White blackbird is snapped in Tiverton (From Mid Devon Star)

White blackbird is snapped in Tiverton

4:01pm Thursday 3rd December 2009

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A RARE snow-white blackbird has been spotted in the garden of St James’ church in Tiverton.

The bird was captured on film by Victor Garland of Wilcombe who kindly sent us this picture.

Mr Garland said: “The strange thing about this bird is that it is not albino and does not have red eyes but its plumage is pure white.

“I’ve never seen one like it before but I think it must be living in the church garden – it’s part of its territory.”

The bird’s white feathers are the result of leucism, a condition which affects the pigmentation of the skin. Unlike albinism, it does not turn the eyes pink.

Birds with leucism or albinism have a shorter lifespan than others because they are more conspicuous to predators in the wild.

A spokesman from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: “You get white blackbirds if there's some genetic variation or mutation.

“It's part of evolution working out what colour is most advantageous.”

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