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An albino Collared Kingfisher

on 30th July 2006

An earlier posting about albino birds and the pair of juvenile albino Javan Mynas (Acridotheres javanicus) seen at the Visitors Centre of the Singapore Botanic Gardens around May-June 2006 got the attention of Serene Tang who e-mailed me saying that her friend actually had an image of the bird. Peter Cheong then generously sent in his image that it is now incorporated into the original blog posting.

And now, James Heng has written in with his encounter in Johor, Malaysia:

“Thanks for the good read on albino birds. About two years ago, I was at Parit Jawa and saw this solitary albino Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris). The other few Collared Kingfishers would perch together and interact but whenever this albino flew over, the rest would quickly fly away.

“It must have been very lonely. Wonder if it is still alive today?”

Thank you James Heng, for this exciting note and the images. Image of the normal Collared Kingfisher is by Chan Yoke Meng.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. By golly! a lot of weird things about birds are coming out into the open. All thanks to YC and his BESG. Keep them coming please!! Bagus, KF

  2. Ah. It sounds like the survival of the fittest thingie. They might by instinct know that the albino had bad genes and so deliberately not want to associate with it so as not to pass down such genes.

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