When I responded with my thoughts on the ID of this bird, I was not sure of the correct terminology to use regarding the atypical pigmentation seen in the photos. However, I was confident someone would provide some correction. I did some searching on the web. Here is the link to Project Feederwatch re: Leucism vs. Albinism. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/Albinism_Leucism.htm Cynthia Bridge Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, WI -----Original Message----- From: Laura DeGolier [mailto:ldegolie@xxxxxxx] Sent: Saturday, December 26, 2009 5:58 AM To: cynthiabridge@xxxxxxxxxxx; trschultz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; 'WISBIRDN' Subject: RE: [wisb] Re: Rare Thrush - Green Lake County If Cynthia is correct, this bird would be suffering from leucism, see information below posted on Yardbird last year. I had a house finch that was leucistic.. Therefore the white patches are caused by a defect preventing normal deposition of the melanin. And since leucism is a deposition problem, it makes sense that birds with white patches would be leucistic. Consequently leucism comes in two main varieties - paleness, an equal reduction of melanin in all feathers; and pied, an absence of melanin in some feathers creating white patches. Interestingly, albinism only applies to an absence of melanin. Since some colors come from other pigments, such as carotenoids, it is possible for a bird to be albinistic and still have color. Leucism, on the other hand, applies to all pigments. It is also possible for a bird to be completely white and still have melanin in the body. In this case the bird would be considered leucistic and would have dark eyes because the mutation only applies to depositing melanin in the feathers. Albinistic birds have pink eyes because without melanin in the body, the only color in the eyes comes from the blood vessels behind the eyes. Leucism is rare in birds, and albinism is extremely rare. From 2000-2006, Project FeederWatch participants reported less than 1000 leucistic birds. Given that participants report about 5.5 million birds each season, the percentage of leucistic birds is very, very small. Laura DeGolier Fond du Lac -----Original Message----- From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cynthia Bridge Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 10:52 PM To: trschultz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; 'WISBIRDN' Subject: [wisb] Re: Rare Thrush - Green Lake County My thoughts on this bird...a partially albino American Robin. Cynthia Bridge Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, WI -----Original Message----- From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Schultz Sent: Friday, December 25, 2009 10:18 PM To: WISBIRDN Subject: [wisb] Rare Thrush - Green Lake County I have to admit it -- my heart was racing a bit when I got a look at this bird... We were leaving home around 11:30 AM today to head over to my mother's house for Christmas when this bird flew up from the ground along my driveway. Initially it was flying straight ahead of my vehicle (at about a 20 to 30 foot distance), but then it turned left and into some trees, and it appeared to land. I didn't have much of a look as it was flying ahead of me, but when it banked and went by me at a more perpendicular angle, I was able to see that the bird had some VERY unusual and striking markings -- including what appeared to be a contrasting white eyebrown. I thought, "What the heck was that!!???", as my mind started racing through the possibilities -- but nothing seemed to fit. I was starting to think that this could be something really rare -- like maybe an Eye-browed Thrush or some other Siberian thrush that had strayed over from Asia! I hit the brakes and skidded a bit on the ice before coming to a stop, grabbed my camera, and got out of the car, and I believed that I was now about 50 feet past the bird. Although I felt pretty certain I knew about where it had landed, I couldn't see the bird, and I was really hoping it was stick around for a second look -- and hopefully some photos. I walked slowly (but as quickly as possible) back in that direction, and soon spotted the bird on a branch as I got past a large tree. I snapped a few shots initially, then others periodically as I slowly tried to stalk closer. I had gotten out of the car so quickly that I didn't have my binoculars, so I was hoping that some of my shots would be good enough to help with a possible ID. The lighting was not great, as there was a light rain falling, but here are a few shots of this very cool bird -- not perfect, but also not too bad: http://www.pbase.com/trschultz/christmas_thrush_25_dec_09 What do you think? As I said, this bird had quite a striking appearance! (Sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner, but we just returned home this evening.) Tom Schultz Green Lake Co. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn. #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn. Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn.