goldfinch no yellow

[tigertom]

Just had this goldfinch on my feeder, got white on wing were it would normally be white, pic has been cropped down a bit.
How common is this please?



Thanks
MIKE

[artdemole]

leucistic may be the reason.Birds like this are often seen.

[faz]

it is a goldfinch as aDm says

[operanut1972]

Originally Posted by artdemole

leucistic may be the reason.Birds like this are often seen.

What does this mean? Is it an illness, mite or pigmentation problem? I know I'm such a N00b!

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by operanut1972

What does this mean? Is it an illness, mite or pigmentation problem? I know I'm such a N00b!

Its to do with pigmentation, not an illness or mites
MIKE

[Adam Cheeseman]

To me, from the photo, it looks like the flanks feathers have fluffed up and are overlapping the wing feathers obscurring the gold wing bar. If not then it probably is leucism, which is a partial lack of pigmentation in some feathers.

Cheers,

Adam

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

To me, from the photo, it looks like the flanks feathers have fluffed up and are overlapping the wing feathers obscurring the gold wing bar. If not then it probably is leucism, which is a partial lack of pigmentation in some feathers.

Cheers,

Adam

Dos look that way from the only pic I got of this goldfinch but did get good look at wing feathers, and thay were white so think this is a case leucism it did stand out a lot, when seen with other goldfinches who had been feeding with it befor I could get my camara.
Just wondering would this also make bird like this stand out more to predators I have a sparrowhawk that often takes odd goldfinch from by my feeders so would this one be more at risk by standing out more?
MIKE

[faz]

It’s all to do with movement so yes, if it moved one feather it would be noticed. It makes no difference the color of the bird