Klik på linket under billedet af hættemågen, så kommer Knud Flensteds fortræffelige artikel frem: http://www.fugleognatur.dk/gallery.asp?mode=ShowLarge&ID=16411

vh/Peter

Peter,
thanks for reminding of that article. Maybe I should point out that the original and longer English version was published in Dutch Birding, 28(2), 78-89, 2006 and written by Hein van Grouw. Reading it carefully I noticed that I should also reread the paper carefully and update the types of the color forms on my color web page ;-)

After years of searching for albinos, I have now seen 4 birds which I consider albinos. They were all white and had red eyes. (Domestic pigeon in Reykjavik, Common Buzzard at Gevninge and these two Finnish birds - wagtail and robin).

Seeing the red eye in the wagtail and robin was an interesting experience. It appeared black from many directions, but from a suitable direction the eye flashed bright orangish red. Something I have never seen in "normally colored" birds. The apparently bad eye sight of the albinos could explain why these birds appear so tame - the wagtail was "tame" when alone, but very wary when in a flock. The robin, which was alone, was on a gravel road, and hopped directly towards me down to a distance of about 4 meters without apparently seeing me. Note that both these birds are clearly juveniles, which is sort of expected.

regards
Harry

Hi Harry,

Continuing your line of thinking I find it unlikely that the adult very white Common Buzzard seen at Gevninge during several years was/is an albino.
Much more likely a leucistic bird.
Have you seen photos where the eye is undoubtedly red ?

Regards
Peter