Leucistic greater prairie-chicken

Leucistic greater prairie-chicken

Last week while attending Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival in Wisconsin Rapid, I got a chance to observe a leucistic greater prairie-chicken.  Unlike albino, which is caused by a reduction in skin pigment, a leucistic is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation on the bird’s feathers and an overall white appearance.

This is probably a first-year bird considering his position on the lek – older and more experienced males usually occupy the center of the booming ground.