Month: October 2025

Common White Birds in North America

Post author By Molly Weinfurter
Post date October 24, 2025
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Two white terns, angelic white birds found in North America, perched together in a tree.

North America has birds of all colors, whether it’s species with a rainbow of hues or ones with simple, natural patterns. However, white birds are some of the most mesmerizing animals you’ll see. They have feathers as pure as snow, making them look angelic and graceful. Many common white birds in North America are large, elegant birds that are sure to capture your attention.

So, keep your eyes peeled for these species as you explore nature trails across the continent.

What are Some Common White Birds in North America?

There are lots of birds in North America with some white feathers, but only certain species are almost completely white. While some birds can inherit a white appearance through albinism, many species naturally have that beautiful and unique coloring.

Below are a few of the most common and stunning white birds that you’ll find across North America. See if you can spot them as you explore different nature trails.

1. Great Egret (Tall White Birds)

Location: Wetlands across every continent except Antarctica

A great egret, a tall white bird, wading through a body of water with a small fish in its beak. — Image by Wesley Barr via Flickr.

Great egrets stand three to four feet tall with solid white feathers and long yellow bills. They have an extremely wide range that includes the northern United States during the breeding season, but they also appear from the southern United States through South America year-round. You’ll often spot them standing at the edge of wetlands, waiting to lunge at fish that swim by.

2. Snowy Egret

Location: Wetlands from the United States through South America

A snowy egret flying over a body of water with a small fish in its beak, another snowy egret is visible in the background. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Despite being called a snowy egret, these birds avoid cold weather. Instead, they’re named for their pure white plumage, which looks like tufts of snow. They live across the United States during the breeding season and fly south for the winter, but some stay in warm regions year-round. They walk through water with their long, narrow legs, stirring up aquatic creatures for food.

3. American White Pelican

Location: Lakes and marshes from central Canada through northern Central America

A group of american white pelicans swimming through a calm body of water. — Image by Edward Post via Flickr.

This species has an iconic look that features a large orange bill that extends when they scoop up fish. They have a distinct bump on the top of their bills, and their feathers are completely white except for black feathers on the edge of their wings. While cartoons make it seem like pelicans carry food or water around in their bills, they actually swallow it immediately after scooping it up.

4. Trumpeter Swan (Loud White Birds)

Location: Ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes from Alaska to central United States

A trumpeter swan, a loud white bird, soaring high with a hilly landscape in the backgroun. — Image by Jim Moodie via Flickr.

The trumpeter swan is North America’s biggest native waterfowl. They can grow six feet long and weigh over 25 pounds. Due to their impressive size, they need to run 100 yards before taking off into the air. Like all swans, they’re known for their elegant appearance, which features white feathers with a solid black bill. Their name comes from the deep horn-like sound they make.

5. Snowy Owl

Location: Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia

A snowy owl camouflaging against a snowy background with some yellow grasses poking out from the snow-covered ground. — Image by Edward Post via Flickr.

Snowy owls have white feathers that help them blend into their snow-covered habitats. Males are often solid white while females are more likely to have specks of darker coloring. Both males and females have bright yellow eyes. They typically perch in open areas where they can scan their surroundings and locate prey easily. Despite weighing up to 6.5 pounds, their flight is silent so animals don’t hear them approaching.

6. White Ibis (Coastal White Birds)

Location: Wetlands of southeastern United States and coastal areas from Mexico to northern South America

A white ibis, a coastal white bird, foraging in a long grass meadow. — Image by Wesley Barr via Flickr.

These birds have pure white feathers and long necks, but their most notable characteristic is their curved red bills. While wading in the water with their long legs, they use their unique bills to probe the substrate for food. When they hatch, their bills are straight, but they slowly curve throughout the first two weeks of the bird’s life.

7. Cattle Egret

Location: Grasslands, farmlands, and wetlands on every continent except Antarctica

A cattle egret walking in a marshy area with many white and pink flowers. — Image by Wesley Barr via Flickr.

Like great egrets, these white birds have a wide range, but this species is much smaller, only reaching about 22 inches tall. Some cattle egrets live near wetlands like similar species, but many of them forage near large animals like cattle to eat ticks and other pesky critters. They’re primarily white with an orange bill, but they have pale brown feathers on their crest, chest, and wings.

