ScarletOK t1_jeaxu00 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:13 PM

Reply to comment by becausefrog in Can anybody identify this pure white bird I saw in Watertown? by zzztak

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

becausefrog t1_jeazg2s wrote on March 30, 2023 at 6:23 PM

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.

ScarletOK t1_jebbpb9 wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:42 PM

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

Adventurous_Hour5475 t1_jeb5cjw wrote on March 30, 2023 at 7:01 PM

There is an albino squirrel at Charles River park. What if they mate? I wonder

New-Vegetable-1274 t1_jed0p26 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:54 AM

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

becausefrog t1_jed2wlo wrote on March 31, 2023 at 3:13 AM

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.