Leucism in birds is caused by a genetic condition that results in reduced melanin production, the pigment responsible for black, grey, and brown colours. As a result, leucistic birds have white or pale plumage overall or patches of white feathers. However, if a bird’s normal plumage has yellow or red tones from carotenoid pigments, which are not affected by leucism, those colours will remain
Unlike albino birds, which lack melanin entirely, leucistic birds usually have normal-coloured eyes, bills, legs, and feet, as melanin deficiency primarily affects feathers rather than other body tissues.
Leucism is an inherited trait, but the extent of the condition can vary between individuals, even within the same family. If the leucistic genes are recessive, the condition may skip generations before reappearing. Some species, such as blackbirds, crows, and robins, appear to be more commonly affected than others, though leucism can occur in any bird species.
While leucistic birds may look striking, their condition comes with several disadvantages:
Weakened feathers: Leucistic feathers are structurally weaker, making them more prone to wear and breakage, which can make flight more difficult.
Increased predation risk: Birds with large white patches or fully leucistic plumage stand out against their natural environment, making them more vulnerable to predators.
Mating challenges:Many bird species rely on plumage colouration as a signal of fitness. A leucistic bird may not be recognised by potential mates or could be perceived as a weaker individual, reducing its chances of reproduction.
True albinism is far less common than leucism and is caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme essential for melanin synthesis. Without melanin, albino birds have entirely white plumage, along with pink or red eyes, because, without melanin, the only visible colour in the eyes comes from the underlying blood vessels.
Unlike leucistic birds, which retain normal eye function, albino birds often suffer from poor eyesight. Since melanin plays an important role in eye development, albino birds may struggle with depth perception and light sensitivity, making survival in the wild extremely difficult. Most albino birds do not live beyond fledging, and it is unlikely that any truly albino wild birds survive to adulthood.
Many leucistic birds display a mix of white and normally coloured feathers, leading to the incorrect label of “partial albino”. However, albinism is an all-or-nothing condition – if a bird produces any melanin at all, it is not truly albino. A bird with patches of white feathers but normal eye colour is leucistic, not albino.
Eye colour: Albino birds always have pink or red eyes, while leucistic birds retain their normal dark eyes.
Plumage variation: Leucistic birds may have partially white feathers but often retain some colour, especially in carotenoid-based areas (like yellow or red markings). Albino birds have completely white plumage.
Legs and beak: Leucistic birds usually have normal-coloured legs and bills, while albino birds often have pale or pinkish features.
While leucism and albinism can theoretically occur in any bird species, some species appear to be more frequently affected than others. This may be due to genetic predisposition, population size, environmental factors, or simply that these conditions are more noticeable in certain birds.
Leucism is most commonly reported in species that have large, widespread populations, especially those that live near humans. Some birds appear particularly prone to leucism, including:
Blackbirds (Turdus merula) – One of the most commonly observed leucistic species, particularly in urban areas. Leucistic blackbirds often have white patches on their wings or tails, and some may be almost entirely white.
European robins (Erithacus rubecula) – Frequently seen with small white patches on the head, wings, or breast, though full leucism is rarer.
Crows and ravens (Corvus spp.) – Leucism is well-documented in corvids, with some individuals displaying extensive white feathering while retaining their dark eyes and beaks.
Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) – Leucistic starlings often have white or pale plumage but retain the characteristic iridescence on some feathers.
House sparrows (Passer domesticus) – Leucistic house sparrows are sometimes seen with white or patchy plumage, though they still blend well with their environment.
Pigeons (Columba livia) – Feral pigeons frequently display leucistic traits, which can range from small patches of white to almost entirely white birds.
There are a few theories as to why certain birds show leucism or albinism more frequently:
Genetics – Some bird species may carry recessive genes for leucism more commonly than others.
Population size – The more individuals of a species, the more likely genetic mutations will be observed simply due to numbers.
Human influence – Urban environments may allow leucistic birds to survive longer due to fewer predators, making sightings more common.