8. American Herring Gull (Common White Bird)

Location: Near water and open areas across Canada, United States, the Caribbean, and parts of Mexico

An American herring gull, a common white bird in North America, flying with the egg of another bird in its beak. — Image by Edward Post via Flickr.

If you’ve seen a white seagull with black wing tips flying around North America, it’s likely an American herring gull. While they primarily live near bodies of water, they have spread to nearly all habitats of North America. They flock in areas with available food, which can include dumpsters and parking lots. Up until 2024, these birds were the same species as the European Herring Gull, Mongolian Gull, and Vega Gull.

9. White Tern (Angelic White Birds)

Location: Tropical islands worldwide, such as Hawaii

You won’t see white terns much in North America unless you’re on a tropical island. Then, there’s a good chance you’ll spot these majestic solid white birds. They’re so graceful that people often call them “angel terns” or “fairy terns.” Rather than building nests, they scratch bark off tree branches and lay their eggs in the indents they create.

10. White Hawk

Location: Lowland habitats from southern Mexico to northern South America

A white hawk sitting on a tropical tree in the rain. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

As the name implies, these hawks primarily have white feathers, but their coloring varies based on location. The further north they are, the whiter their feathers are. Yet, the southern white hawks have black on their wings and tails. They spend most of their time soaring, so look up in the sky. You’ll likely hear their sharp calls before seeing them. Most of the time, they fly alone or in small groups.

11. Snow Bunting (Small White Birds)

Location: Arctic tundra, fields, and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia

A Snow Bunting resting on a clump of snow. — Image by Daniel Cadieux via Flickr and Facebook.

North American buntings come in a wide range of colors, but white is always the main color on snow buntings. Breeding males are the purest white while nonbreeding males have rusty streaks in their feathers and females have brown patches. These birds breed high in arctic settings before flying down to southern Canada and the northern United States in large flocks. When males first arrive at their breeding grounds, temperatures can get as low as -22° F.

12. Whooping Crane (Endangered White Birds)

Location: Swampy wooded areas in parts of Canada and the United States

The Endangered Whooping Cranes — Image by Todd Leech via Flickr.

Despite being the tallest birds in North America, it’s hard to spot these majestic animals. They were almost extinct in 1973 with only 50 remaining due to hunting and habitat loss. The Endangered Species Act helped turn things around, and there are about 600 wild whooping cranes today. Their range is still sparse with only a few populations scattered throughout patches of North America. Whooping cranes are solid white everywhere except for the red skin patch on their head and the dark mustache-like coloring beneath their eyes.

13. Mississippi Kite

Location: Open woodlands and grasslands from southern United States to northern South America

A Mississippi kite perched on the top of a dead tree. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Mississippi kites are graceful white birds with gray feathers. They search for prey while high in the sky before suddenly diving down to capture their food. They often capture insects in flight, but they may also target amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. These birds often build their nests near wasp nests, which helps keep predators away from the young birds.

14. Snow Goose

Location: Arctic tundra and coastal marshes across Canada, United States, and Mexico

Two snow geese coming into land with their pink webbed feet dangling beneath them. — Image by Robyn Waayers via Flickr.

With solid white feathers everywhere except their wingtips, snow geese blend in well in arctic settings. However, some geese are “blue morphs,” causing them to have dark feathers everywhere except their faces. The blue morph is dominant over white morphs, so if a dark snow goose mates with a white snow goose, the dark coloring will cover the normally white feathers of the offspring. When snow geese hatch, they have open eyes and lots of feathers right away.

15. Mute Swan (Invasive White Birds)

Location: Shallow wetlands in parts of the United States and Eurasia

Two adult mute swans, invasive white birds in North America, with their one cygnet. — Image by Edward Post via Flickr.

Mute swans aren’t native to North America, but people brought them over from Eurasia because of their beauty. These swans now wander around many ponds, parks, and zoos in the United States and Canada. They have a classic swan appearance: white feathers, dark face, and orange beak. While they look stunning, they can be aggressive, fiercely defending their nests from humans, pets, and wildlife.

Keep an Eye Out for White Birds in North America

White birds have so much variety in North America. Many pure white birds are large, and their habitats often consist of beautiful settings like snow-covered fields or peaceful wetlands. Depending on where you live, you might even be lucky enough to see some in your yard. White birds appear very elegant, so if you spot one, feel free to admire them from a distance for a while.

