Now this is what a list is supposed to accomplish; great stuff!

Re several statements:

I think white Rock Doves are indeed less common out in the canyons than in
the city. They are surprisingly uncommon even in the city, in fact. One
study--can't recall the reference--showed goshawks preying preferentially
on oddly colored pigeons in flocks. The abundance of white pigeons in
Hawaii has been attributed to the lack of predators, but I don't think
tested in any way.

I agree with David Wright that there are probably as many predators in
wooded parts of Seattle as out in the boonies, but I didn't think that was
the case in urban London, and I'll bet it's not the case in the least
wooded parts of Seattle. No data to back this up, of course.

I think he's right in that the white feathers represent developmental
anomalies rather than genes for albinism, presumably caused by aberrant (or
lack of) pigment metabolism in that area as the feathers were growing in.
The question still remains whether there are more of these birds in city or
country. We probably see more odd birds in the city entirely because there
are more birders watching feeders in the city, but perhaps there *are* more
anomalies in the city (anyone can pick up on this statement.....).

We have received 2 albino starlings at the Slater Museum, both juveniles
but separated in space and time (i.e., not from the same brood). These are
the only pure albinos that have come in in the 5 years I've been here. I
personally have never seen a pure albino (with red eyes) in nature. Have
any of you tweeters?

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