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Unusual Bird: Piebald American Robin

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18 comments on “Unusual Bird: Piebald American Robin

  1. Just saw one in our backyard just now – never thought of this happening to birds, only deer. I took pictures, but couldn’t get a really good picture bc of using a cell phone and distance from the bird.

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  2. Have had this one in the yard for 2 days now–along with hundreds of regular robins. Thought I was seeing things. How rare is this in coastal North Carolina? I have lived on this property for 20 years–this is my first time seeing this bird.

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    • Heidi Faulkner, Project Assistant on

      Hello Janice, This American Robin has a form of Leucism, which means feathers have no pigement or can appear white. This is a common phenomenon that can be seen in many birds, especially in birds like Rock Pigeons/Rock Doves. Feel free to check out our page on Unusual Birds, which has more information on plummage variations.

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  3. Margaret Downs on

    We have one residing in our yard in Louisville Kentucky. It is an absolutely beautiful bird. I have taken many pictures!

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  4. Barbara Altmann on

    Have one this summer in Marshfield, WI. Has a nest above one of the rain spouts – but have seen no babies.

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  5. Deborah Brooks on

    My neighbor just saw one that flew between our homes in Ohio. She has watched it and it is active around 9 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon, amazing!

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  6. This morning here near philadelphia pa saw robin starkly black and white on the back. Wasn’t sure what it was at first. Very dramatic and unusual.
    Will be looking for him again tomorrow!

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  7. Robert I Mitchell II on

    I saw my first piebald Robin 3 days ago in February in Michigan. It was eating crab apples with a lock of normal robins.

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  8. Hello yes Robin will stay around the same area within a few hundred yards every year for the rest of his life although the average lifespan is two years I have had a lucid or piebald robin living by me in my yard every year for six years it brings me great joy, and excitement And appreciate for creation that I cannot explain

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  9. Hello yes Robin will stay around the same area within a few hundred yards every year for the rest of his life although the average lifespan is two years I have had a lucid or piebald robin living by me in my yard every year for six years it brings me great joy, and excitement And appreciate for creation that I cannot explain

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  10. I have had a Piebald robin in my yard the same one for six years in a row they always come back to the same place and stay within a few hundred yards if you keep watching you’ll see them however the average life is only two years. I grateful that I’m able to experience this special, part in life

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  11. We have the same piebald Robin (I think) come back to our yard and nest every year in Southeastern MN. Always look forward to her return, 4 years now.

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  12. We have one in our neighborhood that hat is on his 5th year in Racine, Wisconsin. He has a baby but not luecistic

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