Bird Guides

The Northern Flicker – Call, Plumages & Key Facts

Post author By Jack Emery
Post date October 17, 2025
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A Northern Flicker perched on a thick branch.

The Northern Flicker is one of North America’s most familiar and charismatic woodpeckers.

They stand out amongst other members of the woodpecker family; not because of startlingly different colors or patterns, but because of their unique ground-foraging behaviors.

If startled, they show a sudden flash of bright colour as they take to the sky.

This article aims to explore the Northern Flicker’s distinctive behaviors and calls. We’ll also be looking at how you can ID them, as well as discovering some interesting facts along the way.

Keep reading to find out more about the Northern Flicker.

What is the Northern Flicker?

But first, what is the Northern Flicker? Afterall, the name doesn’t give much away.

Northern Flickers belong to the woodpecker family. However, unlike many other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker primarily forages insects on the ground.

There are two subspecies; yellow-shafted and red-shafted.

Geographical Distribution of Northern Flickers

Northern Flickers are relatively common across much of North America. They have one of the largest ranges of all North American woodpeckers.

The Northern Flicker breeds across temperate North America – from Alaska and much of Canada, through the United States, and into parts of Central America and the Caribbean.

Many populations are resident year-round. However, some populations, especially those in the northern range, migrate south for winter.

Within this large range, Northern Flickers are not too fussy about their preferred habitat.

You’ll likely spot Northern Flickers around areas of open woodlands, parks, and forest edges. They may frequent backyards, orchards and farms.

In fact, they’re very adaptable. Where there are habitats that combine trees for nesting and open ground for foraging, there’ll often be Northern Flickers.

Identification

The Northern Flicker is a handsome bird.

They are fairly large woodpeckers with a slim, rounded head, slightly downcurved bill, and long, flared tail that tapers to a point.

At first glance, it seems near impossible not only to distinguish a Northern Flicker from other species, such as the Gilded Flicker, but also between the two sexes.

However, there are some telltale signs to look out for to help you ID the Northern Flicker.

Male

Like some humans, males can be distinguished from females by the presence of a mustache.

Okay, okay, it’s not really a mustache. In biology, ornithologists prefer the term “malar stripe”, which is a dark stripe extending from the beak downwards.

For eastern, yellow-shafted birds that stripe is typically black. For many western, red-shafted birds the stripe is red.

Besides the differing mustache colors, males generally follow a similar pattern: a brown, barred back, spotted belly, a crescent-shaped black patch on the upper breast, and a white rump patch that is conspicuous in flight.

While the combination of the barred upperparts and spotted underparts is common to both subspecies, the crown and face tones vary slightly.

Yellow-shafted Northern Flickers have ruddy facial plumage with a grey crown. Red-shafted individuals are grey across much of their head, with some ruddy plumage around their eyes.

Female

A flicker bird perched on a wooded stick. — Image by Jim Moodie via Flickr.

Female Northern Flickers resemble males in overall patterning.

They exhibit the same barred back, spotted belly and bright flight-feather shafts, which they conspicuously show in flight.

However, they lack the distinct malar stripe – making this one of key distinguishing points between the two sexes.

Juvenile

Juvenile Northern Flickers look like muted versions of adults.

Young birds display less-contrasting barring and spotting, a fuzzier appearance around the head and body, and overall duller coloration.

The black breast crescent and belly spots are present but often softer and less distinct, and the shaft color is visible but not as bright as in adults.

As juveniles age through their first moult, their patterns become more defined and they develop the brighter shaft flashes of mature birds.

Subspecies

Most ornithologists recognize two subspecies of the Northern Flicker: the Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted.

The “Yellow-shafted” Northern Flicker is found throughout eastern U.S. to Texas and the Great Plains and extends across the boreal forest of Canada to central Alaska.

The “Red-shafted” group ranges across western North America from southern Alaska down to Mexico and Central America.

While both subpopulations look similar, there is one key difference: the color of flight-feather shafts. One group is yellow, the other is a rosy red.

Difference Between Northern Flicker and Gilded Flicker

Like the Northern Flicker, Gilded Flickers forage on the ground.

However, they are only found in the Sonoran Desert, restricting them to southwestern Arizona and southeastern California.

A Gilded Flicker hanging onto the thin trunk of a small tree. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Here, red-shafted Northern Flickers and Gilded Flickers live at similar elevations.

