is a genetic mutation which results in the bird lacking pigment in some of its feathers, similar to albinism but only effecting feathers rather than every part of the body. i have a blackbird that regularly visits my garden with partial leucism on its face, but it can effect many species to varying degrees, sometimes even to the extent of being completely white.

[Rob_D]

The RSPB: Blackbird: Funny feathers?

It is not unusual for blackbirds to have some white patches. I have one visiting the garden that has a faint white crescent on his chest; I think he is pretending to be a Ring Ouzel, or maybe that's just my own imagination!

It could well be due to a genetic mutation, which can get passed on to its offspring. That might account for the two in your garden; they could be related.

I'm not sure that resident breeding blackbirds would frequently travel 4 miles so I suspect you have different ones to your sister. You just need to compare photos....or make a careful note of the patterns on each.

[shelaghc]

Thank you - As always with this forum, always get sound advice

[soniason123]

This is the white Blackbird that visits me in Tranent, East Lothian.