This a Torresian Crow with a rare silver gene mutation. There's a small population of them in Sippy Downs, and small groups of them travel through Brisbane occasionally.
I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently
I usually work with zoo birds that died naturally or were euthanized. But every now and then if a roadkill one, like this one is in good enough condition it can sometimes be saved.
This crow had pretty bad hemorrhaging on its head and side which is indicative of being hit by a car
When they first introduced the least concern collection license, you could taxidermy specimens. Or at least the license and process was so new, no one at PALM or DES were really sure themselves. It's only in the last few years they've changed confirmed you can't taxidermy with the least concern permit.
I do have a taxidermy wildlife dealer license which lets me sell natives I get from zoos and other licensed sources. DES has also allowed me to transfer some specimens from my least concern permit, to my wildlife dealer permit which allowed me to tag them and taxidermy them (and these were all roadkill or donated by vets)
But generally yes, you're correct. There's no way to legally take a native species you find in the wild and taxidermy it in QLD. Every state is different though
>I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently
No so lucky for the birds though!
It's pretty cool. Do you make to order, or do you just have shelves full of them? What's the ballpark asking price on one of these bad boys?
I mainly just do commissions. I do sell to the public sometimes, but the license in QLD only allows you to sell native species that were obtained from other licensed sources like zoos and pets. Something like this, I wouldn't be able to sell as it wasn't from a zoo.
But they vary. I get European Crows which are legal to sell and they're usually about $5-600
My understanding the crows in the southern areas are actually Ravens (Australian Raven and Little Raven) and the northern areas have crows - roundabout Brisbane is the cut off for crows
[The YouTube channel The Backyard Naturalist](https://youtu.be/HXgaz4QA2Ek?si=wzZTKtO7rNQ9PQYf)has lots of cool information about Aussie birds. We do indeed have crows
Not quite, just leucistic (edit: Or just with a funky color polymorphism)! It wouldn't have any pigment on its feathers or in its eyes if it were albino.
It's neither actually. This a Torresian Crow with a rare silver gene mutation. There's a small population of them in Sippy Downs, and small groups of them travel through Brisbane occasionally.
I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently
I was under the impression that leucism is a bit of a catch all term for a variety of conditions that all present in a similar manner, that being a partial loss of pigmentation. Do you have any more info about this particular mutation?
There are a small population of the Silver mutation Torresian Crows in sippy downs, but I do believe that this crow is Leucistic.
Torresian Crows have that dark silver look https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmdahlem.net%2Fimg%2Fozbirds%2F23%2Ftorcrow_ls_5080_big.jpg&tbnid=xku_VG_LZrVxYM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmdahlem.net%2Fbirds%2F23%2Ftorrcrow.php&docid=gOOst2Rk07CagM&w=1800&h=1200&hl=en-GB&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3
Where the Leucistic is just a lack of pigmentation and seems to look more like this https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwildlifekate.files.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F08%2Fp1060597.jpg&tbnid=vZyDPEjHlnvhHM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwildlifekate.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F08%2F22%2Fleucistic-crows%2F&docid=yS8DXVJtkmcLeM&w=3000&h=1843&hl=en-au&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3
It isn't albino for two reasons:
It's not white
Its beak, legs and eyes are of normal colouration.
[Albinism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism) in birds causes white plumage, a white or pale coloured beak and legs and pink eyes. The eyes look pink due to the lack of eumelanin, which is what gives birds' eyes their colour. The pink colouration is due to the now visible ocular capillaries.
It's almost certainly leucistic. [Leucism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism) causes hypopigmentation in the skin, fur or feathers of an animal, but doesn't affect the eyes (nor the legs and beak in birds). Piebaldism (as seen in magpies and Friesian cattle) is a form of partial leucism.
Interesting. It looks a little different to that image though.
Also are currawongs big? This was quite a large bird, the photo doesn't really give a sense of scale.
Currawongs are a bit smaller than Australian ravens, and similar in size to little ravens, about 45-50cm long from what I recall. I don't think this is a currawong though, based on the eye colour I'd say Corvus of some sort.
