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Birding/turkey s in Georgia

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Expert: - 10/5/2007


Question
I saw several turkeys the other day and all of them were like turkeys I had seen before except two had cream colored feathers on their bscks. Is that a normal coloring?

Answer
It is not unusual for birds, whether sparrows or turkeys, to show what is called "partial albinism". This means that one or several feathers might not have the usual pigment in them and will grow in white or cream or some faded color. Sometimes crows will have gray feathers for example. It's not uncommon.

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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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