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From: mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: What is this bird??
Message-ID: <48214@oliveb.olivetti.com>
Date: 19 Sep 89 16:00:57 GMT
References: <3791@helios.ee.lbl.gov>
Sender: news@oliveb.olivetti.com
Distribution: na
Lines: 17

In article <3791@helios.ee.lbl.gov>, mostardi@ux1.lbl.gov (David Mostardi) writes:
 > 
 > My guess is that this is probably an escaped exotic, since
 > I can't find *any* snow-white passerine in my No. Amer. field
 > guides.  It's not an albino, since it has a black eye.

	I wouldn't so quickly rule out an albino. Albinism occurs in varying
degrees from patches of white feathers scattered around the body to a totally
white bird with the corresponding lack of pigment in the eyes and skin.
Actually, the total albino is the rarest form of albinism; and the chances
that you would see an incomplete or partial albino are much greater. This
bird may very well be an incomplete albino; that is, a bird with totally
white plumage but still retaining pigment in the eyes.

Mike

P.S. I haven't a clue as to what it might be.