White 'red-vented bulbul' sighted
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, February 18 2020:
In a rare sighting of bird, a white (leucistic) 'red-vented bulbul' was photographed for the first time in the State Tuesday.
Generally, red-vented bulbul is dark brown with a scaly pattern while the head is darker or black.
The rump is white while the vent is red.
The black tail is tipped in white.
Receiving information of a 'white bulbul' sighting near Chingdompok School in Heirok, Thoubal district, People For Animals, Manipur alongwith wild life photographer Debajit Okram reached the spot and saw three bulbuls sitting on branch, said PFA in a statement.
Only one was found to have white coating on its feathers unlike the other two red-vented bulbuls.
After taking photographs and examining them, PFA confirmed it as a leucistic red-vented bulbul.
Leucistic/Leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal which causes white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle.
It may be noted that a leucistic Sangai was spotted last year at Keibul Lamjao National Park.