Roger Peffer, wrote:

> Our hypothesis is that the partial albinism in our juncos
> could be due to "stress" during molting from the Chelan
> County Fires . This stress could include (as you mentioned
> below) dietary imbalance from all the habitat that was
> destroyed or altered. We only see them on the feeders in the
> fall and spring. They appear to be at a slightly higher
> elevation during the summer, and lower elevations during most
> of winter. It will be interesting to compare plumage if we
> can recapture one of these birds after it has gone thru
> another molt.
>

Is there any other evidence such as fault barring in the feathers ?

For those not in the know, fault barring shows up as alternate light and dark
bands in feathers. The banding is caused by differences in feather "quality".
The lighter bands usually indicate the feather is thinner. The effect is most
often seen in fledglings, caused usually by poor diet/lack of food. The bands
alternate showing good feeding days/bad feeding days when the feathers were
growing.


Is there any evidence that albinism is most common in dark/black feathered
birds. In the UK Blackbirds, (turdus merulla ?) are probably the most commonly
seen albinistic bird. Rooks and Carrion Crows are also seen. I have even seen
an albino Common Murre, Uria aalge. Quite a sight !!!

Stuart MacKay
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