please identify this bird

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Philintasmania
Philintasmania's picture
please identify this bird

hi, I'm new the the forum, so not sure what I'm doing. We live on a 9 acre property in n/w Tasmania, we have identified 61 different birds on our property in the past 21 years. It is very rare for us to see a new bird these days.

The past few days we have seen this white bird, cannot find it in any of the books, it looks like it still has downy feathers, it can fly but not far, its pure white with no other markings and has pink eyes. 

My guess is that it's an albino magpie, I only think this because it is about the same size and a few magpies were nearby, but they were not treating it as one of their normal family members, so I'm not 100% sure.

thanks, I'll now try and post some photos.

Phil.

Steven.McBride
Steven.McBride's picture

All white feathers with pink eyes, pink legs & bill, so it would have to be an albino. Hard to tell what it is, but the shape looks Ok for Magpie & if it was similar size to the other Magpies, then it probably is one.

WhistlingDuck

Looks like a magpie to me 

Devster
Devster's picture

I guess short of a DNA test, listening for it's call would be a good way to tell. Beak looks too short for a Magpie, but maybe it has been mutated.

Philintasmania
Philintasmania's picture

Thanks for your replies, I comfirmed yesterday it is an albino magpie, I watched it for some time and saw the mother feeding it and trying to get it to follow, it does seem to have a sight problem, maybe it's not developed yet, but its mother spotted me from 80 meters away, yet the albino doesnt seem to notice anything further than 20 meters away. Also it seems to have trouble landing on branches and 4 times out of 5 crashes to the ground. Time will tell I guess. Thanks again for your replies.

Phil.

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