In April 2023, Don Forbes spotted an “albino” robin in Porcupine Plain.
The lack of pigment in feathers – called leucism or albinism – seems to occur more often in robins than in most other birds. However, this finding is still quite rare, with the condition affecting only about one out of every 30,000 robins! Albino birds completely lack the natural pigment known as melanin; leucistic birds, on the other hand, produce melanin but can’t deposit it into their feathers. Fully albino robins will also have red or pink eyes, while leucistic birds will still have their normal coloured eyes. Leucistic birds may even have partial leucism resulting in a “pied” or mottled appearance.
Don Forbes, who has been birdwatching for 80 years, showed the writer an image from the 1970s of a partially white robin. His finding this spring, however, is his first time spotting a fully white robin!