Common whitebird. Mirlo blanco

The white blackbird is a common blackbird (turdus merula) that suffers from an alteration in the pigmentation of its plumage.

These anomalies produce a total discoloration in the case of albinism, or partial discolorations such as leucism, which results in large white spots on the plumage, caused by a recessive gene.

Mild pigmentation deficiencies due to advanced age, disease or poor diet and vitamin deficiencies may occasionally occur in these birds. White blackbirds are rare, as the vast majority of specimens are dark.
The common blackbird is completely black, with a bright yellow or orange bill. Around the eyes they also have a bright orange circle. In the case of females, they are less showy, with brown plumage and brown beaks.

Therefore, the white blackbirds are not a separate species, but a group within the common blackbirds, which suffers from anomalies in the plumage due to different causes, some of genetic origin and others of an environmental nature. In addition, their plumage is not uniform, with some specimens completely white, others that only show gray areas, and others with large discolored areas that appear next to other areas of normal pigmentation.

This can be a problem for their survival, especially in the case of blackbirds that live in rural areas or in the forest. The reason is that by losing their natural camouflage, they are easier to see and therefore more vulnerable to predators and hunters.