This bird is coming to our window feeder with the other finches, but his wings are white. I can’t find a goldfinch with white wings in any of my books. Any idea what it is?  We are on Redmond Rd., which is just past Assumption, off Keene Road.
Tracey Murfin.

This is a leucistic (lacking in normal feather pigmentation) American Goldfinch. It is very similar to a bird that was coming to a feeder in Cavan in December 2012 – possibly even the same bird. Leucism turns up in a lot of species, including robins, grackles, chickadees and hawks. D.M.

Leucistic American Goldfinch - Tracey Murfin - Assumption - July 2014

Leucistic American Goldfinch – Tracey Murfin – Assumption – July 2014

Leucistic AMGO by Dave Stabler - Cavan - Dec. 2012

Leucistic AMGO by Dave Stabler – Cavan – Dec. 2012

Categories: Sightings

Drew Monkman

I am a retired teacher, naturalist and writer with a love for all aspects of the natural world, especially as they relate to seasonal change.