Leucistic Great Blue Heron

[Donkees]

Photo: Tony Markle

[Goddessartist]

1. Gorgeous

thank you - swiping for reference.

[llmart]

2. What a stunning creature!

Where are these birds found? I've never heard of them, but this one is beautiful.

[rubbersole]

3. Florida has quite a population of them.

It isn't all meth and magats. Well, if you cut off the panhandle...

[llmart]

9. LOL!

My son lives in Florida, and no, he's not a "Floriduh Man". He is a NASA engineer working on the Artemis program at KSC. So, I know the state isn't all MAGAts. His Florida friends are all rather accomplished and intelligent and almost all are Dems.

[rubbersole]

10. Florida was a purple state until Jeb...

...or should I say 'JEB!' (Boy, that was stupid. Please clap.)
I'm a retired IBEW electrician and my last job was working in the ISS building at KSC. The whole place in addition to just being incredibly cool is a nature preserve of sorts. Too bad Elon and his company of reckless cowboys has infiltrated the place.

[llmart]

11. He's a software engineer.

I've been to KSC several times and it really is a very interesting place. I swear, Elon puts up a launch about every other day. I've seen a few of them. He's got too much money for his own good, but I can appreciate some of what he's done.

[Donkees]

4. Birds: ''Leucism refers to an abnormality in the deposition of pigment in feathers.''

Leucism refers to an abnormality in the deposition of pigment in feathers. There is some disagreement as to whether the condition is genetic or caused by pigment cells that were damaged during development. Whatever the cause, the condition can result in a reduction in all types of pigment, causing pale or muted colors on the entire bird. Or the condition can cause irregular patches of white, and birds with these white patches are sometimes described as “pied” or “piebald.”

https://feederwatch.org/color_variant/albinism-and-leucism/

Leucistic Dark-eyed Junco, by Gary Mueller, Rolla, Missouri

[BlueSky3]

5. Such interesting colors

in a stunning photo. I’ve never seen a Great Blue like this. Thanks!

[AllaN01Bear]

6. looks like its showing off. lovely composition etc.

[WestMichRad]

7. Very cool!

We found a snow white leucistic red tailed hawk on our Christmas bird count a couple weeks ago. Weren’t sure it was a red tail until its partner flew in and landed a few feet away.

[Donkees]

8. Photos: Variations

[WestMichRad]

12. "Our" bird is most like the first one shown here

Some pale reddish underneath the tail feathers, but none on the head or under wings. We had it in a spotting scope for several minutes, but had no equipment to get a good photo.

Thanks for the photos!!!