As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday 14 September 2012

White moorhen in Cumbria

Leucistic moorhen in Cumbria
June 2012. Reader Peter Bagnall has kindly sent us this image of a white, leucistic Moorhen at the Dalton Wildlife Park in South Cumbria.


Leucism (or Leukism) Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures. 
Wildlife Extra has received several reports over the last few years about leucistic moorhens, mostly from the north west of the UK.

  • In 2007 we received reports and photos of no less than four leucistic moorhens in the UK.  Details and photos. 
  • The same pond that provided a leucistic moorhen in 2007 provided 2 leucistic chicks in 2008, presumably from the same parents. More 
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