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Bee Emily
11-11-2008, 05:13 PM
This bird was with a bunch of grackles, same size.....
Do grackles crossbreed?
Any ideas?

Dan Brown
11-11-2008, 11:14 PM
Hi Bee, I think that this is a "leucistic" Common Grackle. Here is a cut and paste from Wikipedia on leucism- Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigmentation) in animals. Unlike albinism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism), it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin).

John Chardine
11-12-2008, 03:36 PM
I agree with Dan. You sometimes see crows with some white feathers, and other species as well.

There is also a form of reduced (not lack of) pigmentation called "Isabelline". This is characterised by the normally dark parts having a buffy, beige colour. Here is an Isabelline form of the Gentoo Penguin from Cuverville Island, Antarctica, 1 December 2003. The buffy areas of the plumage should be black.

The derivation of the term Isabelline is controversial. Google it and see what you get! I can explain if you don't some up with anything.

Bee Emily
11-12-2008, 03:44 PM
Gentleman,
Thanks for the help with the odd grackle. I was hoping that it was a rare white bellied black grackle that had not been seen in the world since 1729.......
DARN!

John Chardine
11-12-2008, 03:55 PM
Bee- This sort of thing is very rare so you have a great find!

Bee Emily
11-12-2008, 04:02 PM
John,
As I don't know you very well I am not sure if you are serious or not. Of course, my reply earlier was not serious but......

John Chardine
11-12-2008, 04:08 PM
I know Bee but I did want you to know that even though you don't have a "new" species you do indeed have a rare observation, and to get an image of the bird is icing on the cake as they say!