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title: "Records of leucism in albatrosses on Midway Atoll, Marion Island and in the South Atlantic"
---

# Records of leucism in albatrosses on Midway Atoll, Marion Island and in the South Atlantic

*![leucistic albatross chicks 2025 Joe Owen](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/leucistic-albatross-chicks-2025_Joe_Owen.png)  
Leucistic Laysan Albatross chick on Midway Atoll, April 2025*

 A leucistic Laysan Albatross *Phoebastria immutabilis* chick was recently [photographed](https://friendsofmidway.org/your-sunday-morning-moment-on-kuaihelani-midway-atoll-with-joe-owen/) on Midway Atoll.   Author and photographer Joe Owen writes:

 “While most albatross chicks are typically grey and black, leucism gives this one its striking, lighter plumage.  This genetic condition reduces pigment, resulting in the pale feathers that make this chick truly unique.  It is possible to tell the difference between leucistic and albinism; in this case, by the normal coloration T melof the chick's eye.”

 *![leucistic and dark albatross chicks 2025 Joe Owen](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/leucistic-and-dark-albatross-chicks-2025_Joe_Owen.png)  
The leucistic chick next to a normally-coloured one, photographs by USFWS volunteer Joe Owen/Courtesy Friends of Midway Atoll*

 Read about a leucistic Grey-Headed Albatross *Thalassarche chrysostoma* chick [here](https://www.acap.aq/latest-news/leucism-and-bent-beak-syndrome-in-grey-headed-and-light-mantled-albatross-chicks?highlight=WyJsZXVjaXNtIl0=), and a definition of [leucism](https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/gbw/gardens-wildlife/garden-birds/behaviour/plumage/leucism).  Leucism has also been recorded in a Black-browed Albatross *T. melanophris* at sea in the South Atlantic.

 *![leucistic Grey headed Albatross](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/G/Grey_headed/leucistic_Grey-headed_Albatross.jpg)*

 *![Leucistic Greyhead Chick Chris Jones](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/G/Grey_headed/Leucistic_Greyhead_Chick_Chris_Jones.jpg)  
Leucistic Grey-headed Albatross chick on Marion Island, March 2018, photographs by Chris Jones, from Risi*et al*. (2019)*

 *![Luecistic Blak browed Albatross](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/B/Black_browed/Luecistic_Blak-browed_Albatross.png)  
Leucistic Black-browed Albatross in the South Atlantic, photograph by Sandro de Mello Terroso, from Mancini*et al.*(2010).*

 **References:**

 Mancini, P.L., Jiménez, S., Neves, T. & Bugoni, L. 2010.  Records of leucism in albatrosses and petrels (Procellariiformes) in the South Atlantic Ocean.  [*Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia*18: 245-248](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259188241_Records_of_leucism_in_albatrosses_and_petrels_Procellariiformes_in_the_South_Atlantic_Ocean).

 Risi, M.M., Jones, C.W., Schoombie, S. & Ryan, P.G. 2019.  Plumage and bill abnormalities in albatross chicks on Marion Island.  [*Polar Biology *42  1615–1620*,*](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00300-019-02528-x?wt_mc=Internal.Event.1.SEM.ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst&utm_source=ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst&utm_medium=email&utm_content=AA_en_06082018&ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst_20190709).

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 09 May 2025*