Subject: brown crow
Date: Sep 19 16:13:32 1994
From: Thomas Cotner - tcotner at u.washington.edu


Dear Tweeter Folk,
I was at Golden Gardens Sunday and noticed a light brown crow. Its
coloration varied from a light, almost creamy brown to medium brown but
was completely lacking black feathers. The head and tail were a creamy tan
with the medium brown feathers pretty much restricted to its back and front.
The pattern of the medium brown feathers appeared to be regular so that,
for instance, when viewed from the front, the bird appeared have
suspenders with two darker vertical stripes against a tan background.
Because of this ordered pattern, I am guessing that the variegation is due
to a mutation rather than a disease or some other (toxin-induced?)
acquired variation. Has anyone else seen this crow? Any other ideas
about the basis for such variegation? When last seen it was hanging
around the north parking lot at Golden Gardens.

Tom Cotner
tcotner at u.washington.edu