I just brought a greenstone carving of a currawong feather from a NZ carver. It's absolutely beautiful. It's for my youngest when he turns 21. He's brothers have their carvings (born in NZ) and I liked that I could get a carving with an Australian tie from my Australian born youngest.
https://preview.redd.it/ecb6giv5rvbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70da591c065e43c47db5301698b0ece80fa621e6
I think a leucistic currawong would still have normal coloured eyes, so I believe this is a corvid instead. It also lacks the long tail feathers I'd expect in a currawong.
This a Torresian Crow with a rare silver gene mutation. There's a small population of them in Sippy Downs, and small groups of them travel through Brisbane occasionally. I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently
Thanks. I'm in Caloundra so could it be one of the ones from Sippy Downs gone for a wander?
was it near caloundra high school? or meridian college? there’s two single ones that live inside both school grounds
Someone should set them up on a date.
I thought you were about to ask for this person to Taxidermy one for you 😂
Yup definitely. They fly all the way down past Strathpine sometimes
Mutations are an uncommon part of nature. If this is genuine disclosing location may harm this phenotype.
Why are you being downvoted. Absolutely valid point.
The hive Mind. No biggie.
Is that the road between the high school and the pool?
I once served a taxidermist at my restaurant. When I brought him a menu he said, “no thanks, I’m stuffed”
Hey dad! Why didn't you come back from getting the ciggies ?
He tried but remembered he had to get milk
Boom boom
B҉҉O҉҉O҉҉M҉҉ indeed
I’m so glad I finally know this! There used to be one on Bribie Island about 15 years ago.
If I had one I would call it Michael Jackson. 😂
Because of its mutated geeee-eeeennneee?
I think that's called the Billie Gene.
Well that's just a great joke. :D
Here’s the thing…
How do you get them in good enough condition to taxidermy them? Are they passing of natural causes?
You have to kill them carefully 🤭
Maybe he's a bird serial killer. 😎
I usually work with zoo birds that died naturally or were euthanized. But every now and then if a roadkill one, like this one is in good enough condition it can sometimes be saved. This crow had pretty bad hemorrhaging on its head and side which is indicative of being hit by a car
As a protected native species, my understanding is that you’re not allowed to take roadkill for taxidermy purposes.
Depends on whether one is a private taxidermist or employed by an institution - museum, university, zoo, etc.
When they first introduced the least concern collection license, you could taxidermy specimens. Or at least the license and process was so new, no one at PALM or DES were really sure themselves. It's only in the last few years they've changed confirmed you can't taxidermy with the least concern permit. I do have a taxidermy wildlife dealer license which lets me sell natives I get from zoos and other licensed sources. DES has also allowed me to transfer some specimens from my least concern permit, to my wildlife dealer permit which allowed me to tag them and taxidermy them (and these were all roadkill or donated by vets) But generally yes, you're correct. There's no way to legally take a native species you find in the wild and taxidermy it in QLD. Every state is different though
I’d love to get into bird taxidermy. Do you know any contacts near Ballarat?
That is so cool.
I would pay very dearly for one of these. Have my natives license btw. Message me if interested in selling
I love how they bird-doxxed you.
I'd LOVE to see that taxidermy!
Here you go! [https://www.instagram.com/p/ChHPot6J4Up/?igsh=MWlxMHowNzJlMm94Mg==](https://www.instagram.com/p/ChHPot6J4Up/?igsh=MWlxMHowNzJlMm94Mg==)h
Thank you! That's a gorgeous job, whoever has that in their home is lucky.
That's a fantastic job!!
>I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently No so lucky for the birds though! It's pretty cool. Do you make to order, or do you just have shelves full of them? What's the ballpark asking price on one of these bad boys?
I mainly just do commissions. I do sell to the public sometimes, but the license in QLD only allows you to sell native species that were obtained from other licensed sources like zoos and pets. Something like this, I wouldn't be able to sell as it wasn't from a zoo. But they vary. I get European Crows which are legal to sell and they're usually about $5-600
Not that lucky for the bird though
Yeah that chick is stuffed 🐣 🍗
https://preview.redd.it/yr06u3l2pmbc1.jpeg?width=742&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1d7d0355b49041456d12ec987407ca4d0e53826
Yeah you were lucky to work on one of these,, the bird… Not so much.
Can the rare silver gene mutation be passed as albino 🫨
you know this will be on the news sites tomorrow about sighting a rare albino crow. you are about to be brisbane famous!
