In response to the albino shorebird sightings, I've seen one each largely
white Dunlin and Western Sandpiper and had little doubt that the reason I
saw them was because they are such abundant species that over the years I
have observed a huge sample, thus aberrant individuals were more likely to
be encountered. And of course, being white, they stood out in their flocks.
An albinistic Whimbrel would indeed be a rare and wondrous beast.

Just this morning on I-5 west of Fife I stopped to look at what I think is
an albino Canada Goose (*not* a Snow Goose or domestic goose) in a flock of
about 80 Canadas. Superficially, it looks all white, but with scrutiny I
could see that its neck (the exact zone of the black in a Canada) and
undertail area (the exact zone of the white in a Canada) looked pure white
in comparison with the rest of the body plumage, which was very faintly
brownish-tinged. The eye was dark, the bill pink, and I couldn't see the
legs. The wings were entirely "white" (the very pale color).

I hope others can get additional looks at this bird, which was feeding in
the same field on both 19 and 21 October. There's a road that parallels I-5
between Tacoma and Fife, from which these birds could be seen. They were
feeding in a field from which corn (maize, to those people who say
"albeeno") was just harvested.


Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound email: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416