It's not often that I get something new in the yard, bird-wise. Today was a day spent mostly indoors, trying not to sweat my last drop of moisture into my shirt. I did have to venture out to fill the bird feeders and turn on a nice mist for everyone. As I was doing that, a white bird flew over my head and into the neighbor's tree. Holy Moley, an albino-something!
I ran back into the house and grabbed the camera and waited at the window.
And here it is:
I ran back into the house and grabbed the camera and waited at the window.
And here it is:
(Figures it would be a house sparrow.)
When I got a better look, I saw that it wasn't an albino, but leucistic....like Isis:
Lots of white, but she still has some pigment (eyes, beak and a spot on the back of her head).
When I got a better look, I saw that it wasn't an albino, but leucistic....like Isis:
Lots of white, but she still has some pigment (eyes, beak and a spot on the back of her head).
This may be the first time in the history of the world (certainly the first time on THIS blog) that this has been said: "Isn't that a cute house sparrow?"
It must be the heat.
This is a young one...you can see the last vestiges of a bright yellow gape. And even the legs are cute...pink!
It must be the heat.
This is a young one...you can see the last vestiges of a bright yellow gape. And even the legs are cute...pink!
It's so cool to see those faint typical "house sparrow" patterns on a mostly white bird. The only house sparrow I can say that I like. Partly because it's pretty, and partly because its chances of survival are slim. (I have a heart, honest. A teeny little part of me wishes it the best)
So that was exciting....
And this was too...the chrysalis is suddenly black and the sweet delicate wings are visible. Not a great picture...but I was nervous, trying to get it back into the habitat and not drop it on the floor. I assume tomorrow's post will be full of emerging and wing-pumping and releasing.
8 comments:
I don't think I will ever tire of that picture of Isis. It is very revealing of her personality.
"...(I have a heart, honest. A teeny little part of me wishes it the best)
So that was exciting...."
You do have a huge heart, no doubt. And I agree, that is a special house sparrow.
I love seeing life through your eyes...topsy turvy and kind, dear friend.
That little house sparrow is really quite pretty- kind of like vanilla ice cream, my favorite.
That photo if Isis is, I think, the best picture you've taken.
Well, I'm jealous. I lived at my place for at least 10 years before I saw my one and only house sparrow there. And it wasn't even a leucistic one. At least yours was an interesting house sparrow!
Carolyn H.
www.roundtoprumings.blogspot.com
Oh wow! Even if it is a house sparrow, that one's so cool!
Great photo of Isis; she says so much with her expression.
Oh yeah, it is a pretty girlie bird, even though it's a house sparrow.
Ohhh, love the chrysalis turning black. What a miracle!!
I don't know how you got that head-on shot! I love a new word: 'leucistic.' .
Curiously my sparrow population seems way down and I'm wondering what happened. Like you, it's a love/hate thing. They can always be counted on for company on a lonely day :0)
What a great bird find you had! It really does stick out and would have had me need to look very closely!
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