Leucistic Wild Turkey

A relatively white Wild Turkey is considered leucistic while an albino Wild Turkey with pink or red eyes believed to be only about one in 100,000 as currently noted by Audubon.

The Wild Turkey above (image 1) was photographed in Killingworth, CT USA in October 2019.

This autumn has brought an unusual birding experience for me with the arrival of four leucistic Wild Turkeys within a flock as large as 31 that has been observed several times. These odd turkeys are apparently hens and are not considered in any way related to domesticated turkeys which are white.

This variation of Wild Turkey which might also be called a smoke phase has been noted to be rare though I would suggest is becoming more common with the proliferation of the species.

The Wild Turkey above (image 2) was photographed in Killingworth, CT USA in December 2019.

The variation of the genes of the turkey results in morphs or phases including those described as black (melanistic), red (erythritic), smoke or white. These variations of the turkey and every other species of wild bird is a good example of why they all should be looked at very closely.

There is the occasion in which you may encounter a banded bird as well which, of course, should be reported to the relevant agency.

The range of Wild Turkey has been expanding. Most so into southern Canada provinces from the United States. Losses of the turkey's range shouldn't be considered significant.

The Wild Turkey above (image 3) was photographed in Killingworth, CT USA in December 2019.

The leucistic Wild Turkeys observed here have been continuing with calls of predators heard occasionally.

Wild Turkeys have unfortunately been considered a major nuisance with aggression to people and communities in recent years.

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New England Hammonasset Mega Rarity

It's not often you get to see a rare bird that arrives in a state and is documented for the first time.

The Brewer's Sparrow above (image 1) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019.

Such was the case with the arrival of a Brewer's Sparrow in Connecticut at Hammonasset Beach State Park, originally believed to be a Clay-colored Sparrow by Jack Faller on 23 NOV 2019. The bird was correctly identified apparently through a photograph taken by Jack with the photography and birder skills of Jory Teltser as Brewer's Sparrow.

Brewer's Sparrow which is considered a common bird in its normal range of the western United States into Canada and Mexico (declining in numbers) should absolutely not be expected to be seen in the eastern United States.

The Brewer's Sparrow above (image 2) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019.

After a rainy day (the 2nd known day of the sparrows' presence), I had the good fortune to chase and find this species at Hammonasset Beach State Park with many on hand for the event. This was the third and last day the bird would be seen at the park.

In my relatively brief hours long observation of the Brewer's Sparrow, I believe that it had some sort of affliction with its left eye. I'm not sure if anyone else noticed this.

The Brewer's Sparrow above (image 3) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019.

Motor birding on my part at the park this day had my total number of species observed restricted.

It was very rewarding to observe the Brewer's Sparrow with its call heard clearly. The BRSP associated with a Song Sparrow and American Tree Sparrow during my observation. The size difference between the other sparrows was striking with the Brewer's much noticeably smaller.

The Brewer's Sparrow above (image 4) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019. The image above was photographed using an ISO of 1600 which clearly has degraded the value of the image while using a Canon professional camera and lens.

The Brewer's Sparrow is described in David Allen Sibley's 1st edition Guide to Birds as our smallest sparrow. This attribution is not made in Sibley's 2nd edition.

The presence of a Sharp-shined Hawk appearing to make a meal of one of many hundreds, if not thousands, of European Starling did not too directly influence the activity of the sparrows.

The Brewer's Sparrow above (image 5) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019.

It was with great fortune that I was I able to observe and photograph the Brewer's Sparrow which is believed to be only the third record sighting of the species in New England with previous documented sightings in 1873 and 1914. Frank Mantlik has noted at eBird that a BRSP has also been seen in the state of New York.

I was very frustrated with a continuing image stabilization problem with my Canon EF 600mm lens which has otherwise served me well. Having gone places you would be astounded by not to mention an extremely close encounter with a gator.

The Song Sparrow above (image 6) was photographed at Hammonasset Beach State Park in November 2019.

Additional observations at Hammonasset were very rewarding as always.

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