Sunday, May 1, 2011

Yet Another White Bird
















Bill Vermillion and I had this partial albino Stilt Sandpiper near Gueydan on 4/29 during the 2011 Shorebird Blitz.  This bird has a broad collar of white with normal color on the rear part of the body and a normal crown color.

Albinism seems fairly regular in shorebirds, although that may just be because it's possible to see and study thousands of shorebirds in a day.  I've probably seen half a dozen or more partially albino Stilt Sandpipers over the years, with the white usually located on the mantle and/or neck.

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