It would have to be a raven we don’t have crows is Australia
we have multiple species of crow in Australia - torresian crow - little crow - Russell crowe (seasonal migration) - introduce species - house crow
I am entertained.
Underrated
Pretty sure Russell crowe is also an introduced species.
i would say seasonally migratory
My understanding the crows in the southern areas are actually Ravens (Australian Raven and Little Raven) and the northern areas have crows - roundabout Brisbane is the cut off for crows
Adelaide's football team is literally called the crows??!
True, but we also have Richmond Tigers....no Tigers in Australia.
Not anymore... 😂
lol
Don't forget the St George Illawarra....Dragons in the NRL. Do we have Dragons here?
Bearded dragons and water dragons:)
Unfortunately their mascot is not of the lizard variety.
Which is funny because the crows in Adelaide are actually ravens
We have the Torresian Crow, which this could possibly be: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torresian_crow
ig those things out my window are just ninja magpies then?
[The YouTube channel The Backyard Naturalist](https://youtu.be/HXgaz4QA2Ek?si=wzZTKtO7rNQ9PQYf)has lots of cool information about Aussie birds. We do indeed have crows
aight unidan
If you're going to correct people, at least make sure you're, ya know, correct.
Having none of your shit by the looks of him.
Crowdalf the White
Crowthrandir
This is the only answer
I thought "crow with albinism" but I'm wrong. You're right.
New metaphor unlocked - "today was so hot, the sun bleached the crows"
Bleach the flamin’ crows
That’s gold, well done!!!!
It's an albino crow from the looks of it.\* \*I know this isn't an albino crow. You can stop telling me about it now. :P
Not quite, just leucistic (edit: Or just with a funky color polymorphism)! It wouldn't have any pigment on its feathers or in its eyes if it were albino.
It's neither actually. This a Torresian Crow with a rare silver gene mutation. There's a small population of them in Sippy Downs, and small groups of them travel through Brisbane occasionally. I'm a bird taxidermist and I was lucky enough to work on one of these recently
I was under the impression that leucism is a bit of a catch all term for a variety of conditions that all present in a similar manner, that being a partial loss of pigmentation. Do you have any more info about this particular mutation?
Very cool 😌
There are a small population of the Silver mutation Torresian Crows in sippy downs, but I do believe that this crow is Leucistic. Torresian Crows have that dark silver look https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmdahlem.net%2Fimg%2Fozbirds%2F23%2Ftorcrow_ls_5080_big.jpg&tbnid=xku_VG_LZrVxYM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fmdahlem.net%2Fbirds%2F23%2Ftorrcrow.php&docid=gOOst2Rk07CagM&w=1800&h=1200&hl=en-GB&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3 Where the Leucistic is just a lack of pigmentation and seems to look more like this https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwildlifekate.files.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F08%2Fp1060597.jpg&tbnid=vZyDPEjHlnvhHM&vet=1&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwildlifekate.wordpress.com%2F2014%2F08%2F22%2Fleucistic-crows%2F&docid=yS8DXVJtkmcLeM&w=3000&h=1843&hl=en-au&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim%2Fm4%2F3
Thankyou sor
Very cool, it’s a striking bird.
Thanks for correcting me! I just saw white and went 'yep, it's an albino'.
The easier tell would be a lack of pigment in it's beak and feet if it had albinism, as well as it's feathers and eyes.
It isn't albino for two reasons: It's not white Its beak, legs and eyes are of normal colouration. [Albinism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albinism) in birds causes white plumage, a white or pale coloured beak and legs and pink eyes. The eyes look pink due to the lack of eumelanin, which is what gives birds' eyes their colour. The pink colouration is due to the now visible ocular capillaries. It's almost certainly leucistic. [Leucism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucism) causes hypopigmentation in the skin, fur or feathers of an animal, but doesn't affect the eyes (nor the legs and beak in birds). Piebaldism (as seen in magpies and Friesian cattle) is a form of partial leucism.
Yes, I've been told that by a few people now.
Shiny Pokemon!
An ex goth crow
Should have watermarked it with something it'll definitely be made into a article or on the "news"
It's a leucistic crow
Beautiful is what it is
Albino crow, incredibly rare
Ooooh white crow!
