Albino or Not ?

[Polecat]

For the past six years that I've been 'freinds' with this Kite, I have always thought it was an albino kite. However, I have recently read a bit more about albino's ( but not enough! ) and it seems they should have pink eyes to be a true albino.

This kite hasn't got pink eyes yet is the only kite I know with white plumage on its upper wings.

Does anybody have any ideas if this is or isn't an albino?

[Alan]

Looks like a pale form, not an albino, it has some colour especially to the tail. Albinos lack the pigment (melanin) so are almost pure white.

[jerryh]

I believe it's called leucistic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucistic

Jerry

[henrya]

A full albino should have pink eyes, but there are many gradations from albino to normal. This one certainly has odd plumage - a partial albino, or partial leucistic, as Jerry suggests.

henrya

[Polecat]

Thanks.....learnt about leucistic colours......which can produce pied plumage...ie only affecting part of the plumage.

Seen from a distance its a very striking sight!!