Plumage contrast – Leucistic patches stand out more in birds with dark plumage (like blackbirds and crows) than in lighter-coloured birds, making these cases easier to spot and report.
While leucism and albinism are among the most well-known genetic conditions affecting bird pigmentation, there are several other colour mutations that result in unusual plumage. These variations can occur due to differences in melanin production, distribution, or retention over time.
Dilution is similar to leucism but results in a washed-out or faded appearance rather than distinct white patches. Birds with this condition still produce melanin, but at lower levels than normal, making their colours appear paler or muted, so a diluted starling may appear brownish-grey rather than its usual iridescent black. This can affect the entire bird or only specific areas of the plumage.
Unlike leucism, which is inherited, progressive greying occurs over time as a bird ages. Birds affected by this condition will gain increasing numbers of white feathers after every moult leading to an increasingly white appearance as they get older. This is believed to be due to a failure of melanocyte (pigment-producing cell) regeneration.
Melanism is the opposite of leucism and albinism. Birds with this mutation produce excess melanin, resulting in unusually dark or even completely black plumage. Melanism can provide advantages, such as better camouflage or increased resistance to feather wear. For example, a melanistic barn owl appears almost entirely dark brown or black, rather than the usual pale buff and white.
Erythrism is a rare mutation where a bird produces higher-than-normal levels of red and orange pigments, making it appear unusually reddish. This is often due to genetic variation or environmental factors, such as a diet rich in carotenoids. Some eastern screech-owls exhibit a deep reddish-brown colour due to erythrism.
Xanthochroism is another rare condition where a bird shows an excess of yellow pigments or a reduction of dark melanin, making it appear golden or lemon-yellow. A xanthochroistic northern cardinal may be bright yellow instead of its usual red.
Schizochroism refers to the selective absence of either eumelanin (black/brown pigment) or phaeomelanin (reddish-brown pigment), leading to unusual variations in plumage colour. A schizochroistic bird may lack all black pigmentation but still retain brown or reddish tones.
12 Responses
I have a pet albino cockatiel! her feathers are completely white, she has red eyes, and her feet are pink! she’s not the best flier, her eyesight isn’t great, she’s scared of everything, and she’s very dumb. but she’s perfect the way she is and i wouldn’t ever wish her to be any different!
I have a leucistic sparrow feeding in mine and my neighbour’s back gardens. I managed to take some photos on my phone but didn’t have my camera to hand to get a better image.
I thought I was going mad when I first saw it, until my mother also spotted it at the end of my garden!
I’ve now seen it being fed by it’s mother and cannot see any excess white on her.
I had a leucistic blackbird in my back yard near my feeder. It was all white with small dark stripes on the wings. It was with a group of about 8 blackbirds. It looked very similar to the picture in the album on this site. I ran inside to get my phone but it was gone when I got back. I live in the Stockdale Country Club on the golf course. Bakersfield Ca.
there is a Leucistic northern cardinal in my Neiborhood and there is an albino rock pigeon in my Neiborhood.
if you want to see photos of these birds go to Instagram @ryanmunginnaturephotos
I am certain the white bird I saw a few days ago was a starling…feeding in my garden amongst a group of starlings but I didn’t dare move to get my phone for a pic. Shropshire.
I have a starling feeding from my front garden the last few days with a full while tail and back his wings chest and front are all normal colouring I’m watching him out there now
I spotted one albino or leucistic starling in our garden today for the very first time in my life, he/she was with a flock of starlings and definitely flew like a starling. I will take a picture if he visits again.
I have 3 young adult Albino Starlings visit my garden, does anyone want a picture?
Yes
We have had an albino starling in our garden in Rutland this weekend. We have taken video and photos and have emailed the RSPB. It appears to be doing well and is being fed by its mother who has a small white ring around her neck.
I’ve had an albino starling in my garden the last 2 days. I have photos and a video of it.
This morning (02/17/2021) my husband and I saw a leucistic starling amid a huge flock of the birds in our and neighboring yards. It was about 50 yards away and too distant to photograph, but it definitely was predominantly white with some black wing feathers. We observed it for several minutes before it flew away with the flock.