Leucism and Leucistic Birds & Animals & other Colour Variations
01/04/2008 16:52:40Leucism (or Leukism) Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures.
Albinism is a different condition. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that in albinism the eyes are usually pink or red, and albinism affects the entire animal, not just patches.
This occasionaly causes very excited biologists to think they have discovered a new species, when in fact leucism is the cause of the unusual markings they have seen.
Xanthochroism Birds can show this condition in one of two ways: either there is an excess of yellow in the plumage or the yellow replaces another colour (in this instance the red). The condition has been reported in a number of species, including other species of woodpecker (in North America), and in many instances the colour replaced is red. White giraffe seen in Botswana.
Send us your photos of any leucistic, albino, melanistic, xanthocristic or erythrisctic animals or birds and we will add them to gallery.
White killer whale observed off Russia - Images and video
In the North Pacific, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Commander Islands, the first-ever adult all-white, probably albino, orca bull has been observed.
Wildlife Extra is not sure if this bird is an albino, or leucistic (or even a crow?). Albino creatures would normally have pink (or red) eyes, but this bird doesn't.
There are many absolutely fantastic photographs of leaping dolphins, hunting lions and flocks of flamingos, but this section is dedicated to those photographs that show something just a little bit different. See more unusual wildlife sightings
Melanistic animals
This melanistic, black adder was seen in north-east Kent.
About 70 percent of the world's population of Laysan Albatrosses nests on Midway. The IUCN-World Conservation Union lists the species as globally vulnerable to extinction. Leucistic Laysan albatross - Photo and video
Another reader, Steve Tolan, of the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre has also seen some leucistic baboons inthe Luangwa Valley. There does seem to be a "leucistic hotspot" in the Luangwa, as we have had several reports of different animals from the beautiful part of the world.
Despite the recent claim by the BBC that a white elephant seal seen in 2008 on Marion Island was the first confirmed sighting of a leucistic elephant seal, one of our readers, Nancy Spruance, has sent us a photo of a leucistic Elephant seal that she saw on Prion Island, off the northeast coast of South Georgia, way back in November 2003.
Volunteer rescuers had a surprise when they went to rescue a deer that was caught in a rope swing in some Sussex woods. To their amazement the deer, a male fallow deer, was completely white and is thought to be a very rare albino.
This leucistic robin was seen for the first time a few days before Christmas. The almost all-white bird has a patch of red and some brown too but is mostly snowy white.
Photographed in early 2008, this leucistic Red deer was seen in the west of Scotland. We have also heard reports of a leucistic deer in the East Midlands.
Interestingly in 2006 we were sent photos of an Erythristic badger. Erythrism is apparently a genetic defect that causes plumage/fur to become much more ginger/red than is usual.
I am a part-owner of a private nature reserve near Hoedspruit in South Africa. The reserve contains the Big 5 and for the first time in nearly 20 years our buffalo herd has produced not one but two whie buffalo calves. They are not albinos but leucistic calves.
This is close to the loation of the White lions of Timbavati and no, not the work of a wandering white lion!!
Happy to load photographs but how. I don't see a facility on this link.
Regards
Jim (vgfthoms@global.co.za)
Posted by: Jim Thomson | 06 May 2011 16:01:40
Enter photos
how can i enter a photo of a leucistic warbler i took this weekend?
Posted by: loweryjes | 03 May 2011 22:27:01
Beauty in Nature
It's great to see a site that is promoting the natural beauty of these unique and mesmerizing animals. Too often I read about these creatures in a negative context,(i.e. the ultimate prize for a lifelong hunter), and it lightens my soul knowing others admire them for their place in our natural world. While all the pictures are great, the otter is definitely my favorite!
-Lance
www.birdtricks.com
Posted by: Lance Grimes | 07 Mar 2011 17:05:40
Leucisitic Dunnock
I have captured a Leucistic Dunnock
How do I upload it for you and others to see?please
I have seen a black & white Blackbird here in Hampshire 3 or 4 times this year. Every time I was waiting at traffic lights so no pics possible; first time I assumed it was a small Magpie from the brief glimpse. The second time it landed in that typical way of a Blackbird with the tail going up nearly vertical before going to the normal position. Course now Blackbirds are noticeable by their absence!
