Different Chickadee

[Robert D. Gregg]

A chickadee that had a lot of white on it landed in the feeder today.

The capture is poor at best, but at least I was able to get off a few clicks before my feathered friend moved on.

Is this perhaps a different specie or perhaps a hybrid or mutant?

We had a strange junco that had white speckling on it a few weeks ago. I will post later.

Thanks,

BigBob..

[Matthew Pontiff]

You have a leucistic Chickadee. Since I don't know how to properly explain it, wikipedia will: "Leucism is a general term for the phenotype resulting from defects in pigment cell differentiation and/or migration from the neural crest to skin, hair or feathers during development" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucistic

You won't see any two leucistic birds that look alike. Congratulations on the neat capture!

Matt

[Robert D. Gregg]

Thanks a million!

BigBob...