So, how can you tell the two species apart?

Gilded Flickers of southern Arizona have yellow under the wings and tail. Northern Flickers in this range have red under the wings and tail.

Gilded Flickers also have more brown on the crown and nape. Northern Flickers are more gray.

For females, Gilded Flickers have more extensive brown on the crown and nape than female Northern Flickers.

You can also look at their nesting behaviors: Gilded Flickers rely almost exclusively on giant cactus for nesting.

Songs and Calls

While they are not songbirds, Northern Flickers have a large repertoire of songs and calls.

Just a quick reminder: songs are long, complex, and often learned vocalizations used by males. Calls, on the other hand, are a vocalization of short duration that is simple in its structure.

Song:

A long, rolling rattle, over a period of up to 8 seconds, that rises and falls in intensity
Sung mostly throughout spring and early summer – when males are trying to establish territories and mate.

Click on the play button below to hear the song of the Northern Flicker:

Ed Pandolfino, XC1007124. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/1007124.

Call:

Rapid, single note call, lasting less than a second, that sounds like “kyeer“.

Click on the play button below to hear the call of the Northern Flicker:

Scott Olmstead, XC776026. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/776026.

Drumming:

Like other woodpecker species, both male and female Northern Flickers drum on trees and metal objects as a way of communicating with one another.

For this form of vocalization, expect to hear loud, rapid and evenly spaced hammering. You may even observe the bird pause, move, then continue with a different melody.

As woodpeckers cannot sing per se, this form of drumming is equivalent to singing in passerine songbirds.

Diet of the Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are unusual among woodpeckers.

Unlike many other woodpecker species, which typically drill holes in trees to feed off bugs or sap, Flickers mostly forage on the ground.

A Northern Flicker eating a cicada beetle. — Image by Bonnie Ott via Flickr.

It isn’t uncommon to see them probing and digging for ants and beetle larvae on the ground. You may spot Flickers hammering at the ground the same way other woodpeckers would hammer at a tree.

However, they’re not fussy where these insects come from.

A bit of decaying wood here. A dried up cowpat there.

No, really. Northern Flickers have been observed breaking open dried up cow poop to get the nutritious insect larvae buried within.

Northern Flickers have a specially adapted flattened tongue tip to help snare prey.

While insects such as ants make up a large percentage of their diet, especially in the summer months, Flickers also eat a wide variety of fruits and seeds, including poison oak and ivy.

How to attract Northern Flickers to your Backyard

If your yard has a mixture of trees and open spaces, or if you have a wooded area nearby, you may find the Northern Flicker simply wandering around the wooded edge in search of ants and other insects.

If not, time to get creative.

A flicker bird perched on the outside of a bird bath. — Image by Wesleybarr1962 via Flickr.

Feeders

Being a ground-forager, Northern Flickers aren’t the easiest birds to attract to your yard using a bird feeder alone.

If you do want to try, consider using a platform feeder, or feeders near perching branches. Add a variety of food sources, including suet and mealworms. Peanuts are also a good option – especially in winter when insect protein is harder to come by.

You may also find Flickers at the base of the feeder, foraging for any dropped seeds from other avian visitors.

As Northern Flickers feed heavily on ants and beetles, maintaining areas of natural lawn or leaving parts of your yard chemical-free will encourage the insects that flickers love to probe for.

Birdbaths

A birdbath, or any shallow water source, is another good way of attracting Northern Flickers to your yard.

Like other birds, Flickers frequent birdbaths to cool off in summer months, or to rid themselves of pesky parasites. They are particularly partial to birdbaths with drips or flowing water.

Nest Choice

For nesting, Northern Flickers, like all woodpeckers, need cavities. Their preferred nesting choice is dead or decaying trees in which they can bore into.

However, this isn’t always possible in the suburban yard. Instead, try mounting a large, deep nest box with an entrance hole around 2.5–3 inches in diameter.

Make sure you put the nest box up before the start of the breeding season. Depending on the region, this could be as early as late-winter (February) or as late as mid-summer (July).

Ensure there is a guard to keep predators from raiding eggs and young.

Final Thoughts

The Northern Flicker is a handsome woodpecker with a large range across North America.

There are two recognised subspecies: the red-shafted and yellow-shafted. The easiest way to distinguish the two is by looking at the colour of their flight-feather shaft or their malar stripe.

