Leuchistic

Our garden robin is slowly turning white. Last year it had some white feathers on tail and wings but now the white has spread. The condition is known as leuchistic and is caused by a lack of melanin which creates the black and brown colours. Apparently robins are somewhat prone to this deficiency and some are even pure white. This is not albinoism as that would mean the bird had pink eyes too.

When I decided to try to photograph the bird I was wondering how to get its co-operation. The answer was to make myself busy about the garden abd within a minute a could hear it calling in the bushes nearby as it came to investigate what I was doing. I then went for some food to put on the bird table and when I got to the door there was the robin looking in and willing me to get the food on the table. It flew onto the greenhouse and jigged around enthusiastically whilst I took my photos and thendescended to the table the instant I placed the food there. We were both winners!