Nature Help with unusual bird ID, Please

Help with unusual bird ID, Please · 01:48 PM

Got off a quick couple of this white bird in NJ today. I believe it is a leucistic American Goldfinch from the pattern on the wings. Any confirmation or correction would be appreciated.

**TER-OR** · 01-11-2016, 01:59 PM

Looks like a house finch to me - maybe purple finch out East.
Not true albino, this looks leucistic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism

Maybe it's a house sparrow, though - it's tough to tell for a lay person. The wing bands may mark this as a female house sparrow?
You can send an image to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, I think.

**davidreilly3207** · 01-11-2016, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by TER-OR

maybe purple finch out East.

I think your right. Looking at the wing paterns and the fact it was at sunflower feeder with other purple finches. Goldfinches generally go for my Nyjer seed. Thanks.

**TER-OR** · 01-11-2016, 02:15 PM

We had a crow here a few years ago with two white feathers on both wings. Very distinctive, and it seemed to be the "wingleader" of our local family. Sadly, crows are still suffering from West Nile and we never have more than 6 of these smart, social birds in the neighborhood.

pete-tarmigan · 01-12-2016, 07:35 AM

Originally posted by mdave13

Got off a quick couple of this white bird in NJ today. I believe it is a leucistic American Goldfinch from the pattern on the wings. Any confirmation or correction would be appreciated.

The tail is too long for Purple Finch or American Goldfinch. The primaries are too short for goldfinch. The tail length and the shape of the head and of the bill suggest House Finch to me. However, an escaped domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is also possible.

**davidreilly3207** · 01-13-2016, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by pete-tarmigan

The tail is too long for Purple Finch or American Goldfinch. The primaries are too short for goldfinch. The tail length and the shape of the head and of the bill suggest House Finch to me. However, an escaped domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is also possible.

Thanks

Sagitta · 01-13-2016, 11:04 PM

Originally posted by TER-OR

We had a crow here a few years ago with two white feathers on both wings. Very distinctive, and it seemed to be the "wingleader" of our local family. Sadly, crows are still suffering from West Nile and we never have more than 6 of these smart, social birds in the neighborhood.

I almost wish we had that problem here. I swear this town should be renamed from the Elm City to the Crow City some days.

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01-11-2016, 01:59 PM	#2
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Looks like a house finch to me - maybe purple finch out East. Not true albino, this looks leucistic. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism Maybe it's a house sparrow, though - it's tough to tell for a lay person. The wing bands may mark this as a female house sparrow? You can send an image to Cornell's Lab of Ornithology, I think.

01-11-2016, 02:02 PM	#3
davidreilly3207 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Jersey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 720 Original Poster	Originally posted by TER-OR maybe purple finch out East. I think your right. Looking at the wing paterns and the fact it was at sunflower feeder with other purple finches. Goldfinches generally go for my Nyjer seed. Thanks.

01-11-2016, 02:15 PM	#4
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	We had a crow here a few years ago with two white feathers on both wings. Very distinctive, and it seemed to be the "wingleader" of our local family. Sadly, crows are still suffering from West Nile and we never have more than 6 of these smart, social birds in the neighborhood.

01-12-2016, 07:35 AM	#5
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	Originally posted by mdave13 Got off a quick couple of this white bird in NJ today. I believe it is a leucistic American Goldfinch from the pattern on the wings. Any confirmation or correction would be appreciated. The tail is too long for Purple Finch or American Goldfinch. The primaries are too short for goldfinch. The tail length and the shape of the head and of the bill suggest House Finch to me. However, an escaped domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is also possible.

01-13-2016, 10:57 PM	#6
davidreilly3207 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: South Jersey Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 720 Original Poster	Originally posted by pete-tarmigan The tail is too long for Purple Finch or American Goldfinch. The primaries are too short for goldfinch. The tail length and the shape of the head and of the bill suggest House Finch to me. However, an escaped domestic canary (Serinus canaria) is also possible. Thanks

01-13-2016, 11:04 PM	#7
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by TER-OR We had a crow here a few years ago with two white feathers on both wings. Very distinctive, and it seemed to be the "wingleader" of our local family. Sadly, crows are still suffering from West Nile and we never have more than 6 of these smart, social birds in the neighborhood. I almost wish we had that problem here. I swear this town should be renamed from the Elm City to the Crow City some days.