Seeing a bird with abnormal white feathers or white plumage prompts questions about how rare or common such sighting may be. We will consider two survey results and review leucism and albinism to determine how rare these two abnormal plumages occur in wild birds. In a nutshell: Birds with abnormal plumages are very rare, and […]
Bird Habitat is the area with ecological and environmental characteristics where a species has adapted to find essential elements such as food, water, shelter, and mates for reproduction. Are birds restricted to specific habitats? Birds can fly and are seemingly everywhere, but they occupy specific areas (habitats) that meet all or part of these essential
What is Bird Melanism? Bird Melanism: This is a genetic mutation that results in excess dark pigment production known as melanin. Melanism is a dominant allele, which can be passed on to the next generation. Tell me more… Depending on the extent of the melanism in an individual, the bill and other bare parts of
What is Bird Albinism Bird Albinism: This is a genetic mutation that results in the lack of an enzyme essential to produce melanin. The lack of melanin means that the plumage in albinistic birds is white. Albinistic birds typically have pink or reddish eyes, flesh-colored bills, legs, and skin. Birds have multiple pigments other than
The colors and shapes of birds are variable, but the arrangement of feathers or feather areas on a bird’s body is remarkably similar across all species. Familiarizing with the group feathers and a bird’s body parts is among the most important tools ornithologists, and birders can have when identifying a bird by its appearance. Learning
Bird Plumage A bird’s plumage is composed of patterned feathers and pigments that produce remarkable effects on its appearance. Bright yellow, green, and blue colors make up the plumage of the Many-colored Rush-Tyrant of South America (Photo above). The other extremes are drab gray olive or brownish birds, such as many shorebirds and tyrant flycatchers.
The colors, lengths, and shapes of a bird’s wing and tail feathers are variable, but the configuration and positioning are remarkably similar across all species. Familiarizing with a bird’s wing and body feathers is among the most important tools that ornithologists and birders can have when identifying a bird by its appearance. Learning the feather
What is Bird Xanthochromism? Bird Xanthochromism is a genetic mutation that results in excessive production of yellow pigment. This mutation is, in reality, related to the lack of production of the color red, which is replaced with yellow. Xanthochromic birds can have the bill and bare parts of the normal color or yellowish. Tell me
Molting is the process of replacing worn or damaged feathers in birds. Depending on the season, age, and gender of the individual, birds molt their feathers to acquire new plumage. Each species has evolved its molting strategy based on the environmental conditions they live in during each annual cycle. In habitats and regions where feathers
What is Bird Leucism Bird Leucism is a genetic mutation that results in a total or partial reduction of color in a bird’s plumage. The reduction of color in the bird’s plumage is due to an inadequate deposition or fixation of pigments only in the bird’s feathers. Other parts of the bird’s body have normal