Unlike other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker spends much of its time foraging for ants and other insects on the floor.

Combining food sources, water, and cavity opportunities makes your backyard an inviting habitat for these striking woodpeckers.

Tags woodpeckers

Bird Guides

The 18 Species of Thrushes in North America

Post author By Rhianna Quanstrom
Post date October 10, 2025
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A clay-colored thrush perched on a mossy branch.

Thrushes are a secretive and elusive bunch. Because of their mysterious nature, it’s always exciting for a birder to spot one in the woods.

While most thrushes are uncommon, some species in the group are well-known, such as robins and bluebirds.

Whether familiar or less common, in this guide, you’ll meet every thrush that visits or resides in North America.

Before we dive into the 18 thrush species of North America, let’s discuss what unites these different thrushes into one family.

Common Traits of Thrushes

Thrushes belong to the Turdidae family, which was once considered part of the Muscicapidae, or Old World flycatchers family. There are 17 genera and 192 species worldwide. In North America, there are six genera and 18 species.

Besides their genetic similarities, thrushes share many common physical and behavioral traits. To start, they are all beautiful and melodious vocalists. Many produce amphoric tones, which are hollow, flute-like sounds similar to blowing into a bottle.

Physically, thrushes have:

Long bodies
Full, upright chests
Long legs
Relatively large heads
Straight, pointed bills

They can range in color from earthy browns and rufous hues to orange and bright blue. Behaviorally, they all lay blue eggs and prefer woodland habitats. They spend most of their time foraging on the ground. If startled or scouting for food, they flutter up to a low-hanging branch or shrub. They tend to stick to the understory except when singing during the breeding season, at which time they seek a higher perch.

Common Types of Thrushes

1. American Robin

In North America, the American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is the most common and well-known thrush. Not only are they one of the most common thrush species, but they are also one of the most widely recognized backyard birds in North America.

An American robin eating a worm from a lawn.

Robins are found year-round in the United States, with some populations migrating to Canada to breed. Some populations also migrate to the far south of the United States and Mexico in winter. The birds that stay year-round tend to be more elusive in winter, spending most of their time in the forest rather than in backyards.

American Robins are easily recognized by their bright reddish-orange chest and belly, dark grey back and head, yellow bill, and white marks around the eyes and throat.

1. Bluebirds

Three bluebird species in North America belong to the thrush family: the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), the Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), and the Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana).

Three images showing the three different species of bluebird in North America: the eastern bluebird, the mountain bluebird and the western bluebird. — An Eastern bluebird (left), a mountain bluebird (middle) and a Western bluebird (right). Middle image by Wesley Barr via Flickr. Right image by c_yat via Flickr.

The Eastern Bluebird is common in the eastern United States. They prefer farms, open woodlands, roadsides, orchards, and suburbs with good nest sites. The males have a bright blue head and back, reddish-brown throat and chest, and white underbelly. Females are paler overall.

The Mountain Bluebird is common throughout the central and western United States and Canada. The males are bright blue all over, making them a striking bird. The females are grey to dusky-tan all over. Mountain Bluebirds prefer open lands, such as plains, valleys, sagebrush flats, desert, and farmland. They are also found above treeline and in conifer forests in mountainous habitats.

The Western Bluebird is common in parts of the Western United States and Canada, from southern British Columbia down to Mexico. They look similar to the Eastern Bluebird, but males have a blue throat and grey underbelly. They prefer open pine and oak woodlands, brush, deserts, and farmland.

2. Swainson’s Thrush

The Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) is common in the United States during peak migration. While migrating, they can be found in open woodlands, forest edges, and parks. They are often heard before they are seen, so make sure to familiarize yourself with their song.

A Swainson's thrush perches on a mossy tree, illuminated by a bright light. — Image by Wesley Barr via Flickr.

They breed throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest down to California’s southern Coast. For breeding, they prefer mountainous conifer forests, as well as spruce forests and mixed deciduous woodlands.

The Swainson’s Thrush has an olive-hued back. In their Pacific range, they are more red than olive-toned. They have spots on their throat and chest and a bold white eyering.

3. Hermit Thrush

Found throughout Canada, the Great Lakes, and the western United States, the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) is one of the most common thrushes in North America.

They are similar in appearance to the Swainson’s Thrush, but have a reddish tail that contrasts with their tan-to-olive hued back. In comparison, the Swainson’s Thrush’s tail does not differ from the color of its back.

