Leucism and Leucistic Birds & Animals & other Colour Variations
Leucism (or Leukism)
Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures. 
Albinism is a different condition. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is that in albinism the eyes are usually pink or red, and albinism affects the entire animal, not just patches.
This occassionaly causes very excited biologists to think they have discovered a new species, when in fact leucism is the cause of the unusual markings they have seen.
White giraffe seen in Botswana.
white impala
| White baboon, impala & Meve's starling
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White 'leucistic' impala seen in South Africa.
One of our readers works in the Luangwa valley, and he has sent us images of a baboon, an impala and a starling with unusual colouration.Leucistic Fallow deer
| Leucistic cygnets in hampshire
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This fallow deer was seen in Scotland by reader Mark Roach.
These white cygnets were seen in Hampshire by one of our readers.albino tadpoles
| albino ratfish
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Very unusual batches of albino tadpoles found in welsh pond
A ghostly, mutant ratfish caught off Washington state.'Snowball' the white baboon
| Leucistic Deer
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This white baboon, probably a leucistic animal, is currently living in South Africa. 
Photographed in early 2008, this leucistic Red deer was seen in the west of Scotland. We have also heard reports of a leucistic deer in the East Midlands.
Leucistic jackdaws
| Leucistic Moorhens
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April 2008. We recived two reports with photos of leucistc jackdaws in different parts of the UK. 
In 2007 we received reports and photos of no less than four leucistic moorhens in the UK. Leucistic squirrel
One of our readers sent us a few images of this white squirrel from the North West. Photos and details. | Leucistic Mistle Thrush
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Leucistic buzzard
| Woodpecker showing signs of 'xanthochroism.'
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A new one on me, but this diagnosis was sent to us by the BTO. This woodpecker was seen on birdfeeders in Yorkshire in 2007. Erythrism
Interestingly in 2006 we were sent photos of an Erythristic badger. Erythrism is apparently a genetic defect that causes plumage/fur to become much more ginger/red than is usual. More details | Albino Killer whale?
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Very unusual white orca photographed off Alaska.Albino dolphin off the USA
| White Bearded tit in Lancashire
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This extremely rare and beautiful ‘pink dolphin' was first spotted in Louisiana.
This unusual bird has been seen at the RSPB's Leighton Moss reserve.Leucistic Great tits.
| Leucistic egyptian goose in gloucestershire
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This unusual bird has been seen