I've just seen a " Leucistic Jackdaw"

saribird · #1 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 04:25 PM

As the title says....I was walking home from School at around 4-ish, and my daughter and I saw an odd grey/black/white bird, on our neighbours roof...looked like a Jacky, but obviolsy not correct blue/black...so I've been googling, as have discovered its this_ a leucistic jackdaw- one with random loss of pigment, although I have also read on t'net about pied jackdaws...so not sure..but hey, it was beautiful...and I love the cheeky Jackdaws in my garden....has anyone else ever seen a pied/leucistic jackdaw??

Sari x

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 04:44 PM

I have seen at least one leucistic Jackdaw. Leucism seems more prevalent in Carrion Crows.

Jonners · #3 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 05:17 PM

Hello Sari, and welcome to WAB. I've not seen a leucistic Jackdaw before, but did once see an all white leucistic Guillemot. Have a look through this thread about other leucistic birds people on here have seen - photos included.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 05:31 PM

What part of its body was white?

saribird · #5 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 08:38 PM

it's throat, chest and part of it's wings ( I think) It was on the rooftops, pecking throgh the gutters, and chimney pots, as is their habit on our street! DO you think it might be something else?? I did think ( several times) I've seen hooded crows across my back field, but I'm in rural Leics....not exactly their flapping ground! I'm not totally naive about birds ( can't do waterfowl!!!) but know you do get anomalous sightings occasionally....saw some waxwings last week eating the rosehips in my garden!! boy did I get excited!!

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 13-01-2011, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saribird

it's throat, chest and part of it's wings ( I think) It was on the rooftops, pecking throgh the gutters, and chimney pots, as is their habit on our street! DO you think it might be something else?? I did think ( several times) I've seen hooded crows across my back field, but I'm in rural Leics....not exactly their flapping ground! I'm not totally naive about birds ( can't do waterfowl!!!) but know you do get anomalous sightings occasionally....saw some waxwings last week eating the rosehips in my garden!! boy did I get excited!!

No not this irregular, I did consider the possibility of monedula (the scandinavia race) which shows a pale strip on the back of the neck and back of the head, I have had birds in January but on the coast. This sounds like a typical leutistic bird though.

Blizzard · #7 (**permalink**) 14-01-2011, 01:05 PM

Finally found a photo of a partially leucistic Jackdaw that I saw in October 2009. I knew it was somewhere on the computer

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So yes saribird, I've seen one too.

saribird · #8 (**permalink**) 14-01-2011, 03:42 PM

Leucistic Jackdaw | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This is a pic on flickr that is most similar to the one I saw....although was looking at some of the monedula sp? Jackdaws, and am wondering if that was the strange bird by beloved OH is going on about...he has come to birding late, and is a bit vague sometimes, but cam in from a dog walk saying he'd seen a bird across our back field, that he was rather shamefacedly describing as a small flying penguin!!! He was embarrassed about that one!! SO what do you think>?