canberrabirds

[UNCLASSIFIED]Unusual bird sighting

To:
Subject: [UNCLASSIFIED]Unusual bird sighting
From:
Date: Mon, 16 May 2005 13:20:11 +1000
it looks mostly like an albino cockatiel
albinos and lutinos were the first mutations recorded in captivity for cockatiels. They are reasonably common, so the bird is likely to be an escapee from captivity.
Mutations occur naturally every generation in every animal and plant, only a small proportion of mutations affect the colour of the bird. It is just that captive breeders often select for those colour mutations, whereas in the wild the colour mutations are often selected against.
It is not a hybrid, that is a different issue.
 
Benj Whitworth


From: Allan and Hazel Wright [
Sent: Monday, 16 May 2005 10:02 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Unusual bird sighting

During a recent trip to Qld we saw this bird in a eucalypt at Tin Can Bay.  At first we were unable to identify it but then noticed its "blusher" marks on the cheeks.  The bird was very docile throughout the time we watched it.  Could have been sick or frightened and it only turned its head a little a couple of times.  We were able to walk around it to view from various angles and put the scope on it.  We did not see cockatiels in the area, and I don't think I have ever seen them east of the GD Ranges, although the distribution maps show they could be in this area of Qld.  Could this be a "natural" mutation or a hybridisated bird? 
 
The attached photo was taken through the scope without benefit of an adapter.  This was the first time we have tried this "technique" and was the only successful shot of several tries.  So strange bird, strange photo.
 
Many good birds in that area of Qld, especially terns and honeyeaters, and there was some rain which was very welcome from our point of view.  We were also lucky enough to see a small flock of Black-breasted Buttonquails but can only wonder how they survive in such a small pocket of undergrowth which is under extreme pressure from human usage.
 
Any comments on this bird would be welcomed.
 
Allan and Hazel Wright
Canberra ACT
 
The Nation's Capital
 
 

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