A week or so ago, some friends called me and sent me some photos of blackbirds at their river lot property. There were five blackbirds, but one was more white with some dark markings. When I studied the photos, it certainly appeared to be one of the blackbirds, but with the odd coloration.

After some research, I concluded that the odd-looking coloration of the blackbird was the result of a condition known as leucism.

Leucism is a genetic condition or mutation that can occur in animals, resulting in partial or total loss of pigmentation in skin, fur, feathers, and scales while leaving the eyes completely unaffected. The affected animal appears white, pale, or with patchy coloration, but the eyes remain normal in color.

Animals with these white or irregular patches of coloration are often referred to as being “piebald.” This piebald condition affects not only birds but also other animals.

I first became interested in the condition of Piebaldism when, many years ago, I was out hunting near my home and spotted a partially white deer with some patches of brown. Since that time, I have seen one other deer that was piebald.

The odds of spotting a piebald deer are relatively low, with about one in 1,000 deer having the condition.

Piebaldism is not the same as Albinism.

Albinism is a genetic disorder characterized by the partial or complete absence of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes. That lack of pigment results in pink eye and a total lack of color that sets an albino apart from a piebald. It is estimated that albinism occurs in about one in every 10,000 births.

Obviously, either of these conditions can show up in our wildlife.

At the same time, I have managed to see a couple of piebald deer. I don’t recall seeing any other wildlife with that condition.

Several years ago, while hunting squirrels, I spotted a pure white red squirrel with pink eyes-an albino squirrel. I’m sure both of these conditions occur in other animals, but I don’t recall ever seeing any other animals with either, including birds.

One reason it may be difficult to spot a deer with one of these conditions is that a deer that shows up pure white or piebald, no doubt, quickly becomes a target in hunting season because of its unique appearance.

I suspect, too, that animals with either of these conditions stand out from their counterparts, making them more likely targets for predators. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for one of these unusual sightings.

I think even spotting a piebald bird would be an interesting experience.