A Scientist of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography Found a Rare Wild Albinic Wagtail（Motacilla alba）

During August 10 to 16, 2010, Prof. MA Ming, an ornithologist of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, with his colleagues, took the pictures of albinotic wagtail (Motacilla alba) by accident when they observed and investigated the migration of wild birds around the Ebinur Lake which is located in the north of Tianshan Mountains. The albinotic wild birds are very rare, and the probability of the wild bird turning white is just millionth.

In Xinjiang, white Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) were reported for many times, and white Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) (at that time to be mistaken for Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)) were also reported. In recent years, some other albinotic birds were found in field, such as albinotic Pelican, Cinerous Vulture (Aegypius monachus), Hill Pigeon (Columba rupestris), owl (Strigidae) which is most rare in the world, Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica), Wagtail, Black-collared starling (Sturnus nigricollis) (Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Hwamei (Garrulax canorus), Mongolian Finch (Rhodopechys mongolica), Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus), etc.

Albinism is a kind of disease, also called "albino", with the impediment of hereditary melanin synthesis. The characteristic is that eye, skin and hair lack a part or whole of melanin. Albino is caused by the heredity of recessive allele. The disease can affect mammals (including humans), birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, etc. Albinic animals often carry with other illness, such as photophobia, nystagmus, skin cancer. Alibinic animals losing their protective color are very hard to survive in nature. At present relative scientists in the world are trying to protect alibinic animals and study the causes of albinism. People think these albinic animals are very beautiful. For example, white tiger (Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris). White peacockn (PavoPavo), including other rare birds, have become selected pets of humans.

People concern the reason of albino occurrence. ‘Except for the genetic factors of birds, the global environmental change, industrial pollution, and excessive mining (radioactive pollution) can also induce albinism’, Prof. MA Ming explained.