A leucistic Bald Eagle with mostly white plumage was observed in Oklahoma by a college student while he was returning home for Thanksgiving (photo by Justin Briley).

An extremely rare white Bald Eagle was spotted in Oklahoma by a college student returning home for Thanksgiving. Justin Briley said he noticed the eagle feeding at an armadillo carcass with some Turkey Vultures, and the white eagle eventually perched in a tree, where Justin took documentary photos and videos of it. Feeling very excited and lucky at the same time, Briley studies wildlife management at Brigham Young University-Idaho in the city of Rexburg.

“At first I thought it was an albino Turkey Vulture,” Briley told USA Today. “When I was looking at the photos, I zoomed in and I could see its distinct white head and yellow beak.” He sent the images to one of his professors, who told him the Bald Eagle was leucistic. Leucism is a genetic condition that prevents pigment from coloring some of a bird’s dark feathers, causing discolored or white feathers. A few feathers of this eagle show some coloration, but overall its plumage is almost all white. A variety of birds showing varied levels of leucism are observed each year, but a nearly pure white adult Bald Eagle is extremely rare. Have you ever encountered a bird with some white feathers?

To refer to the original USA Today article, see White bald eagle found in Oklahoma: Rare leucistic bird seen, pictured (usatoday.com)