Leucistic White Throated Sparrow I

Imagine yourself out walking in the woods, looking for birds and you see a flash of pure white fly into the trees. What the heck was that? Very excited but patiently waiting for it to show itself completely, I was amazed to see this beautiful leucistic White Throated Sparrow. It is my first sighting of a bird with leucism. Many birders enjoy many years of successful birding while relying on birds’ plumage alone to distinguish the hundreds of different species on their life lists, trip lists, or yard lists. Not all birds, however, have predictable plumage and conditions, such as bird leucism and this can make identification more of a challenge. I admit I had to ask for verification from a biologist friend. Leucism, or leukism, is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers. As a result, the birds do not have the normal, classic plumage colors listed in field guides or seen in most photos. It was just beautiful with it's unusual coloring and I was quite happy to not only see it but be able to get a few photos as well.