this white steller’s jay was seen in boulder county, colorado. the bird is not albino – it was seen gradually gaining more and more white feathers over time. suggested causes are illness, trauma or a mutation.
source: (x)
Tag: avian
this is an american crow with leucism. leucistic animals do not produce enough pigmentation, but produce enough to not be considered albino.
source: (x)
bird of the day: the budgerigar!
the budgerigar, also known as the budgie, parakeet, or shell parakeet, is a small parakeet native to australia (a feral population has also been established in florida). budgerigars are the third most popular pet in the world, directly behind the domestic dog and cat, which makes them the most popular pet bird.
in the wild, budgies are part of large flocks. flocks have been witnessed to number in the thousands, though this is usually several flocks temporarily joining together for safety. they feed mainly off of seeds and grains, though fruit, vegetation and insects are also a part of their diet.
in the wild, budgies only come in green, but in captivity, they have been bred to display many different color mutations.
as well as being bred for color mutations, budgies have been bred for size and appearance. the english budgerigar is the only true ‘breed’ of parrot; it differs significantly from the regular budgerigar. english budgies are much larger and feature a more pronounced head shape. unfortunately, english budgies sacrifice health for their appearance; they typically have a shorter lifespan than other budgies.
budgies are sexually dimorphic and are generally differentiated by the color of their cere. males have a bluish cere, and females have pink or brown. there are several exceptions to this, as juveniles tend to have pinkish-purple or lightish blue ceres and some color mutations, such as albino, permanently keep the juvenile color in males, but sex can still sometimes be distinguished without a dna test by behavior and head shape.
budgies are often overlooked or dismissed by parrot ‘fanciers’ due to being so common, but they are still well loved by many due to their cheerful personalities and many great qualities. a budgie holds the record for the largest vocabulary of any parrot; puck the budgie knew over 1,700 words. despite their small size, they are known for their intelligence and willingness to learn words, whistles, and tricks.
budgerigars are great little parrots with lots of personality. don’t overlook these charming birds!
today's bird 