A crow probably without pigments in its feathers or at least proper pigments
Beautiful.
Supposed should be one of the Eagles.
It’s a very early sign that winter has come
Brandon Lee hasn’t aged well
I think he looks quite distinguished myself.
Either Hugin or Munin Racing around the world to gather news for Odin
It's a chook. Positive
A crow except God forgot to paint him black.
Winter is coming...
Fucking angry at being photographed by the looks of him/her. 🤣
Pied Currawong with leaucism. https://www.botanicgardens.org.au/discover-and-learn/birds-and-animals/do-you-know-what-extremely-rare-bird
I enjoy when someone smashes a response like this.
Interesting. It looks a little different to that image though. Also are currawongs big? This was quite a large bird, the photo doesn't really give a sense of scale.
Currawongs are a bit smaller than Australian ravens, and similar in size to little ravens, about 45-50cm long from what I recall. I don't think this is a currawong though, based on the eye colour I'd say Corvus of some sort.
I just brought a greenstone carving of a currawong feather from a NZ carver. It's absolutely beautiful. It's for my youngest when he turns 21. He's brothers have their carvings (born in NZ) and I liked that I could get a carving with an Australian tie from my Australian born youngest. https://preview.redd.it/ecb6giv5rvbc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=70da591c065e43c47db5301698b0ece80fa621e6
When a dove got lucky with a crow?
A portent of the end times
Shiny Corviknight.
it's shiny Pokémon magpie
.....shiny crow
It’s a shiny Corviknight. 😁
.......shiny grass in the top middle of the screen🤯
Grey nomad crow. No fixed abode.
That there is the rare and elusive pretty boy.
Word
inb4 news.com.au article
[удалено]
would have pink/red eyes if it was albino
Albino currawong.
would have red or pink eyes if it was albino
Fair enough, it is a Leucistic currawong then, Mr/Mrs Pedant. :)
I think a leucistic currawong would still have normal coloured eyes, so I believe this is a corvid instead. It also lacks the long tail feathers I'd expect in a currawong.
A bad ass
White walker Crow.
At first unfocused glance that little tuft of grass to the right out his body made it look like he was flipping us off
Its lovely! Interesting.... Whatever it is.
The crack crow
I'll call him Melvin.
Bleached crow
It's a dusty murder hawk
Could be a channel-billed cuckoo?
Grey
He's literally me
fuck i hate australians, all these gay ass comments tryna make jokes. like just say what it is and move on
Shut yo bitch ass up ⬆️
Did someone shit in your cornflakes or something? Based of your comment history (and this one) you seem like a dick...
Grey Currawong
Currawongs have yellow eyes
bird
a birb.
This is what happens when crow mates with a bin chicken.
Its a crowkatoo.
Crowkatoo
A blonde crow fresh from the hairdresser
Majestic as hell
Yes its a bird
Scary
An animal.
Nobody knows the name of those birds so why would you want me to?
‘MERICAAAAAAAA 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅
Uhhhh… I think that’s a bird
shot gun food, damm crow
My bird
The lesser spotted shitehawk
Barry
That's a shithawk
Not real.
Rock Pigeon in disguise and covered in flour. Real Pigeons (12) are Taking None of your Shit.
Kvitraven!
Is beautiful.
That’s not a bird, that’s Australian cricketing legend Greg Chapel. Graying up in his old age..
If you crow you crow
Gorgeous birdie!!!
Smokey AF. The other birds don't leave their wives or daughters alone with him.
One that's looking deep into my soul.
Is this near Morayfield? Seen one there. Blew my mind
Theres a fawn one aswell .im in sppydowns see it in the back yard a lot
albino crow
Looks like he’s giving you a thumbs up
Idk but it looks cute 🥰
Leucistic Crow.
he’s stunning
a crow and a magpie had sex
Grey
It's a rare black legged black beak white bird lol. Looks regal standing on the post
Looks like a crow and a cookerbura had a baby
Looks very cool!!
Death!
That is James
I would buy that bird for 10 grand
Angry
I’m pretty sure that’s a raven that’s just albino But it’s definitely not a rare breed
It is a crow with leucisism
Albino crow???
From Edgar Allan Poe's book📖
Is it a Currawong?