Extremely rare bird with a genetic condition wants your help in getting a new name
The pied currawong was spotted at a botanical garden in Australia.
A bird with a rare genetic condition has been spotted at a botanical garden in Australia and she needs your help in finding a new name.
The pied currawong, which is a passerine bird native to eastern Australia, is a regular sight at The Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney.
Pied currawongs, named for the often-heard “curra-wong” call, are generally black in colour but this bird has almost completely white plumage because of a genetic condition known as leucism.
In a Facebook post, the team asked: “We want to give this special feathered-friend a name – what do you think it should be called?”
While the genetic condition makes animals look different, leucism, which is a reduction of skin pigment, doesn’t affect their wellbeing.
“This pied currawong is rare because it has leucism but still has small patches of coloured feathers and yellow eyes.
The pied currawong is currently feeding two large chicks that recently fledged.
Dr Martin added: “Pied currawongs tend to stay in the same areas year-round so it’s likely visitors have seen it before, but because it is currently breeding season for the species, sightings have increased over the past few weeks.”