Posted by: Vic | 27 Oct 2010 22:44:59
Leucistic bat in Berkshire
We have a white bat visiting us in Berkshire.
We first spotted it last year and again this year its back.
Photos on my flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/the_black_rabbit/
We have a resident leucistic woodpecker that comes every day to our feeded in Hampden Massachusetts, I took some photos and would like to post one of them...
Posted by: Pierre Bessette | 19 Jun 2010 23:59:46
Leucistic oystercatcher
I've just photographed a leucistic oystercatcher in Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand. How do I post the photograph?
Posted by: Andrew Bogle | 13 Mar 2010 21:55:48
Enter photos
How do I give you a photo of a leucistic sparrow that I took in my yard?
Albinism is a different condition. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that in albinism the eyes are usually pink or red, and albinism affects the entire animal, not just patches. 
White Humpback whale calf, just a few weeks old,
In the North Pacific, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula near the Commander Islands, the first-ever adult all-white, probably albino, orca bull has been observed.
It is thought that there is a family of albino squirrels in Guisborough Forest in Yorkshire
There are many absolutely fantastic photographs of leaping dolphins, hunting lions and flocks of flamingos, but this section is dedicated to those photographs that show something just a little bit different.
This melanistic, black adder was seen in north-east Kent.
This lovely image was taken in Cheshire, UK, by Sheila Blamire. The woodpecker has unusual colouring and is probably displaying Xanthochroism
Very unusual white orca photographed off Alaska.
Not seen for 2 years, Migaloo - bigger than a truck and iridescent white - made his annual migration north past Cairns unnoticed. 
A very unusual albintter has been seen, and photographed, in the north of Scotland. 
This unusual white Red kite is sometimes seen at the Gigrin Farm Red kite feeding station. 
The Hairy woodpecker is widespread and common in North America.
The island of Alderney has an exceptionally high incidence of leucistic hedgehogs, with some 25% of the population being white!
This white fallow buck was seen repeatedly in the Forest of Dean until recently, but hasn't been seen for a while (Moved on or shot perhaps?).
This turkey was seen in Texas. Is it a leucistic Rio-Grande turkey, or an escaped domestic White Holland?
This Bald eagle with unusual colouring was seen and photographed in southern Oregon. 
Leucistic white tailed deer, seen in Maryland, USA.
More leucistic opossum from the USA.
An albino fallow deer has been photographed in Lincolnshire. 
This Chamois, with unusual colouring, has been seen in Northern Spain.
Another reader, Steve Tolan, of the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre has also seen some leucistic baboons inthe Luangwa Valley. There does seem to be a "leucistic hotspot" in the Luangwa, as we have had several reports of different animals from the beautiful part of the world.
Despite the recent claim by the BBC that a 
Volunteer rescuers had a surprise when they went to rescue a deer that was caught in a rope swing in some Sussex woods. To their amazement the deer, a male fallow deer, was completely white and is thought to be a very rare albino. 
July 2008. Egil Droge has sent us some images of a lion cub with very unusual colouring in the South Luangwa.
This leucistic robin was seen for the first time a few days before Christmas. The almost all-white bird has a patch of red and some brown too but is mostly snowy white.
This photo was sent in by one of our readers; the zebra was seen in Tanzania.
One of our readers works in the Luangwa valley, and he has sent us images of a baboon, an impala and a starling with unusual colouration.
The following images were all taken by wildlife photographer Paul Higgins.
The same pond that provided a leucistic moorhen in 2007 has now provided 2 leucistic chicks in 2008, presumably from the same parents.
White 'leucistic' impala seen in South Africa.
Very unusual batches of albino tadpoles found in welsh pond
A ghostly, mutant ratfish caught off Washington state.
This white baboon, probably a leucistic animal, is currently living in South Africa. 
Photographed in early 2008, this leucistic Red deer was seen in the west of Scotland. We have also heard reports of a leucistic deer in the East Midlands. 
April 2008. We recived two reports with photos of leucistc jackdaws in different parts of the UK. 
In 2007 we received reports and photos of no less than four leucistic moorhens in the UK. 
