This is the time of year when birds and other wildlife unlucky enough to not have their normal colors become very noticeable, such as “leucisitic,” “albino” and “partial albino” forms. These unfortunate victims of a quirk of nature lack their natural colors that would normally protect them from the energy of our sun, keep them safe from inquisitive humans and predators, and be accepted as a member of their own social group.
Even the parents of their own young will sometimes shy away from their offspring if they’re too far off their normal appearance. Once an albino robin begins to appear “different,” the parents will eventually try to avoid it. The albino bird, on the other hand, doesn’t realize that it’s different and keeps trying to join the group. The two photos above are case in point. They are both “loaners,” a partial albino robin, and one that almost made it, but has black eyes, not the unpigmented red eyes of a “true albino.”If a male albino bird survives winter, come nesting time it may be recognized by its prospective mate and thus will not be able to reproduce – or it may not be recognized by others of its own kind and thus chased from the group. There is a report of a pure albino female red-winged blackbird that was chased away repeatedly from the flock by its companions, and returned to the flock to be chased off again and again.
There seems to be confusion in the ornithological literature regarding the definitions of “leucism,” “albinism” and “partial albinism.” Some experts define leucism as a reduction in pigments of all types, but albinism as the absence of only the melanin pigments, but the presence of the other carotenoid pigments. Others define leucism as applying to those birds that have melanin in their bodies but not in some of their feathers, while albinistic birds are those that also lack melanin in the bodies.
Melanin, (Greek for “black”), is a class of compounds found in plants and animals that serves predominantly as a pigment and a strengthening agent in the feathers of birds and the fur of mammals. Without melanin birds and mammals have trouble surviving. Melanin is the stuff that not only provides strength in a bird’s feathers, but also gives them a tough surface to resist wear. Hawks have black wingtips because they crash into things with their wings when pursuing prey. The dark color acts like armor and gives longer life to feathers, which is a good idea as birds molt feathers annually.
Everything I’ve found on leucism indicates that the condition (in which pigment cells for color are not present in the skin or feathers) is purely genetic and not nutritional in origin.
Leucistic reptiles are common in the pet trade (as evidenced by numerous web sites advertising rare color morphs for snakes, geckos and lizards), and more than one site documents leucism in birds. One of the sites states that leucism is more common in male blackbirds than it is in females, something I’ve noted in my many years of wandering around the wildlife refuges of the north and southwest.
Sometimes it’s hard for scientists to agree on a subject when no one understands why something is happening, and that seems to be the situation with albinism. Even though the evidence is piling up, the jury is still out.
In my book, an animal without any pigment on its body covering and eyes is a full albino, a rare sight in any species of animal. Most times in the wild, true albinos just don’t make it to “reproduce their kind.”
Another thing, a leucistic or partial albino bird stands out like a sore thumb. I have a hunch even a raptor will think twice before it goes after a robin or other bird that stands out like a sore thumb, perhaps thinking “it just ain’t natural for prey to look like that.” But if hunger is stalking the predator, color becomes insignificant, and a full belly wins, which is the end of the albino.
What I’m leading up to is I would like to hear from you when you do see an albino or partial albino whatever. Mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, birds of all kinds – even red-tailed hawks – have been observed. So, keep your eyes open and drop me a line when you see one of these poor misfits. Some day I may write another book, and the subject of albinos will surely be a part of it.
This article appears in Oct 1-7, 2009.
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I had an albino cardinal come to my bird feeder Jan 11 and Jan 12 in Valley Park, MO just outside St. Louis. It had a little red on the top and on the tail and a little on side feathers. Rest of plumage was snow white. It was an extremely beautiful bird.
I saw a partial albino male red winged blackbird at my feeder this morning. He was in a flock of red winged blackbirds. He was much more white than black, unlike many of the photos of partial albino blackbirds I have seen on the net. He was actually quite pretty and quite noticible as well. And of course he had the red epaulets(?), which made him even more striking when he flew.
I have had an albino bird at my feeder for the last three days. It is hanging around with an olive green bird with a tan breast and dark wings. The bird has a pink bill and legs and pink/red looking eyes. I am going to get up early and try to get a picture.
I had a flock of either female or juvenille red wing blackbirds land in my back yard at my feeders this afternoon and amoung them was a bird, same size, same beak, same habits, as the rest, except it had a light cream colored head and the rest of it was white. I am assuming it was a partial albino female or juvenille male red wing black bird. It was quite beautiful and stayed for about 45 minutes until the entire flock took off.
Driving to work this morning I saw a red wing “White” birb. I assumed it was an albino red wing black bird but after reading these stories, I realize it has to be a partial. He was flying by himself and vanished in the woods pretty fast so I don’t know if he was following a flock.
We’ve seen an albino red wing blackbird in the wetlands behind our house. It was flying around with a very large flock (hundreds). My husband and I both noticed that the albino bird was being chased around by the other birds as if it was not being allowed to settle into the reeds. We weren’t sure if we were just noticing it because he was standing out and this is normal behavior no matter what the color or because they specifically did not want him around.
I posted a leucistic broadtail hummingbird picture on Cornell Ornithology Lab’s facebook page (I recommend it highly). I took the picture in Redstone,CO a couple of summers ago. There is also a very good picture of a leucistic cardinal on the page as well.
I have some photos of a very light cardinal that is much more skittish than the other cardinals around my feeder. This is the second year I have seen it and it’s mask is much darker now. The back is light, almost silver. There are still red markings on the crest, wings and tail. Email me tledkinsphoto@yahoo.com, and I will gladly send what I have.
I have had a little partially albino cardinal, white with bright orange wing tips and crown, at my bird feeder for several weeks. It really is very pretty. I hope he makes it. Northern Kentucky.
years back an albino blackbird showed up by my patio, a few days later he flew anongst a bunch of blackbirds and half of them flew off. about a week later it flew among a flock of blackbirds. and they all flew off . NOTE (this is only first time seeing this it was amazing
I have an albino bird injured in a hailstorm a few days ago. Solid white with very red eyes and legs. Has preditor beak. Looks like some kind of young small hawk. I am a vet so am force feeding and treating head trauma.can Email photo. will have to find sanitary if survives. Need to ID for sure.
Thanks for this article! Since Spring of 2011 I have had what we called an “albino” cactus wren around my 2.5 acre place in the desert community of Cave Creek, north of Phoenix. A neighbor a block away said the bird hung around for a year or two in her mother’s yard nearby. This bird is very smart, to stay in shade most of the time. She mated with a regular looking cactus wren and had some kids this summer. She is still here but not seen as often as in Spring and early summer. She did “false” nest building to the east in palo verdes, and then set up house in a saguaro right above my garden (some coolness in summer from watering) and water in a bird bowl always there. It is thrilling every time to see her flash. She does not have pink or red eyes and there is a little buffness to some of her underfeathers but she is 98% very white! Thanks for explaining there is partial albinism or leucism, though not well understood.
Why do you think, psychologically, it is so “uplifting” or thrilling to see an albino or white animal like this?
Thank you! Katherine
I was up early this morning an saw a starling feeding a pure white baby in my back yard, all i had was a cell phone camera,still a really cool sight
I was sitting on my porch when I noticed a white bird by a tree in my yard. After reading your article, in my opinion it was an Albino bird. I was shocked when it allowed me to get very close to take pictures. Hopefully it will return.