A New, Peculiar Backyard Resident

An image of a blackbird that looks similar to the one in the backyard.

Blackbirds have always been a staple in my backyard, but the other day I spotted a peculiar new resident -- a black bird sporting a white head. At first I thought it was some unfamiliar species; however, after considerable scrutiny, I determined that the white-headed fellow is indeed a blackbird.

Turns out he's a blackbird with leucism, a condition that causes a partial loss of pigmentation, particularly in the feathers. It's the first time I have encountered this sort of thing in birds.