Like many other thrushes, this species prefers mixed and conifer woodlands, as well as sphagnum bogs, wooded canyons, dry pine woods, and mountain forests. Unlike other brown thrushes, they migrate late and are sometimes seen in winter.

4. Wood Thrush

The Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) is common throughout the eastern United States during the breeding season. They are bolder than other thrushes, making appearances in city parks, suburbs, and more human-populated woodland areas. They also prefer mainly deciduous woodland habitats throughout their range.

A singing wood thrush — Image by Lynn Adams via Flickr.

At first glance, the Wood Thrush looks similar to the Hermit and Swainson’s Thrush. On closer inspection, you’ll see that their throat and belly spots are darker, more defined, and contrast more strongly with their white chest and underbelly. They have a russet back and tail and gray cheeks.

5. Townsend’s Solitaire

A mostly gray thrush of the West, the Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) breeds in western Canada and winters throughout the western United States and Mexico. Some populations are year-round residents. These birds have long tails, a white eyering, and faint yellow markings in their wings.

A Townsend's solitaire sat on a thick branch. — Image by Jim Moodie via Flickr.

The Townsend’s Solitaire prefers conifer forests in the mountains, as well as pinyon-juniper groves, open woods, semi-open brush, and streamside thickets.

Other Thrushes in North America

The following thrushes are less common and may be harder to observe in the wild compared to the common thrushes above. Some of these thrushes are also rare visitors from other continents.

1. Varied Thrush

A varied thrush perches on a thin branch. — Image by Wesley Barr via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Ixoreus naevius

Range: Pacific Northwest, from central California up to Alaska.

Description: The plumage of the Varied Thrush is striking and differs dramatically from that of the other thrushes of North America. They have a yellow-orange belly and throat, a black chest band, and a black head with a yellow stripe. Their backs are glossy black, and their wings have yellow stripes.

2. Veery

A veery eats a grub while perched on a lichen covered branch. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Catharus fuscescens

Range: Southern Canada and the northern United States, from northwestern Washington across to Maine.

Description: The Veery is similar to other brown thrushes, with a reddish-hued back and white underbelly. Its blurred spots on the throat and chest are less distinct and do not extend down to the belly like the spots on the Hermit, Swainson’s, and Wood Thrush.

3. Gray-cheeked Thrush

A gray-cheeked thrush calls whilst perched on a branch. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Catharus minimus

Range: Migrates through the central and eastern United States to breed in northern Canada and Alaska.

Description: The Gray-cheeked Thrush is hard to distinguish from other brown thrushes—it is also the hardest to find. One way to tell them apart is that they lack a white eyering and don’t have any tan-buff coloring on their cheeks or throats (hence their common name).

4. Bicknell’s Thrush

A Bicknell's thrush standing on the forest floor covered in dead leaves and some green plants. — Image by J.B.Churchill via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Catharus bicknelli

Range: Uncommon. Migrates along the East Coast and breeds in the interior northeastern United States and up into Canada.

Description: The Bicknell’s Thrush was once considered the same species as the Gray-cheeked Thrush. They are almost impossible to distinguish in the field. The main difference is that the Bicknell’s Thrush has a faint tan-buff wash on its throat and chest, while the Gray-cheeked Thrush is more stark white in those areas.

5. Aztec Thrush

The backside of an Aztec thrush with its face facing sideways, perched on a thin branch with green foliage. — Image by Daniel Lane via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Ridgwayia pinicola

Range: Year-round but uncommon resident of western Mexico. Sometimes strays into southeastern Arizona.

Description: The Aztec Thrush is a beautiful bird with a dark brown-to-gray hood, white underbelly, gray back, and black-and-white striped wings.

6. Clay-colored Thrush

Scientific Name: Turdus grayi

Range: Year-round and common resident of eastern Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Its northernmost range dips into the southern tip of Texas.

Description: The Clay-colored Thrush was formally named the Clay-colored Robin because its behavior is nearly identical to that of the American Robin. However, this thrush is tannish brown all over—darker above and paler below.

7. Eyebrowed Thrush

An eyebrowed thrush looks forward while sitting on a branch, with green foliage in the background. — Image by Bob Kaufman via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Turdus obscurus

Range: Rare visitor to Alaska’s Aleutian Islands from its more common range in Russia.

