Leucistic hummingbirds are extremely rare. They have a genetic mutation that causes their feathers to be white or pale in color, unlike the bright, iridescent plumage of normal hummingbirds. This gives them a distinctive ghostly appearance.
What is leucism?
Leucism is a condition where animals have reduced pigmentation in their feathers, hair or scales. This causes white, pale or patchy coloration. It is different from albinism because animals with leucism still produce melanin, so they may have dark eyes, legs, beaks etc. Albino animals have a complete lack of melanin.
With leucism, the pigment cells in parts of the body fail to migrate or develop properly during embryonic development. This leads to a partial loss of coloring. So leucistic birds have plumage that lacks the colorful melanin pigments, but they still retain coloring in their soft tissues.
How does leucism occur in hummingbirds?
Leucism in hummingbirds is caused by a genetic mutation. It is a recessive trait, so both parents must carry the gene for it to be expressed physically in the offspring. When a hummingbird hatches with leucism, it lacks the ability to produce melanin pigment in some or all of its feathers.
This is different from albinism where melanin production is completely absent. In leucistic hummingbirds, melanin is still produced in the eyes, beak, feet and soft tissues, so they are normally colored. Only the feathers lack melanin.
How rare are leucistic hummingbirds?
Leucistic hummingbirds are exceptionally rare. They occur at a rate of less than 1 in 1 million birds. This remarkably low rate of occurrence makes sightings of leucistic hummingbirds very unusual.
Researchers estimate only 1 in every 200,000 to 1,000,000 hummingbirds is hatched with leucism. For comparison, the odds of a human being struck by lightning in their lifetime is around 1 in 15,000. So you are much more likely to be struck by lightning than see a leucistic hummingbird!
Percentage of leucistic hummingbirds
Looking at percentage rather than odds, leucistic hummingbirds make up less than 0.0001% to 0.0005% of the total hummingbird population. With an estimated 331 species of hummingbird and around 15 million individual hummingbirds in the United States alone, this translates to just a tiny fraction of birds displaying unusual white or pale plumage.
| Condition | Rate of Occurrence |
|---|---|
| Normal colored plumage | 99.9995% – 99.9999% |
| Leucistic plumage | 0.0001% – 0.0005% |
As these numbers show, leucistic hummingbirds are extremely uncommon with only a tiny percentage of the overall population affected.
Why are leucistic hummingbirds so rare?
There are a few key reasons why leucistic hummingbirds are rarely sighted:
Recessive genes
Leucism is caused by a recessive gene so two parent birds carrying the trait are needed to produce leucistic offspring. The chances of this gene combination coming together are very low.
Lower survival
Leucistic hummingbirds often have a lower survival rate. Their light plumage makes them more visible to predators. They also may be rejected by their parents and not receive proper care.
Partial migration
Hummingbirds have complex migration patterns. Some leucistic hummingbirds may migrate to areas where birdwatchers are less likely to see them.
Low population density
Hummingbirds exist at a naturally low population density. Leucistic individuals are spread out extremely sparsely rather than concentrated in one area.
Camouflage
Leucistic hummingbirds can sometimes blend into white flower blossoms, making observation difficult.
The combination of all these factors contributes to sightings of leucistic hummingbirds remaining extremely rare occurrences.
Unusual white hummingbird sightings
While encountering a leucistic hummingbird is uncommon, there are a few locations where sightings have occurred repeatedly:
Louisiana
A higher concentration of leucistic Anna’s and rufous hummingbirds has been reported in Louisiana. One belief is inbreeding may contribute to more recessive genes emerging here.
Southern Texas
Texas’s Rio Grande Valley has produced multiple documented sightings of leucistic hummingbirds. Again, a potential cause is inbreeding among isolated populations.
California
Several white hummingbird sightings have occurred in recent years around Los Angeles. These may potentially be the same individual birds.
Across the United States, fewer than 100 credible sightings of leucistic hummingbirds have been recorded over the past 15 years. Though unusual clusters of activity have been noted in the south, overall verified occurrences remain very sparse.
Famous sightings of leucistic hummingbirds
Some specific leucistic hummingbirds have gained fame among birdwatchers for their distinctive appearance and repeat visits:
Snowflake
A completely white leucistic female rufous hummingbird nicknamed “Snowflake” appeared at several feeders in the town of Eagle, Alaska in the early 2000s. She became well-known and generated significant interest.
Casper
Casper was an all-white leucistic male Anna’s hummingbird first spotted in California in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He made annual winter migrations between California and Mexico.
Blanchie
Blanchie, a leucistic female rufous hummer, was seen in Port Townsend, Washington every spring between 2009-2014. Birdwatchers looked forward to her visits.
These famous hummingbirds demonstrate that the same leucistic individuals will occasionally reappear in an area annually. This gives keen birdwatchers the chance to spot rare birds year after year.
Interesting facts about leucistic hummingbirds
Beyond their exceptionally rare occurrence, some additional interesting facts about white hummingbirds include:
- Both males and females can be leucistic. There is no gender bias.
- Leucistic hummingbirds can still produce normal colored offspring.
- They tend to live shorter lives than normally pigmented hummingbirds.
- Their unusual appearance sometimes attracts aggression from other territorial hummingbirds.
- Partial leucism where patches of color remain occurs more often than totally white plumage.
Why people are fascinated by leucistic hummingbirds
There are several reasons why leucistic hummingbirds captivate people’s imagination so strongly:
Novelty
Their shockingly white plumage is so different from normal hummingbird colors that people are intrigued.
Rarity
The incredibly low odds of sighting one create excitement and make them prestigious to spot.
Mystique
Like any unusual animal, their uniqueness gives them an air of mystique.
Beauty
Their bright white feathers have an ethereal beauty quite distinct from naturally colored hummingbirds.
For these reasons, birdwatchers prize sightings of leucistic hummingbirds and they hold an immediate allure for anyone lucky enough to encounter one.
Conclusion
Leucistic hummingbirds stand out as one of the rarest variant forms found in nature. With the unusual genetics and specific conditions required to produce leucism combining extremely infrequently, white hummingbirds occur at a rate of less than 1 in every million birds.
Yet the remarkable rarity of these striking birds only adds to their mystique. To encounter a hummingbird without any normal pigmentation is a genuinely once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you are fortunate enough to spot one of these special creatures, it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
