Author Topic: Birds (feathered kind) (Read 124010 times)

Thanks! Was right place, right time and right kit. I don't usually take the big lens when I take the boy to go out to Barnes but I was very glad I did.

Peter · « **Reply #108 on:** 03 January, 2016, 08:21:47 pm »

Boom Boom! (copyright John Lee Hooker!)

Steph, I know you are knowledgeable about birds. I also know that carrion crows can "hybridise". We have a group of them on a little circuit I ride, which have a pale white/grey bar across the tail and the same across each wing. These are not visible when the birds are at rest, only when they flap or stretch out. What might they have hybridized with? Hooded Crow (never seen one in Rochdale area, thought they were more northerly)? Magpie? Madonna?

peter

menthel · « **Reply #109 on:** 03 January, 2016, 08:24:55 pm »

Quote from: Peter on 03 January, 2016, 08:21:47 pm

Boom Boom! (copyright John Lee Hooker!)

Steph, I know you are knowledgeable about birds. I also know that carrion crows can "hybridise". We have a group of them on a little circuit I ride, which have a pale white/grey bar across the tail and the same across each wing. These are not visible when the birds are at rest, only when they flap or stretch out. What might they have hybridized with? Hooded Crow (never seen one in Rochdale area, thought they were more northerly)? Magpie? Madonna?

peter

Likely to be leucistic- patchy lack of pigment in the feathers. As it is genetic it can also be inherited and be seen in groups of birds.

Peter · « **Reply #110 on:** 03 January, 2016, 09:07:00 pm »

Thanks, Menthel, I'll have a look at info. about that.

Peter

Steph · « **Reply #111 on:** 04 January, 2016, 10:48:52 am »

Menthel beat me to it. Carrion and hooded crows were treated as conspecific a while ago (Corvus corone corone and C.c. cornix) but are now separated.

There is a lot of gene crossover in C corone from C cornix, and sometimes corone populations can show 'relic' markings even when separated from cornix populations. It's not hybridisation as such, which is not that successful between the species in terms of vigour, but recessives coming out. Add into that leucistic plumage and you will get all sorts of effects. I suspect that what you have is a multi-generation group with common recessive plumage genetics.

What many people don't realise is that the carrion crow is the minor partner, hooded crows being far more extensive in their range.

Steph · « **Reply #112 on:** 04 January, 2016, 11:06:39 am »

Here's a couple of photos of a leucistic bird

Peter · « **Reply #113 on:** 05 January, 2016, 01:02:19 am »

Thanks, Steph. Our resident blackbird has at least one white outside tailfeather, so I guess that is in the scheme, too.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #114 on:** 05 January, 2016, 09:01:40 am »

There used to be a blackbird that frequented the grounds of Fort Larrington who had D-Day markings on one wing.

menthel · « **Reply #115 on:** 05 January, 2016, 09:39:57 am »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 05 January, 2016, 09:01:40 am

There used to be a blackbird that frequented the grounds of Fort Larrington who had D-Day markings on one wing.

Well, he wouldn't want to be mistaken for the hun when on a strafing run.

Biggsy · « **Reply #116 on:** 10 January, 2016, 01:16:14 pm »

I'll be having some bird pics to add soon. I'm finding it rather hard to get sharp tits, though ...and finches.

Biggsy · « **Reply #117 on:** 20 January, 2016, 04:36:08 pm »

From some remote interval shooting, with tripod in neighbour's garden rather close to the feeders:

Peter · « **Reply #118 on:** 20 January, 2016, 05:10:35 pm »

Thanks!

Exit Stage Left · « **Reply #119 on:** 20 January, 2016, 07:59:11 pm »

Those Goldfinches will be naffing off the Sparrows. They prefer the Niger seeds, the black ones in the mix. If you filled one feeder with just Niger seed the Sparrows could get at the other ones.

Biggsy · « **Reply #120 on:** 21 January, 2016, 05:00:04 pm »

It's my neighbour who does the feeding. There are loads of feeders to go round, most with mainly sunflower hearts, and two with mixed stuff. The sparrows prefer the mixed, apparently. Fat balls are on the menu, too.

Thor · « **Reply #121 on:** 24 January, 2016, 01:07:46 pm »

Heron on a local roof. The inhabitants of my neighbour's pond may be in peril.

IanDG · « **Reply #122 on:** 24 January, 2016, 01:36:45 pm »

A surly robin

Surly Robin by ian, on Flickr

Pingu · « **Reply #123 on:** 31 January, 2016, 05:02:19 pm »

From yesterday's Garden Birdwatch:

IMG_3404_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

IMG_3385_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

Album

Pingu · « **Reply #124 on:** 15 June, 2016, 08:59:31 pm »

IMG_6776_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr