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Can anyone help me identify this strange bird that my flock befriended today? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by Anne@lemmy.world to c/backyardchickens@lemmy.ca
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My flock befriended this strange white bird today. It's the large one in the background of the attached pictures. It's the size of a small turkey, grey and white, with a prominent crest. It ate some scratch with my girls, then ate some wild blackberries, and departed into the woods.

We're in upstate NY. I've never seen a bird like this before. It almost looks like a peacock but, again, it's white and we are in upstate NY.

The girls liked her, she seemed harmless - they usually lose their shit if even a little sparrow tries to snag some scratch. They alert me to turkeys and deer regularly but didn't mind this stranger at all.

Can anyone help me identify this bird?

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[-] MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 year ago

I thought peacock straight away - it has that body shape and crest. Maybe an albino peahen? I've seen a white peacock before, but not a peahen. Rarer, according to this site: https://www.treehugger.com/albino-and-half-albino-peacocks-are-simply-stunning-photos-4858413

[-] Anne@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Oh, I hadn't thought that peafowl could be white but of course that makes sense. She wouldn't be wild then, someone must be missing their pet! I wish I had tried harder to get close to her, these seem to be expensive birds and I don't think she'll fare well here. Our woods are riddled with predators...

I'll ask around with the neighbors and take a walk to look for her before it gets too dark.

[-] cabbagee@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 year ago

I think it's an albino peahen also. Was looking for pictures and weirdly enough Martha Stewart had a good lookalike..

[-] Crylos@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Looks maybe like a pheasant?

[-] Anne@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I had thought it might be at first glance too, but it's neck is much longer and the crest it's very peacock like... Like little circles on sticks. It's a gorgeous bird.

this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2023
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