How rare are leucistic and albino birds?

Seeing a bird with abnormal white feathers or white plumage prompts questions about how rare or common such sighting may be. We will consider two survey results and review leucism and albinism to determine how rare these two abnormal plumages occur in wild birds

In a nutshell:

Birds with abnormal plumages are very rare, and both leucism and albinism are easily recognized and more commonly reported than other abnormal plumages. According to survey data, leucism and albinism occur at a rough estimate of 1 in 30,000 birds. Leucism is more common than albinism. Survey data suggest that of 100 birds that show abnormal plumages, 82 are leucistic, and only three are albinistic. The rarity of albino birds in nature is attributed to detrimental physiological factors. 

Without a reference to the ratio of abnormal versus normal plumaged birds, it is difficult to determine the rarity of leucistic and albino birds. 

There are many more leucistic birds than albino ones.

Fortunately, two separate surveys help answer the questions:

  1. How rare are leucistic and albinistic birds (abnormal plumages)? and
  2. Is leucism more common than albinism?

How rare are leucistic and albinistic birds? 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Feederwatch Program receives approximately 5.5 million reports of birds visiting the bird feeders of program participants each year.

Program participants reported 1,650 birds with unusual plumages visiting their feeders between 2000 and 2007, resulting in about 236 unusual-plumaged birds per year. Birds with unusual plumage generally refer to individuals with leucism or albinism. Other abnormalities are not excluded but are expected to be even rarer.

Only 236 of the 5.5 million birds reported each year had leucism or albinism, making up a tiny proportion of birds with abnormal plumages. In other words, only about 1 bird in 30,000 has leucistic or albinistic plumage.  

Based on these results, leucism and albinism are very rare occurrences among birds.

How common is leucism in birds compared to albinism?

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) surveyed the frequency of abnormal bird plumages. A simple questionnaire posted online allowed the public to report birds with unusual plumages.

The request: 

 “If you have seen a bird with unusual plumage in your garden, please complete our simple online questionnaire.”

Results of the BTO survey

In total, 3000 records of abnormal bird plumages were submitted, covering 58 species. Birds as small as wrens (0.3 to 0.4 ounces) and as large as common buzzards (1 to 3 pounds) were reported.

Total Records SubmittedReported as leucisticReported as albinisticReported as melanisticReported as other abnormal plumage
3,000 (100%)82%3%4%11%

This survey indicates that leucistic birds are much more common than albino birds, at a ratio of 82% to 3% of the 3,000 records submitted. 

Thus, of 100 birds with abnormal plumages, 82 are expected to be leucistic, and only three are expected to be albinistic.

Across species, leucism and albinism occur at varying rates

In the survey, Blackbirds (Turdus merula) exhibited abnormal plumages more frequently than all the 58 species covered in the survey. The following species with a high frequency of abnormal plumages include the house sparrows (Passer domesticus), jackdaws (Corvus monedula), and carrion crows (Corvus corone).

These results provide evidence that abnormal plumages are more prevalent in some species than others.

The fact that blackbirds, house sparrows, jackdaws, and carrion crows are the most common species in the regions where the survey took place may suggest skewed numbers towards those species. However, survey managers normalized the data by dividing the frequency of each species reported weekly in the area. 

This data normalization makes the frequency of abnormal plumages across species comparable. 

There is also some confusion because species that exhibit a high frequency of albinism or leucism have dark plumages compared to species with naturally pale or white feathers. Although this is a valid concern, the ratio of leucistic to albinistic plumages still holds, at least, among the birds with dark plumages. 

Birds with natural gray, pale, or white feathers might have been undercounted as leucistic birds with only a few white feathers are more difficult to separate as abnormal in the overall pale plumage of those species.

Why is leucism more common than albinism?

Leucism, the absence of feather color, is caused by multiple mechanisms, including nutritional deficiencies, hereditary mutations, and progressive graying of the feathers. 

  • Nutritional deficiencies: Poor nutrition can affect cells that produce carotenoid and melanin pigments. When regular production of color is disrupted, colorless, white, or gray feathers are produced. 
  • Genetic mutations: A genetic mutation can also cause leucism, which can be passed onto offspring. “Leucistic genes” are always recessive and normal-plumaged adults can carry leucistic genes without showing signs of leucism. When adult birds with recessive leucistic genes mate, the resulting offspring are likely to exhibit leucistic plumages. Leucistic genes can skip generations without being expressed in offspring. 
  • Environmental Factors: Genetic mutations that result in leucism can also be caused by extrinsic environmental factors. Studies have shown that there are more leucistic birds in areas with high levels of mutagens (contaminants). 

Bird leucism and habitat use, age, and sex 

A study on leucism in birds found that habitat type used by birds, age, and sex are associated with the frequency of leucistic plumages in birds. 

