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Birding/Pileated woodpecker

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Expert: - 5/20/2009


Question
We have 2 pileated woodpeckers that come to our suet feeder on a daily basis.  One has the bright red crest, but the other's crest is a pale orange color.  What would cause this?
I have never seen anything other than a red crest.  Thank you.

Answer
This appears to be a case of partial albinism. This means that the bird is a partial albino because of its feathers do not have sufficient pigment. Dilute red and you get orange.
This is fairly common among birds. Why is there not sufficient pigment? I don't know specifically about Pileated Woodpeckers, but many birds with red feathers get the red coloration from pigments obtained from food - red berries, for instance. And, red pigment can also be produced in the bird's liver and if not enough pigment is produced because the liver is not functioning as it should, you get orange.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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