What's Your Nature?

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Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Schizochromism dilute pigmentation)

Posted by Jennifer Sigmon,
North Country explorer from Asbury Park NJ
July 23, 2026 —

This white hummingbird appeared in my garden the evening of 7/22 and hung around through 8/2. She became a regular at my feeders and I enjoyed watching her sip from various feeders and flowers along our property. I originally thought that she was leucistic due to her normal eye color. I have since learned from a ornithologist that specializes in pigment mutations that she is actually has a condition called schizochromism dilute. The presence of brown/tan pigment is the difference between her condition and albinism or leucism. She has buff/tan colored feathers along her back and her feet and beak are buff colored while her eyes are the normal dark color. I captured this photo the morning after I first spotted her while she was sampling the flowers in the garden, she was checking out the purple coneflower.