Cornwall, black head. White stripe on wings, could this be something different or just a crow with unusual markings? (2 Viewers)

[Cornish mouse]

Did a sunrise walk to the end of black head today. Briefly spotted a black bird the size/shape of a crow but with a white stripe along the wings. Seen from above flying out from the cliff side and around the headland out of sight. I didn't get a photo so here is a photo of a crow from Google with the white stripe drawn on. The stripe wasn't quite as vivid but that was the positioning. Any ideas?

There were a lot of other ordinary crows and jackdaws nearby.

 

[Richard Prior]

A small percentage of Carrion Crows can show a degree of dull white feathering in the wings as you describe .

 

[Cornish mouse]

A small percentage of Carrion Crows can show a degree of dull white feathering in the wings as you describe .

Okie dokie, not a new lifer then but at least something unusual

 

[KenM]

Clearly toothpaste squeezed onto the wings.😮

 

[Cornish mouse]

Clearly toothpaste squeezed onto the wings.😮

Ah I should stop brushing my teeth when I'm hiking🤣

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

If I recall correctly this discolouration can be a result of poor diet and is more frequent in young birds.

 

[KenM]

If I recall correctly this discolouration can be a result of poor diet and is more frequent in young birds.

This “discolouration” is not applicable here, especially when the “white” breaches the “sea” between the outer primaries!😮

 

[Johann Sebastian Bach]

It's a genetic morphological disturbance to the thirteenth chromosome which causes this. When the gene is expressed, a feeling of utter paranoia descends on the bird, causing it to turn white. Fortunately, a dose of verisimilitude quickly follows the mutation, thereby affecting the light surrounding the wings. So the wavy white line isn't actually there.

It's a pigment of your imagination.

Peter

 

[KenM]

It's a genetic morphological disturbance to the thirteenth chromosome which causes this. When the gene is expressed, a feeling of utter paranoia descends on the bird, causing it to turn white. Fortunately, a dose of verisimilitude quickly follows the mutation, thereby affecting the light surrounding the wings. So the wavy white line isn't actually there.

It's a pigment of your imagination.

Peter

Gonads 🤣

 

[Lconn86]

Did a sunrise walk to the end of black head today. Briefly spotted a black bird the size/shape of a crow but with a white stripe along the wings. Seen from above flying out from the cliff side and around the headland out of sight. I didn't get a photo so here is a photo of a crow from Google with the white stripe drawn on. The stripe wasn't quite as vivid but that was the positioning. Any ideas?

There were a lot of other ordinary crows and jackdaws nearby.

I see the exact same bird today, early evening in southampton, Hampshire. I also cannot find anything about it on Google.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I see the exact same bird today, early evening in southampton, Hampshire. I also cannot find anything about it on Google.

https://www.reddit.com/r/crowbro/comments/10y2lre/one_of_the_crows_i_started_feeding_recently_has_a

Just one example of a google search result where the potential dietary cause is mentioned.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Crow with white bars on wings

Driving down a country road in Southern-most Illinois and saw a crow at the side of the road. When it spread its wings to fly off I noticed wide white bars on the wings. One on each side next to and running parallel with its body. Was this really a crow or did I mis-ID this critter? Anyone...

www.birdforum.net

And here is a discussion of it 15 years ago on here.