Get your cameras ready—extremely rare white hummingbird sightings have been recorded in upstate areas better known for the northern lights New York has to offer and chilly winters.
According to a post in the popular Facebook group, Zinnia Growers, the adorable white hummingbird is a fan of the colorful petals of the summery zinnia plant.
“I was extremely lucky to capture this moment,” wrote group member Kelvin Snyder. “It’s astounding the variety of wildlife these flowers attract.”
“An albino hummingbird features white feathers along with pink eyes, bill and feet,” explains Hummingbird Central. “These hummingbirds are very rare, and are the result of a genetic mutation that stops the creation of any dark pigment. These hummingbirds lack melanin which equates to no color or pigmentation.”
This white hummingbird may be albino, or could be another variety called leucistic.
“Leucistic hummingbirds can produce some melanin, and have black eyes, bills and feet. Their feathers may be pure white, whitish, off-white, partially white, tan, or gray instead of the normal colors for that species.”
Because we can’t see this bird’s eyes clearly, it’s hard to determine which variety we’re looking at. Either way, it’s certainly gorgeous.
Kelvin, who appears to be growing his colorful zinnia garden in the zone 6 perennial haven of Oswego, New York, planted the tropical subspecies for vibrant hues and attracting pollinators.
Capturing an especially rare white hummingbird (possibly an albino variety) was just the cherry on top of his summer garden.
Hummingbirds have also been spotted in great frequency near this Hudson Valley yurt house and the area surrounding Fayetteville, New York.
If you have your own garden in the United States, you’re in luck—there’s a chance you might catch a glimpse of these stunners in your own backyard.
Hummingbirds live in many types of landscapes, including temperate woodlands, mountain meadows, cloud forests, tropical rainforests and deserts, and that includes the vast majority of American land. The best hummingbird habitats are rich in vibrant, nectar-rich flowers.
These can be found everywhere from rural farmscapes to city balconies.
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