A new one on me, but this diagnosis was sent to us by the BTO. This woodpecker was seen on birdfeeders in Yorkshire in 2007. 
This fallow deer was seen in Scotland by reader Mark Roach.
This extremely rare and beautiful ‘pink dolphin' was first spotted in Louisiana.
This unusual bird has been seen at the RSPB's Leighton Moss reserve.
This unusual bird has been seen at WWT Slimbridge.
Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment
I took this photo of a leucistic Carrion Crow last year in Meadowhall, near Sheffield when on holiday.
www.flickr.com/photos/carol-monger/5963518785/
Posted by: Carol Monger | 20 Jan 2012 14:42:48
Posted by: John Cavassa | 06 Nov 2011 14:15:52
Can any one let me know how to uplod a photo?
Regards
sue
Posted by: Sue North | 05 Aug 2011 10:11:35
I am a part-owner of a private nature reserve near Hoedspruit in South Africa. The reserve contains the Big 5 and for the first time in nearly 20 years our buffalo herd has produced not one but two whie buffalo calves. They are not albinos but leucistic calves.
This is close to the loation of the White lions of Timbavati and no, not the work of a wandering white lion!!
Happy to load photographs but how. I don't see a facility on this link.
Regards
Jim (vgfthoms@global.co.za)
Posted by: Jim Thomson | 06 May 2011 16:01:40
how can i enter a photo of a leucistic warbler i took this weekend?
Posted by: loweryjes | 03 May 2011 22:27:01
It's great to see a site that is promoting the natural beauty of these unique and mesmerizing animals. Too often I read about these creatures in a negative context,(i.e. the ultimate prize for a lifelong hunter), and it lightens my soul knowing others admire them for their place in our natural world. While all the pictures are great, the otter is definitely my favorite!
-Lance
www.birdtricks.com
Posted by: Lance Grimes | 07 Mar 2011 17:05:40
I have captured a Leucistic Dunnock
How do I upload it for you and others to see?please
Posted by: Beryl | 27 Nov 2010 20:36:37
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30394904@N08/5159151751/
Posted by: chuckhastings | 09 Nov 2010 01:20:02
<a href= 30394904@N08/5159151751/"'>www.flickr.com/photos/30394904@N08/5159151751/" title="Unknown Duck by charlie.hastings, on Flickr"><img src= farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/5159151751_ded7a3a38b.jpg" width="469" height="500" alt="Unknown Duck" /></a>
Posted by: chuckhastings | 09 Nov 2010 01:17:43
How do I post an image of this bird?
Posted by: chuckhastings | 09 Nov 2010 01:16:14
I have seen a black & white Blackbird here in Hampshire 3 or 4 times this year. Every time I was waiting at traffic lights so no pics possible; first time I assumed it was a small Magpie from the brief glimpse. The second time it landed in that typical way of a Blackbird with the tail going up nearly vertical before going to the normal position. Course now Blackbirds are noticeable by their absence!
Posted by: Vic | 27 Oct 2010 22:44:59
We have a white bat visiting us in Berkshire.
We first spotted it last year and again this year its back.
Photos on my flickr site:
www.flickr.com/photos/the_black_rabbit/
I hope the URL link below also works.
TBR
www.flickr.com/photos/the_black_rabbit/4956218670/'>[img farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/4956218670_b4666371ed.jpg[/img][/url]
[url www.flickr.com/photos/the_black_rabbit/4956218670/]WHITE BAT[/url] by [url www.flickr.com/people/the_black_rabbit/]THE BLACK RABBIT[/url], on Flickr
Posted by: TBR | 11 Sep 2010 08:39:01
We have a resident leucistic woodpecker that comes every day to our feeded in Hampden Massachusetts, I took some photos and would like to post one of them...
Posted by: Pierre Bessette | 19 Jun 2010 23:59:46
I've just photographed a leucistic oystercatcher in Point Chevalier, Auckland, New Zealand. How do I post the photograph?
Posted by: Andrew Bogle | 13 Mar 2010 21:55:48
How do I give you a photo of a leucistic sparrow that I took in my yard?
Fay Goldie
Posted by: Fay Goldie | 25 Jan 2010 01:11:16