We have a celebrity here in Warwick...a handsome devil who turns heads. A common topic of conversation around St Nicholas' Park, even the least birdy of passers-by will stop in their tracks and wonder what kind of exotic wildlife they might be witnessing.
It is, in fact, our 'pied' blackbird, who has been a regular around Kingfisher Pools for over 5 years now.
He has a genetic condition called leucism, where some of the melanin pigment is missing from his cells. This produces his unusual mottled plumage - white feathers growing among the usual blacks. Different to albinism, his eyes and beak remain dark...more attractive in my mind than red-eyed, somewhat cold-looking albino wildlife.
Leucism has been found to affect one in 30,000 birds (Avianreport.com) so is pretty rare, but interestingly, a recent study by the BTO has found that blackbirds accounted for 40% of all reports of leucism. This might have more to do with blackbirds being a) more commonly seen and b) black, so easier to spot contrasting white feathers, but that is quite the large proportion!
A few of the Warwick 100 team have been birding in St Nicholas' Park for many years now, having seen different blackbirds with white markings in the past. Surely that can't be coincidence? Is there a hereditary line of leucistic blackbirds going back generations?
Indeed, just last year a new partially leucistic blackbird was recorded nearby. This, along with spotting our friend earlier in the year with a beak full of worms, would suggest that his fancy plumage is certainly not holding him back from success with the ladies!
As we wait for migration to begin, and in the current absence of new additions to the 100 list, at least we can continue to enjoy our very own 'rarity'.
Lizzy
Great to see a regular friend on morning walks commemorated in print
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to hear that he makes others smile, too 😊
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