The robin's coloring, which is called piebald, is a genetic condition that occurs in the egg. A piebald is one that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented, usually white, areas of hair, feathers, or scales along with some normally pigmented patches. When they successfully nest on a territory, adult robins often return to the same site year after year. This piebald robin raised a family in the yard of Diane Hoff last summer. The Hoffs are hoping to welcome Mrs. Piebald back this spring!
Photo: Diane Hoff, Loveland, Colorado
