Unusual Bird: white blue jay
We saw this white blue jay in the early summer. He came to the feeder a few times, then left. You can see blue jay markings if you zoom in. He didn’t stay around, although we have lots of blue jays.
Categories: Leucistic birds
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33 comments on “Unusual Bird: white blue jay”
Here in Newport News,Virginia, we had one visit our feeder, the third sunday of April.
First white blue jay we’ve ever seen. Mackinaw City, Mi. 05/25/2018
This is called Leucism, or leukism. It is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin, from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers. You can read more about it here! https://www.thespruce.com/bird-leucism-387342
We saw one at the Virginia Aquarium today. I wonder if the one you saw was captured and brought there recently.
I have been photographing a white blue jay in South East Florida.
Have been going crazy looking up jay photos because we saw one like this near our feeder. Crest and everything, definitely a blue jay, but white! Near Denver, Colorado
We just saw one in Burr Oak Michigan at our feeder – February 2019
We have seen one this winter… spotted him twice in our backyard. We have at least three adult blue jays in our yard that we see nearly every day, but this white guy is a treat!
I feed my “handsome boys” (the blue jays peanuts morning. Yes, I know some of them are ladies. I call out “where are my handsome boys?” And they are swooping to the lawn as I toss the peanuts.
There are a solid mob of around 20 that wait for me. I have been doing this for 5-6 years….Yet I have never seen a white one yet! Fantastic sighting!
We have a white blue jay with just the blue head. the rest of the bird is white in Lake Orion, MI
Saw one just now by our bird feeder in southwestern NH. First time I’ve ever seen one.
My husband and I just happened to be looking out the window and saw this beautiful white blue Jay land in our apple tree. We normally feed the birds but had never seen this bird before. What a blessing here in Woodstock Maine.
Just saw one in our backyard today. 5:28/19 in East Texas. Very cool.
Saw one this morning in Akron, Ohio. Very surprised! Couldn’t quite believe my eyes.
I just saw one like this at my feeder this morning. I have a pair of Blue Jays that come every day, but this one was very special. Is it possible this may be a young female and the blue plumage is not yet developed? It seems odd that we have all seen the same genetic mutation all over the country. The crest and other markings were visible.
Hi Dana, These are not juvenile females. Blue Jay adults look alike, and juveniles sometimes show some downy feathers until they grow their feathers fully. However, white coloration can be caused by a number of things and is not limited to age – Check out our Color Variants page to learn more about albinism, leucism, pie-baldism and more. Some of these conditions are genetic, others might be the result of damaged cells during development, and sometimes white feathers can grow in as a quick replacement for those lost as a result of an encounter with a predator.
We saw our first white blue jay in Alberta yesterday.Have been waiting for him/her come back when we give the usual ones their morning peanuts.Hope to get a picture but they are pretty fast.
You overcome suffering, it is your wealth; suffering overcomes you, it is your humiliation
We just spotted one in our back yard near Little Rock, AR! Amazing!
Just spotted one here in Greenville Sc. I first thought it was a white dove, then it flew down to the grounds and then I saw that familiar crowns on his head
i saw a white blue in my feedar April 24;2021 in churchville VA,
Saw one today in Sioux Falls SD at Sertoma park
We had one visit our feeder today at Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, Canada
I have had one here at my house for over six months. Nice to see every morning.
Portland Michigan
I just saw a white blue Jay this morning near my feeder. It and another blue jay that was normal in color were together. I had my 8×42 binoculars watching the normal blue Jay up high in a tree near to my feeders when the white one flew up and in view. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and didn’t know for sure it was albino blue Jay until I Google it and saw other pics. Wow. I live in north Alabama. IT is March 3rd. 2022 and beginning of warmer weather. I was so happy to see it.
Just saw my first white bluejay (looks funny to see it written) outside in one of our apple trees here in Dexter, Minnesota. I’m going to try and get a picture of it tomorrow if it doesn’t fly away.
Just saw my first white blue jay in Larned KS at our feeder, I have 6 blue jays that visit daily, this was a treat.
I saw a white Leucistic Jay today for the first time. It was in the crab apple trees with a normal blue Jay. It was around 9am. I had to Google it to figure it out. So excited to see it.
We have had a Leucistic Jay here since late November. Visits the feeders, socializes with the blue jays, sometimes just sits on a fence post, stunningly distinct.
Montclair, NJ.
Saw a pair. Two. Larned KS. Been driving me nuts trying to figure out what they were!
Just saw one in Southbridge, Massachusetts had some blue feathers but more white feathers
Have been seeing one about a mile from my home in Arkansas. It’s been around for 2 years! Been putting bird seed out !
We have been seeing a leucistic blue jay at our bird feeder and in the crape myrtles with other blue jays near our deck for the past two weeks. We spent some time with our bird book and on bird websites to figure out what she was. Got a photo of her on our patio wall eating nuts with a nearby squirrel. Of course we named her Lucy (although we don’t really know Lucy’s sex) and watch for her every morning.