Black tufted eared sqirrel with white bib

[BJJJ]

There’s an online tool that shows up photoshopping, source material etc.

https://fotoforensics.com/analysis.php?id=27ec6f4e3c9e9910210c3386383b14da4c98ea56.149536

The image shows as the man says, straight from his phone. The pixels would show disturbance around the area of changes made if photoshopped in any way. I think it’s just a digital phenomenon, maybe to do with the zoom.

I found this little fella here, is he similar?

That's the one. At least I wasn't imagining it.

 

[Nice65]

That's the one. At least I wasn't imagining it.

Look up Calabrian Black Squirrel, you’ll find similar images. Squirrels seem to be able to interbreed like pigeons and pheasants to produce some oddities. A few black pheasants are released with the common coloured where I live. Kind of like a Bonus Ball for the day-out shooters that head here every year.

 

[BJJJ]

Tha

Look up Calabrian Black Squirrel, you’ll find similar images. Squirrels seem to be able to interbreed like pigeons and pheasants to produce some oddities. A few black pheasants are released with the common coloured where I live. Kind of like a Bonus Ball for the day-out shooters that head here every year.

Thanks for the pointer, I now wonder if they have migrated from Italy into sourthern Switerland, or just a local variation. I will ask some collegues who reside there. Fascinating diversity over quite small distances. All brought on by a chance sighting on a walk during a work trip.