Rare albino shrike found in Shaanxi

　　Shaanxi Daily News (Reporter Shi Nian correspondent Song Qiangqiang) On August 19, the reporter learned from Shaanxi Hualong Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration that recently, the staff of the bureau found two albinos in the broad-leaved forest in Longshan Village, Baxian Town, Pingli County at the foot of Hualong Mountain. Albino wild birds are very rare, and it is even more rare to see two albinos at a time.

　　After a period of observation, the staff of Shaanxi Hualong Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration found that an adult gray-backed shrike was still active near the activity areas of two albino shrikes, and urged the two albino shrikes to feed from time to time. Therefore, it is speculated that these two albino shrikes were developed from this young bird of the gray-backed shrike. Gray-backed shrike is a bird of shrike, which is dark gray from the top to the back; Eye mask black; The wings and tail are dark brown with light brown wing spots; The lower body is nearly white, and the sides and waist are reddish brown; Iris black; Beak gray-black; Black feet. It mainly inhabits broad-leaved forest, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest and surrounding areas at medium and high altitude, and mainly feeds on insects.

　　These two albino shrikes have white feathers, pink eyes and light yellow feet and beaks. Albinism is usually caused by gene mutation, usually recessive inheritance. The discovery of albinism in wild birds provides good materials for exploring the causes of albinism and studying the mechanism of albinism.