Gary;

I've seen a few other albinos in my day. Trouble is, I didn't keep
records of them. Had too many other duties other than birds. But I
remember an albino Red-winged Blackbird I trapped in 1958 when I was the
only refuge biologist at the Sacramento Valley complex of national
wildlife refuges. It had just a very faint tinge of red on the epaulets.
Could have been a Tri-colored which also was a very common nester down
there. Took pictures of it which I deposited in refuge files. They were
lost some years later by my successors after I was transferred to the
Malheur NWR in 1960. Then to the Hawaiian Islands NWR in 1964

The other blackbird was a Brewers observed near Sequim several years
ago. Also a piebald Robin about 15 years ago, also near Sequim. This
bird was not a true albino but had normal colored feathers interpersed
with mostly white feathers. A peculiar appearing bird.

One thing about working with wildlife - expect the unexpected. Right?

Gene Kridler
Olde (83) tired and retired wildlife biologist..
Sequim, WA


Gary Bletsch wrote:

> Dear Tweeters,
>
> Albino birds are indeed rare. I have been keeping records of all the
> albino/albinistic birds I have ever seen while birding. In nearly 29
> years of birding, I have compiled fewer than thirty records of albino
> or albinistic birds, involving 11 species: House Sparrow, Red-tailed
> Hawk, American Crow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, American
> Robin, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Brewer's Blackbird,
> Eurasian Starling, and Fox Sparrow. I have not yet seen a House Finch
> that displayed albinism.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Gary Bletsch
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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