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becausefrog t1_jeanvr5 wrote

Sometimes birds are leucistic, making them partially or all white. It can happen to any animal. It's not albinism unless the eyes are also pale pink or red.

If we saw the shape of it we'd be better able to tell you what type of bird it is. This is what a fully white leucistic robin looks like.

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ScarletOK t1_jeaxu00 wrote

Boy, the things you learn on Reddit. Before I saw that, it would have scared me if I saw it in the wild.

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becausefrog t1_jeazg2s wrote

There's also melanism, which makes animals black.

There is a pair of melanistic squirrels that lives at MIT. I've seen them along Mass Ave in front of Buildings 1 and 5.

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ScarletOK t1_jebbpb9 wrote

I've seen both black and white squirrels but I've never seen a bird like this! So interesting

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New-Vegetable-1274 t1_jed0p26 wrote

Black squirrels are commonplace in Western MA and red ones in Northeast CT.

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becausefrog t1_jed2wlo wrote

Red squirrels are a different species than grey squirrels, but black squirrels are a gene mutation which can occur in either species. It's really fascinating. Melanism doesn't occur in humans but can be found in mammals, birds, and even lizards.

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creatron t1_jeb1e96 wrote

This would be my vote. And for some reason American Robins are more prone to leucism than others bird species.

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zzztak OP t1_jef6gkb wrote

Wow, I think you nailed it. The picture in the link looks very much like what I observed. Nature is full of surprises. Thanks!

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zzztak OP t1_jef6led wrote

And now I'm wondering how rare leucistic robins are........???

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