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Taiwan Bird ID

This is a very rare xanthochromic Yellow Wagtail.It is usually a genetic abnormality (like albinism) but occasionally can be dietary.I'm not sure why most of its flight feathers are white  but there appears to be some darker feathers in there.  It seems a little bit odd if its missing the gene to make melanin ( the dark pigment lost in albinism) why it's eye appears so dark.Either way it's clearly  xanthochromic , possibly with a second genetic pigmentary problem.
The shrike is washed out looking because it is leucistic.
Here are a couple of links explaining things
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanthochromism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism
I'd be interested if these birds were found in a cluster( same vague area) - as this would suggest some thing triggering DNA mutation (-like a mild poison or radiation in the environment) affecting the population.As an isolated phenomena leucism is not uncommon but xanthochromism is extremely rare in wild birds.
eRic

[ Last edited by RUWright at 27/01/2011 06:18 ]

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