Description: The Eyebrowed Thrush looks similar to the American Robin but has a light gray head, a paler orange chest, and a distinct white eyebrow streak.

8. Rufous-backed Robin

A rufous-backed robin looks around while standing tall on a branch. — Image by Greg Lavaty via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Turdus rufopalliatus

Range: Year-round resident of western Mexico. Some populations stray into the southern United States, from Texas to California.

Description: The Rufous-backed Robin is similar to the American Robin, but it is much more elusive and shy. It also has black streaks on its throat and rufous hues on its back (hence the common name).

9. Redwing

A redwing sits on a thin branch covered with pink berries. — Image by Gary Vause via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Turdus iliacus

Range: Widespread resident of Europe and western Asia. Sometimes strays into the northeastern United States.

Description: The tri-colored Redwing is a beautiful bird with dark brown streaks on its white throat, chest, and belly. It has a light gray head, a pale orange-to-white eyebrow streak, and rufous hues around its neck and belly near the wings.

10. White-throated Thrush

A white-throated thrush sits on a mossy branch. — Image by Ben Knoot via Flickr.

Scientific Name: Turdus assimilis

Range: Northern Mexico to northwestern Ecuador. Sometimes strays into the southern tip of Texas.

Description: The White-throated Thrush behaves like an American Robin, but its back and head are dark gray to olive, and its underside is pale gray with reddish hints. It has dark streaks on a white throat and a white throat band that contrasts with its darker belly.

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Feathered Facts

Ever Seen One of These Albino or Leucistic Birds?

Post author By India Thomas
Post date October 3, 2025
No Comments on Ever Seen One of These Albino or Leucistic Birds?

A leucistic Anna's hummingbird that is almost completely white except its black bill, eyes and feet and a few small patches of black on its feathers.

Spotting an albino or leucistic bird is a rare and exciting experience! Have you ever seen one in North America?

In this article we are sharing amazing sightings of birds in North America with this unusual condition.

First, let’s clear up what these terms mean.

Albinism occurs when an animal doesn’t produce any melanin – this is the pigment that gives color to an animal’s hair/feathers, skin and eyes. Albino birds are completely white with pink or red eyes.

Leucism is more common and is a genetic mutation preventing melanin from reaching some of the animal’s hair, feathers or skin. Leucistic birds can have small white patches, a faded overall color or even be completely white, but will not have pink or red eyes.

Roughly 1 in 30,000 birds are either leucistic or albino. Of those, only about 4% are true albinos. To put this into perspective, that is about the same chance of you being struck by lightning in one year!

I’ve spotted leucistic birds a handful of times, but never an albino bird. Below are some amazing sightings from birders across North America of albino and leucistic birds.

Sightings of Albino & Leucistic Birds in North America

Albino Hummingbird

Yes, amazingly, even hummingbirds can be albino.

In September 2010, Michael Brown was lucky enough to spot this beautiful albino hummingbird (below) in Vigo County, Indiana.

An albino hummingbird with completely white feathers and pink eyes and beak. — Image by Michael Brown via Flickr.

It can easily be confirmed as an albino, and not just leucistic, by the clearly visible pink eye, pink beak and completely white feathers. What an incredible rare sighting!

Albino American Robin

The American Robin, one of the most beloved backyard birds in North America, can also have this rare condition.

The amazing albino robin, pictured below, was spotted in Ontario, Canada by Judith Lessard in June, 2022.

An albino American robin with completely white feathers, pink eyes and a orangey pink beak. — Image by Judith Lessard via Flickr.

The pink eyes, yellowy bill and completely white feathers of this American robin, clearly identify it as a true albino. I hope one of these makes its way to my backyard!

Albino House Sparrow

House sparrows, one of the most widespread non-native birds in North America, can also be albino.

Michael Kirtley spotted this eye-capturing fledgling house sparrow, being fed by its mum, back in April 2017.

A fledgling albino sparrow being fed by its normally colored mum bird. — Image by Michael Kirtley via Flickr.

This picture demonstrates an important fact about albino birds: you are more likely to see an albino chick or fledgling than an albino adult bird.

Sadly, this is because scientists believe that the majority of albino birds die soon after they fledge and most of them do not live long enough to reproduce. The reason why – you need to stick around to the end of the article to find out!

Albino Dark-eyed Junco

An albino dark-eyed junco isn’t dark-eyed at all – instead, like most other albino animals, it has pink eyes.

