Partial Albino Grackle

posted in: Birds, Lens Friends | 15

We had a rare visitor to the flat feeder August 10, 2018 –  a partial albino grackle or a leucistic grackle.  

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a partial albino grackle

The head of a grackle is usually all bluish, but this one has white features throughout.

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a partial albino grackle

The eye has the same yellowish circle with the black pupil.

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a partial albino grackle

You can see similar features to the common grackle – the longish tail, sturdy beak, and long legs.

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a partial albino grackle

Here are a few more shots as it moved to different locations on the flat feeder.  You can see the bluish/blackish tint on some of its feathers.

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a partial albino grackle

My husband snapped these photos through the window.  We are hoping to see it again at the feeders.

Here is a grackle photo taken a year or so ago for comparison.

grey-side.flywheelsites.com - a grackle visiting the garden

more birds in the garden

Unusual bird visitors:

15 Responses

  1. Gill

    that is so neat. In a human that would be an old bird with grey hair!!!

  2. Myrtle

    Nice photos of the the two different grakles, both equally pretty.

  3. Country Gal

    Nice photos guys . I remember you posted these photos on our FB photography group and wasn’t to sure what type of bird it was I had found it and replied with it was a Albino Grackle which I have never seen before either how cool is that and rare apparently . Hope your knee is healing well and you are enjoying the rest of summer with some well deserved outside time . We are in for lots of rain tomorrow thank goodness as we need it badly . Thanks for sharing , have a good rest of the week .

    • Linda aka Crafty Gardener

      I had a few options in mind, thanks for your help in narrowing it down to a grackle. I had also posted it on Instagram and got the same reply. Haven’t seen it at the feeders since that day.

  4. Lorrie Orr

    What an interesting bird to come to your feeder, and how great that you got photos. I’ve never heard of an Albino Grackle. No rain here and we need it so much. Smoke fills the air. Hope your knee is healing well.

  5. Margy

    What a rare sighting. Kind of makes him look like an old man. – Margy

  6. Eileen Wise

    Hello, love this speckled face grackle. What a neat sighting. I do not think I have ever seen a leucistic bird, they are interesting. I hope your knee is healing, take care. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thanks also for the comment on my blog.

  7. Lavender Dreamer

    How amazing! You learn something every day! What a mystery that would have been to see! I know you’re happy for the ID! Hugs!

  8. Betty Crow

    Impressive shots! I have never heard of leucistic until today and there are two posts about it.

  9. Jean Hamm

    I am seeing a leucistic one today coming to my feeders. I am in Virginia

Comments are closed.