19 replies to this topic

[Tim7489]

THis bird has been visiting my feeders for the past few months, I live in Middle tennessee.

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[TheBillyPilgrim]

Looks like a partially Leucistic Northern Cardinal. Interesting bird!

And welcome to WhatBird!

[Melissa :)]

Female Northern Cardinal there.

[BarnSwallow]

I agree! Pretty neat looking! Meant I agree with partially leucistic cardinal - female was my thought.

[Liam]

How is something partially leucistic? Isn't it either leucistic or not?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

My understanding is that both full and partial leucism are caused by the same mutation but there can be variation in expression, ranging from small areas lacking pigment to the entire body. Partial leucism usually refers to a phenotype where some normal color is still expressed.

[Melissa :)]

My understanding is that both full and partial leucism are caused by the same mutation but there can be variation in expression, ranging from small areas lacking pigment to the entire body. Partial leucism usually refers to a phenotype where some normal color is still expressed.

I have a Mourning Dove that visits my yard and he has one white wing. The rest of him is regular colors, including the opposite wing.

[Liam]

So a full leucistic bird would be an albino? I thought an albinistic bird was one completely lacking pigment, and leucistic bird was one lacking pigment in only some feathers.

[dakid2169]

Copied from Wikipedia: Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals. Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just melanin. A further difference between albinism and leucism is in eye colour. Due to the lack of melanin production in both the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and iris, albinos typically have red eyes due to the underlying blood vessels showing through. In contrast, most leucistic animals have normally coloured eyes.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Leucisism and Albinism are separate conditions caused by two different defects. I think you can technically have a leucistic bird missing pigment in all feathers, but it isn't that common (Totally white leucistic reptiles do occur though). I don't believe you can have partial albinism.

[Liam]

So is there a difference between fully or partially leucistic?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Yes, it is possible for some animals to be "fully" leucistic, that is the whole body (except the eyes) lacking all pigment. It's really just a gradient of expression of the same condition.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

This guy could be considered fully leucistic:

http://www.google.co...29,r:0,s:0,i:70

[Melissa :)]

Woah thats cool.

[Liam]

Would this be a fully leucistic bird, or an albinistic?

[TheBillyPilgrim]

It looks to be leucistic. I think an albino would have a lighter, more pink eye.

[JimBob]

It looks to be leucistic. I think an albino would have a lighter, more pink eye.

Agree.

[grammarcat]

I do believe it IS possible to be partially albino, but distinguishing by eye whether something is partially leucistic or partially albino is pretty much impossible.

[Liam]

Okay. To me the eye looks pink, but some noncolorblind people said it's yellow.

[JimBob]

It looks gray to me. . .