Rare white robin spotted in Galt draws attention from birders
There’s a white robin hanging around Galt, and it’s even been spotted in a few photos.
So, what’s the big deal? According to biologist and bird guide Josh Vandermeulen, even as an active birder, he typically sees only five to 10 birds a year with some kind of pigmentation issue. These rare appearances can be explained by conditions like albinism or leucism.
Albinism refers to a genetic mutation that results in a complete lack of pigment. Vandermeulen says it’s quite rare to see a truly albino bird in the wild, and they unfortunately often don’t live long—they can go blind, which makes them more vulnerable to predators.
But just like the bird flying around Lauris Ave. and Hilltop Dr., birds can also have a partial lack of pigment. This condition is called leucism, and it usually occurs during early development. One major difference between the two is that albinism is genetic and can be passed down to offspring, whereas leucism is not.