Okay, sorry for the poor quality photographs, I’ll try to get some better shots later. But, first, I’ve only got a compact digital camera. Second, I was shooting through a window and storm window. Finally, I was just so darn excited that I couldn’t keep my hands from shaking!
I “think” that this is an albino American Goldfinch! I saw this little guy earlier this summer but then it seemed to disappear and I’ve heard that albinos don’t do very well. But then today, probably because of an approaching winter storm, I’ve got at least fifty Goldfinches at my feeders and, right there, in the middle of the bunch, was this nearly white with a bit of “rust” color in its feathers, Goldfinch!
Now, being a “somewhat” seasoned birdwatcher, I don’t want to say positively that this is an albino Goldfinch. For all I know, it could be some European “accidental.” But, I don’t really think so. Still, if I’m wrong, and this is not an albino Goldfinch and, rather, some “other” finch, I would sure appreciate someone letting me know!
Okay folks! Now that I’ve calmed down and can “slowly” look through my field guides, I’m thinking that maybe, just maybe, this is a Snow Bunting! Hmm! They do winter here, except that they are a “tad” bigger than a Goldfinch and, this little bird was here earlier this summer too! Hmm!
Definitely a leucistic (not a true albino) American goldfinch. You can almost always identify albinos and leucistic individuals by the company they keep. The wingbars, proportions, shape of wing and tail, size…all perfect for Am. Goldfinch. And a snow bunting (much larger) wouldn’t flock with goldfinches, anyway. But a beautiful bird!
Best,
JZ
What a rare and beautiful find! I hope it will stay around!
These are some cute little birds. Janet you might be interested in this woman’s blog. She has some wonderful drawings of birds.
http://drawingthemotmot.wordpress.com/
To Julie,
Thank you for helping me to identify “my” little bird. I’ve got to admit though, as I did in an email to you, that the term “leucistic” was a new one for me. However, now I understand why there’s that little rust color in this bird. In addition, I should have thought about the fact that birds prefer the company of their own kind. Thanks again for the help!
To montucky,
I hope that this little bird stays around too! It did come to my feeders after the snow storm that we had last Sunday evening but I haven’t seen it since. Then again, I had seen the bird earlier in the summer but then it seemed to disappear. But, I’m “thinking positive” here! It will come back!!!
To wrjones,
Thank you for the link to Drawing the Motmot! I like Debby’s site and have visited it before. In fact, she and I are members of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and it is because of a piece that she wrote in the Guild’s newsletter that I started “blogging!” But, thanks again!
Hi, We live in Shingle Springs, foothills of northern California and we just spotted an albino goldfinch on our thistle sock with a lot of other goldfinches. First time we’ve seen this and we’ve had the sock for several years. The sock is very popular. Where abouts was this one seen?
Hi Marilyn,
Well, I live on Massachusetts North Shore, just a few miles away from Plum Island and the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. I keep a couple of the commercially available “tube type” feeders specifically made for thistle seed. This little goldfinch, however, seemed to prefer eating off the ground where much of the thistle seed ends up anyway. Thanks for visiting my blog and taking a look at my “special” visitor! I hope that you are enjoying yours as much as I am enjoying mine!
Hi–I just saw what I believe to be an albino goldfinch in my neighbor’s yard (southeastern PA) and didn’t know if there even was such a thing. So I hopped online and found your blog. Thanks so much.
The bird I just saw was definitely white, but with the classic goldfinch markings. Although I was trying to see it through a window with blinds, I managed to grab my binoculars for a few seconds’ view. It was definitely a goldfinch and definitely white. It appeared to be on its own, but flying around with house finches and robins. I thought it could have been an escaped cockatiel, but when I looked through the binocs, it clearly was a goldfinch.
Thanks for posting your photos. I wasn’t as quick.
All best,
Robin
Hi Robin,
Wow! This is the second time in just a couple of days that I’ve heard from someone spotting an albino goldfinch! They are such a thrill to see, I’m glad that my photos were a help. Thanks, too, for visiting my blog!
I’m so glad I found this site! I had a goldfinch much like the one in your photo on my feeder this morning. He was obviously a goldfinch, but I’ve never seen coloring like that. His black and white wingbars were exactly the same as the other finches, but the rest of his body and head were sort of a piebald arrangement of white and that same rusty color — very assymetrical. Even the folks at Seattle Audobon couldn’t tell me what I’d seen, but it didn’t take much time on Google to figure it out. And learn a new word: leucistic. I hope he stays the winter — I’m dying to know what he’ll look like when the breeding plumage comes back!
Janey, glad I could be of help! It’s so much fun when a “new” bird appears at our feeders, even if that “new” bird is really an “old” one dressed in new clothes.
Wow! Audubon folks who can’t help with ID?
Leucistic was a new word for me too. But, I can’t tell you whether or not the plumage changes in the breeding season … unless, of course, it did change I just couldn’t tell!!! Hmm!
Thanks for the visit, hope you come back again soon!
I took a picture of what I truly believe is an Albino Goldfinch, It the greenish head (color for this time of year, black/white wings and the rest of the body is white, breast and back. Could not get a really close shot but the white is as white as can be.
Spotted this odd looking bird yesterday morning and this morning. I called an avid birder and she was unable to give me an answer, we were suspicious that it maybe some sort of Albino Goldfinch. He appeared with other Goldfinches but they aggressively chased him off the feeders. Thanks to your pictures we were able to identify it as a “Leucistic” a brand new term for us also. Hope he comes back!
January 5, 2010
I have a white goldfinch? at my feeder today. This is the 3rd time I have seen it in the last week. It is pure white all over with just a couple of black bars on its wings. Does not
have the other coloring of the above mentioned birds. I live in north central Iowa. The bird is the same size as a goldfinch and was feeding on the ground with sparrows, cardinals, juncoes, etc. This bird is definitely snow white with only the black bars.
For about the last 9 months I have had an albino American Goldfinch come and go from my thistle feeder. At first I thought it was an escaped canary because it is mostly light yellow being whiter on the top and back. It feeds with the other goldfinches though. It is an amazing bird and I am glad it has survived because it is quite eye catching. I first saw it early last summer and it has been at the feeder fairly regularly. I live in Huntsville Alabama. It is now January 2010.
Kay Froning January 29, 2010
Upon further study, I do not have an albino goldfinch. I thought first that it was a snow bunting, but pictures were not like mine. The only bird that I have seen a picture of that resembles the one I have, is that of a McKay’s Bunting. It is pure white, with black beak, eyes, feet and black edging on its wings & tail. From what I have read this bird does not come this far south. Could this be possible.
Hello Candy, I’m not certain what your comment has to do with an albino goldfinch, however, regarding community colleges vs. Ivy League schools I disagree. Having a 2-year degree from a community college and a 4-year degree from a “new” Ivy League school, I can tell you from experience that the level of challenges posed to students is far, far different!
In my experience, community college is a bit more like an advanced trade school whereas the Ivy League experience challenges its students to delve deeply and accurately into any subject and then to use that research to analyze and devise solutions.
I live just north of Bucksport, Maine and had an leucistic goldfinch at my feeder this morning. I was stunned, actually. Didn’t know this could happen. I was delighted to find this blog to understand what kind of a marvelous creature is this little bird. Thanks.