As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

In a first, extremely rare white bird graces Australia!




Last Updated: Friday, October 7, 2016 - 11:41

New Delhi: Now this is what we call a once-in-a -lifetime discovery! An extremely rare white bird has been spotted in northern Perth suburb of Mount Lawley, for what is believed to be the first time.

Willy wag tail.jpgResidents of the northern Perth suburb of Mount Lawley were surprised to find the white willie wagtail making its home amongst the suburb's tall trees.

The bird is believed to have a rare condition known as leucism, which causes a partial loss of pigmentation compared to the more common albinism which causes only a loss of the pigment melanin, Xinhua news agency reported.

Brice Wells, a member of Birdlife West Australia, said the sightings of leucistic birds were rare because they rarely survive.

"It's the first one I've heard of," Wells told the ABC on Thursday. "Often they don't survive, sometimes because they're not accepted by their peers.

"They become a little more noticeable, so they're often preyed on quite early and often because they're strange looking they find it hard to get a mate. So the opportunities for them are very limited."

(With IANS inputs)
First Published: Friday, October 7, 2016 - 11:41



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