Not every white bird is albino. It's more common for birds to have partial albinism, like this robin does.
Observe birds coming and going through a backyard long enough, and eventually you’ll spot one that has partially white or all-white feathers where there should be color. These birds have a genetic condition known as leucism or, more rarely, albinism, which affects their coloring as well as their ability to survive in the wild. The next time you spot one of these fascinating birds, you’ll know if it’s leucistic or albino.
Albinism
Birds that lack the color pigment melanin have a genetic mutation called albinism. These birds are often pure white, but in some
cases an albino bird might still have yellow or orange feathers. Those warmer colors are carotenoid pigments, rather than melanin ones, so they’re still present in birds with albinism. The true test of whether a bird is an albino is in its eyes. The lack of melanin allows blood vessels to show through, causing their eyes to be bright pink or red. On the other end of the color spectrum is a genetic condition called melanism, in which a bird has extra melanin pigmentation. These birds appear darker than the typical coloration for their species.
Leucism
Often confused with albinism is a lesser-known genetic condition called leucism, in which not just melanin, but other color pigments, are reduced as well. Unlike albinism, leucism doesn’t completely eliminate pigment. Leucistic birds appear lighter than normal but aren’t fully white. Sometimes these birds are pale, with an overall lightening of their coloring. In other cases, leucism can result in a bird being pied or piebald—with white patches across its body. Because they don’t fully lack melanin, leucistic birds have normal-colored eyes rather than the pink or red eyes of albinos.
Albinism Impact
Compared to typically colored members of their species, albino birds are at a great disadvantage. The white feathers stand out against vegetation; thus, without camouflage, albino birds are easier for predators to spot. Their feathers do offer some protection in snow, but unfortunately they reduce a bird’s ability to retain heat. Dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect it, which can mean life or death in freezing temperatures. Birds with albinism suffer from weak feathers due to a lack of melanin. Their feathers break and deteriorate over time. Albino birds also have poor eyesight—another hindrance. As a result, these birds rarely survive past fledging. Leucistic birds have slightly better chances because they retain some pigmentation. That means the light-colored bird you see in your yard is more likely leucistic than albino.
Either way, it’s a rare and exciting sight when such a unique bird stops for a visit!
Five Facts About Discoloration
1. Genetics determine true albino birds: Both parents have to carry the uncommon recessive genes that produce rare pure white offspring.
2. A pied or piebald bird’s leucistic feathers are rarely in a symmetrical pattern.
3. Typically, leucism affects only dark feathers, so some birds with leucism have white feathers while still maintaining the bright colors of their red, orange, or yellow feathers.
4. A bird is a true albino if its feet, legs, bill, and eyes are pale pink or red.
5. Birds with discoloration may struggle during courtship. Many birds use plumage color as a way to find and recognize potential mates.
Joan Lax Hamilton says
We had a robin with a white head, next year it had filled in partially, next year if he came back, I couldn’t tell, they all looked alike.
Lynn taylor says
I have a cardinal that has been showing up last 2 years.. he’s pinkish whitish color and no black mask around his eyes and beak. I call him Al. Not sure if there’s some albinoism in him or what
Hein van Grouw says
I’m pleased to see you try to educate Birders about colour aberrations in birds, but unfortunately the information you provide is not correct. Your definition of Leucism also includes mutations like Dilution, Brown and Ino. The pictured Robin is not Leucistic; it is Brown (incomplete oxidation of the eumelanin while the phaeomelanin is unaffected.
Diana Damron says
We had a flock of red-winged blackbirds Spring 2016, that included a red winged blackbird with one white wing! Did take s photo. I’ll have to print and frame it.
Diana Damron says
Correct e-mail.
Diana Damron says
We had a flock of red-winged blackbirds Spring 2016 that included a red winged blackbird with one white wing! Did take a photo. I’ll have to print and frame it.
Louise M Riley says
I have an abundance of sparrows around my deck. Some of them have a pink cast to their breast feathers. I’m guessing that a mutation became hereditary.
Sharon Shaughnessy says
We have a white chickadee coming to our feeder. It does have some gray on its tail feathers. It is usually with other chickadees. I have been wondering if he will survive the winter as we live in northern maine but it is March and he is till here. Love to watch him and he is amz=azing when he comes to the feeder. Thank you for the info on Albinism.
John Grimaldi says
We have a leucistic house finch that has been comming to our garden every day (Newark, Delaware) for the past two months. It is completely white. Not albino. Dark eyes.
carol shaffer says
i have pics of the red bellied woodpecker with all whit eyes. i wish i could post the pic. it looks really cool. not sure if it leuism or not
Chloesmum says
For the past 4-5 year when the red wing blackbird flocks migrate through our area in CT, there are a few with white wings or even just a few white wing feathers on one side. Each year there seem to be a few more in the flock. Does this mean the same flock is returning and/or there is more inbreeding? Thanks for your interesting article.
Gary Davidson says
I took pictures of a robin a few days ago here in central Kentucky that looks very much like the one pictured above.
Kim says
Last year there was a robin that came to my yard nearly everyday that was leucistic. She was the first bird my family and I could ever identify on site, so of course we had to name her. She was dubbed ‘Lucy’. We basically catered to her any of her favorite food (cranberries, suet)!
Greg Kaminski says
I had a finch at my feeder for three winters that had a white head , eyes normal , have pictures, did not see her this winter.
Connie Landefeld says
We have a Robin this year we call the Panthom of the Opera. Half his head is white and half is normal looking.