This striking albino dark-eyed junco (below) was spotted by Frank Lospalluto in July 2019 in Southern Oregon.

An albino junco with completely white feathers and pink eyes, beak and feet.

Again, the pink eye and completely white coloration clearly identify this dark-eyed junco as an albino bird.

Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk

It isn’t just small backyard birds that can be albino or leucistic – even seabirds, ducks, and birds-of-prey can have these conditons.

Jean Graham saw these red-tailed hawks (below) on her morning walk in March 2017. She captured a fantastic photo, showing a normally colored hawk (left) sharing the same perch as leucistic hawk (right).

Two red-tailed hawks sitting on a branch, one with leucistic feather coloring. — Image by Jean Graham via Flickr.

The red-tailed hawk on the right has almost completely white feathers. It also has dark brown primaries and dark coloration on its head – for this reason, and the absence of pink eyes, this bird is not albino, but, leucistic.

Leucistic American Crow

American crows are a well-known and widespread bird, identified by their large size, straight bill and completely black coloration. So spotting a leucistic American crow would be confusing – at least at first glance.

Dominic Sherony found this all-white, leucistic American crow (below) back in November 2009.

A leucistic American crow with completely white body and feathers except its black face markings. — Image by Dominic Sherony via Flickr.

Although this American crow is almost completely white, its dark face, eyes and beak, reveal that it is leusitic and not albino.

Leucistic Red-winged Blackbird

Blackbirds are thought to be the type of bird most affected by leucism, based on many observational sources.

This leucistic red-winged blackbird was found by Sandra Gilchrist in Pickering, Ontario in 2013.

A leucistic red-winged blackbird with white wing feathers and white patches on its head. — Image by Sandra Gilchrist via Flickr.

This picture demonstrates that leucistic birds don’t always have hugely different coloration, and can just have a few small white patches or feathers. This red-winged blackbird differs from the normal coloration due to having some white wing feathers and a patchy white head.

Leucistic Black-capped Chickadee

What do you call a black-capped chickadee without its black cap?

A leucistic black-capped chickadee!

Arvo Poolar captured this fantastic image (below) of a cap-less black-capped chickadee in November 2022 in Ontario, Canada.

Without the characteristic black cap and throat, its much harder to see that this bird is a black-capped chickadee. People often need to call in the help of expert birders to find the true identity of a leucistic bird they have spotted.

Leucistic House Finch

Female house finches are already tricky to identify (check out our fool-proof guide here), but when you find one with leucism, it makes the challenge even greater!

This leucistic female house finch (below) was spotted by Steve Jones in LaBelle, Idaho back in December 2019.

A leucistic female house finch, with lighter brown feathers and white patches. — Image by Steve Jones via Flickr.

The appearance of this bird is similar to a normal female house finch, but with a white face marking and lighter overall coloration.

Again, leucism is a spectrum of coloration loss – some leucistic birds are completely white while others just show small patches of faded coloration.

Why Do Albino and Leucistic Birds Have Lower Survival Rates?

Albino and leucistic birds are stunningly unique, and I can’t help being amazed by the sightings above. But, unfortunately, being a bird with albinism or leucism comes with several disadvantages.

Survival Disadvantages of Albino Birds

Albino birds cannot produce melanin, a pigment crucial for eye development – as a result they often have poor eyesight
Melanin also strengthens feathers – without this pigment albino birds have weaker feathers that are more prone to breaking.
The white feathers of albino birds make them conspicuous to predators – drastically reducing their changes of escaping predation.

Albino birds have hugely reduced survival prospects and most don’t live until adulthood.

Survival Disadvantages of Leucistic Birds

The feathers and eyesight of leucistic birds may be stronger than albinos, but their abnormal coloration still prevents them from camoflaging – as a result they are vunerable to predation.
Research suggests that leucistic birds are often smaller, likely due by nutrient deficiencies in the nestling stage – this affects their overall health and survival.

Leucistic birds can have reduced survival prospects but, despite this, they often live long enough to reproduce.

Bonus picture…

For those of you who have stuck around until the end of this article, here is a bonus picture of another amazing albino animal.

Have you ever seen an albino squirrel?

An albino squirrel with completely white fur and pink eyes, ears, nose and feet. — Image by Maranda Mink via Flickr.

Now you have!

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