As mentioned above, researchers found that there are more leucistic birds in cities than in non-urban areas suggesting that mutagens and contaminants in the city may contribute to a greater frequency of leucistic birds.

When it comes to the age of birds, there was a positive association between the presence of white feathers and the age of the birds. Older birds were more likely to have white, grayed, or diluted feathers than younger birds.

The study also found that male birds exhibited leucism more often than females. However, this association was relatively weak. 

albinism in birds
A true albino, like this rufous-collared sparrow, can be diagnosed with certainty by the pink color of its eyes.

Why albino birds are very rare in nature

Genetic mutations cause albinism, which is caused by the lack of tyrosinase in pigment cells. Albino birds do not produce carotenoid or melanin pigments, so “all” feathers are pure white. 

The bare parts of an albinistic bird, such as its beak and legs, are colorless. The beak and legs may show shades of yellowish, pink, or flesh color depending on these parts’ natural color.

The color of the eye (iris) may be the most distinctive and diagnostic characteristic that distinguishes an albino from a leucistic bird. Albino birds have colorless eyes that look pink or reddish due to the blood vessels inside the eye.

True albino birds have short lives.

Most albino birds do not live long enough to reach sexual maturity and reproduce. The majority of albino birds are thought to die soon after they fledge. 

Those that reach adult age live under such stress that they are energetically unable to find a mate and initiate a breeding attempt.

Albino birds live a short life due to physiological reasons 

Generally, albino animals can have poor vision since their eyes or iris (the colored section of the eye) lack pigment. The albinos’ retina (the thin layer of light-sensitive nerves at the back of the eye) also has an unusual development called foveal hypoplasia, in which the optic nerve is ‘misrouted’ between the eye and the brain. 

Animals with albinism can also suffer from more common vision problems, such as strabismus (misaligned eyes), nystagmus (uncontrolled eye movements), and refractive errors (farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism).

These conditions are common to most albino animals and are expected to affect albino birds similarly.

Albinism can affect birds ability to fly.

In albino birds, the reduction of pigment causes their feathers to weaken and wear more readily. Flight feathers that are worn down or broken can affect a bird’s flight. 

Birds need to fly to find food and escape predators. 

Birds of unusual colors tend to be viewed as easy prey by predators, such as hawks, that target them more often than birds of normal colors.

Albino birds are rare partly because of physiological and behavioral barriers associated with albinism, meaning that they die young. Therefore the rate at which they occur and are observed in nature is very low.

Conclusions:

Based on the information gathered and survey data, abnormal plumages in birds are very rare. Both leucism and albinism are characterized by the presence of white and discolored feathers. While leucistic birds can function nearly normally, albinistic birds face several physiologic barriers leading to very short lives or lives under strenuous conditions. Physiological differences between leucistic and albinistic birds help explain why leucistic birds are more common than albinistic ones.

References:

  • Factors associated with leucism in the common blackbird Turdus merula. Lucía Izquierdo,Robert L. Thomson,José I. Aguirre,Alazne Díez-Fernández,Bruno Faivre,Jordi Figuerola,Juan Diego Ibáñez-Álamo. Journal of Avian Biology – 02 July 2018.
  • British Trust for Ornithology – Garden Birdwatch.
  • The Cornell Lab Ornithology – Project Feederwatch.

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33 thoughts on “How rare are leucistic and albino birds?”

  1. Carol Carley

    Hello, I am a recent birder. I am doing the Cornell Lab bird count this year. It began on November 13th. Since that time I have had 4, possibly 5, leucitic juncos in my yard. Again, I am new to birding so don’t know a lot but this seems unusual. Any help you can give on this would be appreciated. I do have photos of these birds. Thank you so much.

    1. Hello Carol,

      Four to five leucistic birds in one yard would be unusual….in such a short period of time; it is certainly odd. I can’t think of anything that could result in a high number of birds with abnormal plumages.

      The literature indicates that some contaminants may lead to plumage aberrations. Do you happen to live in a large city?

      Al

  2. Rose LANDRICH

    I have seen what I think is an albino titmouse 3/4/2022. It has all white feathers. Not sure about eyes or legs or beak. I got 2 pictures and will have to check them when developed.
    I live in western NY. It came in with purple finches which is very early for them in this area. We seem to be getting summer birds already but no robins yet.

  3. Hi Rose,

    I am not sure I’ve ever seen a leucistic or albino Tufted Titmouse. It’d be nice to see your pictures.

    Regarding the Purple Finches in your area, perhaps it was a mild winter in your region??

    Regards,

    Alfredo

  4. Hello, I have a Leucistic song sparrow and a chickadee. I live in rural Vermont and it seems peculiar to have two of different types of birds! It makes me a bit nervous that there is some environmental pollutant here. I had never heard of this trait before now.

