Late today this Pine Siskin showed up at our niger feeder with definite characteristics of partial albinism. Note the predominance of white feathering on the body and head, mostly flesh-tone bill and pink legs, while retaining normal plumage coloring in the wings and tail. Four degrees of albinism are recognized: total, incomplete, imperfect and partial based on the complete absence of coloring from one or more of plumage, iris and skin. Partial albinism occurs when pigmentation is reduced or absent from one or more of these body parts and is the most frequently encountered variant. Two normal plumage siskins continue to visit the feeder and may be nesting in the vicinity.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Partial Albino Siskin
Late today this Pine Siskin showed up at our niger feeder with definite characteristics of partial albinism. Note the predominance of white feathering on the body and head, mostly flesh-tone bill and pink legs, while retaining normal plumage coloring in the wings and tail. Four degrees of albinism are recognized: total, incomplete, imperfect and partial based on the complete absence of coloring from one or more of plumage, iris and skin. Partial albinism occurs when pigmentation is reduced or absent from one or more of these body parts and is the most frequently encountered variant. Two normal plumage siskins continue to visit the feeder and may be nesting in the vicinity.
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