Hi everyone, Jessica Watkins and I were hiking in Williams Canyon in Manitou Springs (El > Paso County) this afternoon. We stopped to watch 5 or 6 raucous, foraging > Steller's Jays at about 3 p.m. and a few minutes later spotted the white > bird in the link below. We IDed it as an albino American Robin, with calls > heard to support the ID. > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/comtneer/sets/72157629020802115/with/6758236675/ > > Before today, I had not seen nor heard of albinism in robins, but having > now looked at several websites and articles, I see that it is not terribly > rare. From what I have read, robins account for 8.2% of all cases of > albinism in birds, and it occur either partially or in full in about 1 out > of 30,000 robins. Today's bird was a partial albino, with a small spot of > orange on its breast/belly and dark wings. Fortunately for this bird, it > has a dark pupil (as opposed to red), offering better protection against > sunlight. > > *If you would like to try to locate the bird*: After walking at a > moderate-to-brisk pace for 25-30 minutes, beginning at the Cave of the > Winds Exit Only arch, the trail crosses a rocky area and the stream in very > close by (in the form of a waterfall). This is also the last spot where you > will have a view of the hills of Manitou to the south for awhile. The bird > was approximately 1/8 to 1/4-mile beyond (north). At the bird's location, > there is a cliff band relatively close to the trail to the west. The bird > was on the west side of the trail, mostly on the ground, but occasionally > perching in the scrub oak and foraging on berries in the junipers. There > are two large Douglas-fir on the west side of the trail. ***If you happen > to locate the bird, please try not to disturb it. Albinism shortens life.*** > > On another note, I heard many a Solitaire along the way today. > > Happy birding, > > Tyler Stuart > Manitou Springs, CO >
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