Date: 3/15/26 9:33 am From: David Cunningham via groups.io <gopacgodc...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Albino Sandhill Crane
Tobin,
Great photo and thanks sharing. I have heard reports at the Crane Trust
Center, Rowe, and others that they have seen a singleton WHCR. Seeing your
photo I wonder if this is the bird they have seen.
Dave Cunningham
Sarpy County
On Sun, Mar 15, 2026, 8:43 AM Tobin Brown via groups.io <tobinjbrown=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Nebraska birders,
>
> Yesterday morning we observed a really cool bird from the Rowe Sanctuary
> "Sandbar" (far west) Blind.
>
> The early rays of sunlight revealed a fully white crane. At first I was
> thinking Whooping Crane, but it wasn't tall enough. As the sun came out
> more, I in was able to notice the head pattern of a Sandhill. Eventually it
> made it's way to the front of the group where we could see pinkish yellow
> legs. The bill and facial skin also had this yellow color, lacking any dark
> pigment. In flight, the wingtips were pure white, not a hint of gray, and
> from a distance, the eye appeared completely dark (albinos have a dark red
> eye). This makes me think it's actually a true albino instead of the
> slightly more "common" leucistic bird.
>
>
>
> Let me know what you think, and keep an eye out for this bird if you're
> near Rowe! Another observer said they saw it earlier in a field southwest
> of the sanctuary. More photos are on my ebird checklist.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S309025762 >
>
> Tobin Brown
> Lancaster county
>
>
