White Goldfinch (1 Viewer)

[ribeattie]

I have a white goldfinch visiting my Central Scotland garden and thought others might like to see it.
The RSPB advise me that this is probably due to something called leucism. This is similar to albinism but rather than being completely white the bird has irregular and often symetrical patches caused by defective cells which would normally produce pigment. Apparantly this type of bird in goldfinches is a rare sighting as there haven't been any sightings reported.

 

[delia todd]

Hi ribeattie and welcome on behalf of the Staff and Moderators

What an unusual site... we see plenty of Blackbirds and Crows with leucism on here but that's the first Goldfinch!

Keep an eye on the Scottish Bash Discussion thread We usually have a few each year and they are all great fun. You'd be most welcome to join us if you can manage. The next one is one is at the end of May in East Lothian.

D

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi ribeattie! Welcome aboard :t:

That's the first I've seen here of your Goldfinch with leucism.

 

[The Raptor]

Thanks ribeattie for attaching this photo, I think you have unique looking Goldfinch there. ROD.

 

[Mark Bruce]

Hi, a warm welcome and good to have you with us :t:!

 

[John N]

Hi, welcome to BirdForum.Enjoy yourself here.

 

[Calomax]

I realise this is an old thread but we have a bird like this visiting our feeders with a flock of goldfinches and I thought it was probably an albino. I’ve tried to get a photo but it’s too fast. It’s white with tail and wing markings like a goldfinch but I’m not sure about its head.

 

[Hollyblue]

I realise this is an old thread but we have a bird like this visiting our feeders with a flock of goldfinches and I thought it was probably an albino. I’ve tried to get a photo but it’s too fast. It’s white with tail and wing markings like a goldfinch but I’m not sure about its head.

Where in the country are you? I have spotted one visiting my seed feeder in the last few days Derbyshire/Leicestershire border.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Hollyblue and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[Calomax]

Where in the country are you? I have spotted one visiting my seed feeder in the last few days Derbyshire/Leicestershire border.

I’m in Guernsey and the same bird came again. I had a better sight of it, it was with a small flock of gold finches and had similar markings on the wings and tail so I’m fairly sure that it is an albino gold finch.

 

[dantheman]

I’m in Guernsey and the same bird came again. I had a better sight of it, it was with a small flock of gold finches and had similar markings on the wings and tail so I’m fairly sure that it is an albino gold finch.

Strictly speaking it would be a leucistic goldfinch, not albino (albino is a lack of all pigment) eg google search leucistic goldfinch (note some may be other species such as American Goldfinch etc). And yes, welcome to BF ;-)

leucistic goldfinch - Google Search

 

[Chris G6 UXU]

Hello and welcome to the forum, enjoy and all the best.

 

[Jim Clarke]

Hi, have a white Goldfinch visiting our garden (in Pembrokeshire).

 

[Andy Lakin]

I can't quite see properly on my phone but the head area especially looks albino pink eye/ bill but obviously it can't be due to the odd patches of colour. Very strange!

Also there are lots of variations where people have cross bred/ selectively bred them as cage birds producing a wide spectrum of results.