Leucistic Red Kite aka "White Kite"

[p4pictures]

Leucistic Red Kite aka "White" Kite

This is a leucistic red kite (Milvus Milvus) in Mid-Wales. I photographed it with an EOS R6 Mark II fitted with an EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. There are thought to only be 10 of these leucistic birds in the world, yet the regular red kite is much more common. Leucistic birds are ones that lack the melanin pigment in their feathers.

For comparison the extra shot below shows a standard red kite with a white kite in the background and beyond my death of field, but you can see the colouration difference.

Comparison of "white" kite and normal red kite

[ata]

Thanks for the photos, this is the first time I've heard of this bird and when I look at the photos the difference is obvious. I hope it doesn't become extinct and continues to fly freely.