White blackbird spotted in Dublin garden (RTE News Item)

February 2012

A rare, all-white blackbird has been a regular visitor to a Dublin garden for the past few months.

This white blackbird has been a regular visitor to a Dublin garden (All pics: Robin Cannon)

A rare, all-white blackbird has been spotted in a Dublin garden. Robin Cannon from Ballinteer, who photographed the bird on Tuesday last, said the bird had been a regular visitor to his back garden
Mr Cannon said he appeared "most mornings for the past three or four months". BirdWatch Ireland, which has seen the photographs, described the bird as "very unusual".
It says the blackbird could be either an albino or leucistic, which is a genetic mutation that prevents pigments from being deposited normally in its feathers.

Leucistic birds can appear all white but retain normal coloured eyes, unlike true albinos whose eyes are pink. Blackbirds are one of Ireland's most widespread garden birds.
The male's all black plumage and bright yellow bill is unmistakable, however females are much browner. Completely white individuals seldom survive, as they are more conspicuous to predators.

© 2012 RTE News