Leucism

I had been trying to get a photo of this leucistic Junco (snowbird) all winter.  Every time I’d get the camera, he’d take off.  This is the best I could do a few weeks ago, shooting quickly through double glass.  I had never seen one like him before and, at first, I thought he was a different species of bird.  Then I did a little research on the web and learned about leucism, a genetic condition that affects proper pigmentation, causing varying degrees of white feathers to occur.

I haven’t seen him in a while so I presume he has headed north to breed.  I keep thinking he’ll soon be in someone else’s backyard perplexing them as to his identification…