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Got a call from a friend yesterday, just as I was leaving my mom's house, about an interesting find over in my neck of the woods. Drove to the spot she'd told me about (a private residence, so I also had to knock on a complete stranger's door and ask for permission to lurk in their yard--not my strong suit!)--and was rewarded with my first-ever sighting of a leucistic bird! And not just ANY bird, but a leucistic hummingbird!
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Sept1_7189editweb by sm4him, on Flickr
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Sept1_7139editweb by sm4him, on Flickr
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Sept1_7224editweb by sm4him, on Flickr
For those unfamiliar with what leucistic means, it's a form of reduced pigmentation, like albinism. But in albinos, it is the absence of melanin that gives them their white color and red/pink eyes. Leucism is a reduction of ALL types of skin pigment, not just melanin. However, leucistic animals usually have normally-colored eyes.
There are also different levels, or categories of leucism, I think, so sometimes a bird or other animal may have some color and some white patches where there is no/reduced pigment, leaving them very splotchy.
As always, general comments, witty banter are encouraged and sometimes even appreciated.
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Sept1_7189editweb by sm4him, on Flickr2.
Sept1_7139editweb by sm4him, on Flickr3.
Sept1_7224editweb by sm4him, on FlickrFor those unfamiliar with what leucistic means, it's a form of reduced pigmentation, like albinism. But in albinos, it is the absence of melanin that gives them their white color and red/pink eyes. Leucism is a reduction of ALL types of skin pigment, not just melanin. However, leucistic animals usually have normally-colored eyes.
There are also different levels, or categories of leucism, I think, so sometimes a bird or other animal may have some color and some white patches where there is no/reduced pigment, leaving them very splotchy.
As always, general comments, witty banter are encouraged and sometimes even appreciated.
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