Guys,
Whilst walking the pooch on Parton Beach, I noticed this odd looking Crow on the Steetley waste slopes.
It was accompanied by 5 other Crows. It was frequently attacking these other Crows. Is this a Leucistic ???
Eddie ( probably wrong as I always am :-X )
I see at least 1 young crow a year exhibiting these or similar features Eddie. Now you know what to look for look at groups of crows at the end of summer and in Autumn and I'm sure you'll see more. As to why, Mr Sibley may be able to offer an explanation.....
http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/08/abnormal-coloration-in-birds-melanin-reduction/
Many thanks Toby for that link.
I noticed the feathers as they where caught in the sun. First time I've seen that.
Yours Eddie
A few years ago now, as a passenger in a car on the A1 at the north of Darlington, I saw a large bird walking across a stubble field that I assumed was a female pheasant from the colouration (just pale brown all over) but then realised it was actually a crow. Drove back myself for another look but couldn't find it. Never heard of that in a crow before though have seen a similar colour in a starling. I thought that was leucistic but like Eddie I could be wrong.
Ian
Hello Ian
If you can get hold of the January edition of British Birds, you'll find an article which gives a comprehensive review of colour aberrations in birds. I'll try to summarise the bits relevant to your brown crow :
Almost all aberrations are caused by problems with one or both of the melanin pigments.
There are two melanins : eumelanin which gives black, grey, and dark brown colours, and phaeomelanin which gives red-brown to pale buff.
Corvids have only eumelanin.
There are two aberrations that will make crow plumage brown :
'Brown' (a descriptive but unimaginative name!) - the eumelanin is not fully oxidised to black and remains brown. The feathers are prone to bleaching and can become pale with age. A moulting crow pictured in British Birds has feathers coloured from dark brown to all but white.
'Ino' - both types of melanin are not fully oxidised and are paler than normal. Since Corvids only have eumelanin, the effect can be similar to the 'Brown' aberration.
To tell crows with 'Brown' from those with 'Ino", you need to see the bill and feet. On 'Ino' birds these are pink, but they are just slightly paler tham normal on the 'Brown' birds. Bet you didn't see that from a speeding car!
Just a a matter of interest, all 'Ino' and most 'Brown' birds are female.
Eric