Monday, May 5, 2014

Leucy

Meet Leucy, the Leucistic Cardinal. Leucism is a genetic condition characterized by reduced pigmentation. This particular female cardinal was netted and banded at the local nature preserve last year. There were sightings of her again this year, but I certainly didn't expect to see her. Suddenly, she appeared at the feeder while I was sitting in the bird blind. She first landed at the feeder which wasn't ideal for light, but later she returned and began feeding on the ground. This allowed me to see her back feathers. She seems to get along well with the other cardinals, indigos and grosbeaks. However, she did peck at a mourning dove that was being rather obnoxious while she was feeding at a platform feeder.
Harsh light and dark shadows here, but luckily she moved to the ground for better light.

Cracking those seeds is a messy business.




Please visit other bloggers and the birds they've captured. Thanks, Anni for hosting!


Also linking to Eileen's meme, Saturday's Critters. Thank you!!

5/16/14
Thank you to Hilary of The Smitten Image for choosing this for a Post of the Week in her Phine Photography category. I am truly honored. Please visit Hilary's blog. She has some really "Phine Photography" herself. :)


52 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

WOW! What a super find, Gail!

Roan said...

Luck was with you. She is a beauty.

Anni said...

...she's beautiful. And to be able to photograph her from the blind was like lucky for you!!! I'm glad you shared this. I've read about leucism
when I spotted one that 'the forum experts' all agreed it had the same condition with lack of pigmentation...but it was a bunting.

Superior commentary along with great photos Gail.

Anonymous said...

She looks beautiful. Nice to see here cracking the seed!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Leucy is beautiful!! Love the shot of her cracking the seed. You can even see the dust off of the seed that's just cracked! What a great shot.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

That is a cool looking bird.

And those are fantastic shots! Kudos.

Helma said...

Wow ....... what a cool series of these cardinals!
Beautiful colors and beautiful drawing in the feathers. Clear and sharp.
My compliments,
Greetings, Helma

Kim Stevens said...

Oh wow I have never seen one like this before, and your shots are so spot on focus - beautiful!

Starla said...

Not only do I get to gaze upon some incredible nature shots, I also learn something new each time I visit your blog!
Incredible photo of her cracking the seeds!

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Wonderful shots! She is a beauty. I have never heard of leucism.

Irma said...

Hi Gail,
Beautiful series, which I find amazing pictures 2 and 4.
Greetings Irma

TexWisGirl said...

wow, these are just 'cracking' shots! and a unique bird, too!

Anvilcloud said...

I am pleased to meet Leucy. If this were an evolutionary advantage, we might me on the way to a new species, but I suspect it isn't, so we aren't. :)

Anonymous said...

Spectacular shots of this beautiful little rarity.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous shots, she is a beauty!

Anonymous said...

Very cool bird.

Karen said...

She's a beauty. Excellent captures Gail!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Oh she's amazing! I wouldn't have known she was a cardinal had you not told me.

Shug said...

Bless her heart, but she is beautiful....kind of like the black duck I suppose. Wow...the magnificent shot of the powder around her beak from cracking the seeds, is awesome!! She looks like she has had a haircut! sweet.
Enjoy this wonderful sunshine filled week..
shug

Pantherka said...

I've never seen until now with you ... great shots.

Bas. said...

Prachtig wat een bijzonder mooie vogel.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous shots of the bird.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

The odd pigmentation makes her distinct and quite beautiful. Neat sighting. Is this from your new blin?

Debbie said...

WoW, you always blow me away!! The light in these is spectacular.......and she has an interesting feather pattern in the brown part of her body!!

Pretty Woman!!

DeniseinVA said...

Wow, what a little beauty! I learned of something new today too. Your photos are always a joy to behold. Have a great week Gail :)

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

If you can put aside the idea of what she's supposed to look like and just accept her as is, she's really quite pretty. Your photos are, of course, magnificent.

Inspired By June said...

She's beautiful, Gail! Thank you for sharing her with us! How neat!

Unknown said...

Wow what a great find Gail! She is gorgeous, I have never seen one her color before now. As usual the detail you capture is breathtaking and so wonderful!

Brian King said...

I've never seen that. Kinda cool plumage, actually. Beautiful shots!

Stephanie said...

She is truly beautiful! Love the photo of her cracking the seed - great capture!

Hugs and blessings to you for the week!

eileeninmd said...

Cool sighting, Leucy is a beautiful cardinal. Lovely photos, Gail. Thank you for linking up to my critter party. Enjoy your week!

renae said...

Oh Gail! Your photography details and lighting are magnificent! WOW!
Glad little Leucy showed up again!

Thank you for your encouragement, prayers and sweet words! I finally feel good today. I am happy, walk with a spring in my step and I even went shopping at Savers with my daughter and Big Boy LL. She is have Baby LML on Wednesday, so we were getting some last minute items. It was so fun to be out in public sporting my buzzed off hair.

I just may go in 'the buff' most of the time. I sure didn't care today. My daughter said I looked cute and I only got some odd stares but I just smiled at them and 80% of them smiled back, great human nature!!!! ILOVELIFE + YOU! ♥,Renae

Hilary said...

Oh my.. she's just wonderful. What a beauty. I love the detail you've captured. She must have landed just for you.

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

She's a beauty!

orchid0324 said...

Oh My!!! I learned the expertise from you for bird here "Leucism" and "pigmentation"; Wow you know what, it is quite different but I thought about for human, Michael Jackson and the old Japanese actresses who's already passed away with beautiful white skin with the same vitiligo :-)

Your Cardinal look fantastic with wonderful pictures as if seeing the real scene(^_^)v
Lovely to see him enjoying the food♪
Thank you very much for sharing the gorgeous shots;

Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Karen said...

She is a beautiful bird, Gail, you took some wonderful shots of her too.

Willow said...

I am so glad you shared this ~ she is gorgeous .

Linda said...

Wow oh wow wow wow!
I love Leucy!

sharon said...

wow what a pretty bird great shots!!! thank you

Unknown said...

Well these are down right amazing photos my friend. I always love my visit here to your blog.

Hugs~

Serkan MUTAN said...

very nice:) congratulations
www.serkanmutan.com

Donna said...

Oh Gail she is beautiful!

Beate said...

These shots are just as fantastic! You are an amazing photographer!

Anita Johnson said...

Oh my goodness...such detail! What a beautiful coloration!

Barbara said...

I've never heard of this. She's gorgeous!

Ida said...

She is amazing. I rather like the way her feathers are shaded in such an unusual and unique way.

Melissa said...

Oh how cool! I've never even heard of this word before. Up where my father-in-law lives there's a partially albino deer, and I learned that is called piebald. So many different terms!

Suzan said...

Pretty Lady!

Kathy said...

Super photos! We recently had a female cowbird come to our feeders who has this pigment condition.

TexWisGirl said...

hats off to you on another POTW! :)

Slamdunk said...

Thanks for introducing us to Luecy. Wonderful shots--and congrats on your post of the week from Hilary.

Scott Law said...

These are some beautiful bird shots and certainly worthy of POTW.