    1. Hi Jules,

      It is indeed uncommon to have two leucistic birds visiting your feeders, but not unexpected. I would not worry about the cause of leucism in those birds. One is an insectivore and the other a granivore, very different food types that make it unlikely that they are being affected by something in common; it is just a natural occurrence.

      The fact that two leucistic birds were in one feeder would be a stroke of luck!

      Cheers,
      Al

  5. David Kennedy

    Hello,

    Over the past 2 days, I have had a leucistic, presumably, bird on the peanut feeders in my garden a few miles west of Aberdeen. The coloured feathers would suggesta a siskin, but think it is more chaffinch or greenfinch in size. I have taken several photos which I’m happy to send on. I’d be grateful for any comments and idetification.

    Regards

  6. Holly G Terry

    We had what I think is a leucistic junco in our backyard. It was on our picnic table and then skirted off in the bushes. It was mostly white with black tips on its wings. At first we thought it was a dove, but it didn’t have a long tail.

  7. Central Michigan: this morning at my feeder there was a pure white bird about the size of a chickadee. Thought I was seeing things but there it was. It was beautiful. No chance for a picture.

  8. We had a leucistic robin in April (2023), did not see any offspring with it, yet.
    In June (2023) we have a leucistic house sparrow, neither parents showed any leucism, nor did any of its siblings. We are in Newmarket, ONT CAN

    1. Hi Pat,
      Yes, leucism is a genetic mutation that happens in an individual without necessarily being inherited. I am not sure if leucistic individuals are likely to produce leucistic offspring.

      Regads from Florida!
      Al

  9. Yes I think we have a leucistic sparrow in our back yard for a couple of months now, New Zealand Southland

  10. We encountered a tagged, pure white bird while taking our daily walk over Nauset Marsh in the Cape Cod National Seashore. It walked up to us on the boardwalk: Blue tag on right leg, very friendly, able to fly, blackbird size with yellow beak. The bird looks like an albino since the plumage is so startling white. We were able to get a picture but do not see a way to post it to you.

  11. Tina Freeman

    I have an all white female house finch nesting in my yard (Jasper County, IN). It’s eyes are the normal color but it’s beak is white. Would that make it leucistic or albino?

    1. Hello Tina,

      It would be a leucistic. Al albino house finch would have pink eyes. Also, albino birds (and most animals) have so many health issues that barely survive. They do not have the energy to form a pair and start breeding.

      Regards,
      Al

  12. Edward Woodal

    A few days ago i spotted what appears to be a white starling in my back yard picking probably insects in the grass. So i grabbed my cell phone and took some pictures of it then remembered to take a video if it hoping around the grass. saw it 2 days now. was something i never saw before. pretty cool though. never seen a white bird. still have the pictures and video on my phone.

    1. Hello Edward,

      An albino/leucistic starling is unusual. I don’t recall seen picture of one. I’d like to see the pictures if you don’t mind sharing them.
      I’ll email you at the address used on this post.

      Thank you.
      Al.

  13. We have a leucistic robin in our yard. We’ve seen it multiple times of late so she must be nesting close by. Just her head is white. I took 2 pictures, not very close. This is in Brookfield, WI.

    1. Alfredo Begazo

      Hello Tom,

      Leucistic birds usually do well and should not have problems breeding.

      Al.

  14. Last week in Key Largo I heard a huge group of birds squawking above me…as I looked up to see what the chatter was about, I was mesmerized by about 50 totally white (albino?) birds circling above me…no color on legs or face…just beautiful feathery wings…I was in such awe that I didn’t grab my phone…and as I watched them, they seemed to just fly upward and were gone….a good friend had just died a few days earlier, and I was keeping a watch out for a cardinal to visit; but maybe this was his way of saying hello….the birds weren’t flying fast, just gently swirling and so beautiful….

  15. Daniel Ward

    I just received 2 parakeets and one is albino. It is approximately 1 yr old. I read they are short lived. If well cared for how long do you believe it may live. The previous owner had Alzheimer’s and the family had to part with Angel.

    1. Hello Daniel,

      Not all white parakeets are albino. Many white parakeets (or other white cage birds) are the result of dominant or recessive white plumage varieties, which limit melanin to the eyes. These white parakeets have a normal live just like their colorful counterparts.

      Al.

  16. A partially leucistic (piebald) female House Finch appeared at my feeder yesterday (South-west Quebec). I recorded it up-close with my trail camera and posted the video on YouTube and various Facebook birding groups. Can’t see any option to upload an image or insert a web link here but a YouTube search for ‘Partially Leucistic (Piebald) Female House Finch’ will find it on my channel (NowThen Media)

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