Ok, was out and about today and came across this little chappie singing away. My friend thinks it's not a robin (unless it's a rogue), however she hasn't seen the bird nor the photo but I insist it's a robin but is there a special name for it or something? Is it just a one off?
Photographed a pretty scruffy-looking Robin today, so guess most are in various states of late-summer moult at the moment. Certainly an interesting and unusual shot, though.
Posted by David Kjaer on August 17, 2006 at 3:36 AM
Hi Alison
Definately a Robin but even in moult you don't normally see the amount of white that this bird is showing on the back of it's neck and back. I would try and visit the same area in late September and try and locate him/her again.
David
Posted by Mike Smith on August 17, 2006 at 4:30 AM
Probably a partial albino, this is also quite common in blackbirds now, so may be linked in with garden pesticides/slug pellets
As David picked up there are white feathers on the back and head, moult pattern would be juvenile brown spotting into adult, or adult into adult, there is no interim white feather stage!
Thanks for all the comments, I will go back there as often as possible, I have seen it before but not close enough to identify it til yesterday so I'm sure I will get to see it again.
Discussion
7 repliesThank you in advance.
I think it is just a Robin undergoing moult.
Best wishes
Phil
Alison
Definately a Robin but even in moult you don't normally see the amount of white that this bird is showing on the back of it's neck and back. I would try and visit the same area in late September and try and locate him/her again.
David
As David picked up there are white feathers on the back and head, moult pattern would be juvenile brown spotting into adult, or adult into adult, there is no interim white feather stage!
I think it looks beautiful with all that white.
Alison