Male Phainopepla — Image by kenne
Naturalists in Sabino Canyon have been photographing a partial albino phainopepla for at least eight years.
He is known by the name “Luke” for leucistic, a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal.
— kenne
Luke, The Leucistic Male Phaninopepla — Computer Painting by kenne
People who visit Sabino Canyon and go on “Ned and Friends Nature Walks” know about “Luke,” (Click here to see Ned’s photo of Luke) the leucistic male phaninopepla with it white crest gracing his shiny black body.
Image by Marty Horowitz
Luke
He’s a striking bird,
Looking like a black cardinal,
“A bird black as the sun.”
What did you say he’s called?
Luke the phaninopepla!
This bird an’t no fable.
With his red eyes
and slender white crest
courting her with berries.
Protecting his territory
alone the trail of hearts
birders sing his song.
— kenne
