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A close-up of the \u201cone in a million\u201d albino magpie, Whitie. Photo: Sarah Robinson.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s confirmed \u2013 the \u201cone-in-a-million\u201d magpie making the rounds in the Riverina is albino.<\/p>\n
Previously, we were left hanging not knowing whether the bird nicknamed \u2018Whitie\u2019 by locals is actually albino or just simply blonde<\/a>, but the latest sighting of the feathered celebrity in Wagga confirmed our suspicions.<\/p>\n After his friend mentioned seeing a white magpie in Boorooma Street, former environmental consultant Reuben Robinson decided to try his luck and went for a drive with his wife Sarah.<\/p>\n \u201cSure enough, we saw Whitie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife\u2019s camera has a pretty good zoom on it. She was able to get a good photo.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah Robinson\u2019s camera has pretty decent zoom. Photo: Sarah Robinson.<\/p>\n Thanks to Mrs Robinson\u2019s camera, Charles Sturt University Associate Professor Melanie Massaro was able to confirm that Whitie is indeed albino.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat an odd-looking bird,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friend Bruce [who does bird genetics] thinks that this is actually an albino magpie, not a leucistic magpie (blonde).\u201d<\/p>\n Albinism is a rare hereditary genetic condition that causes reduced production of pigment (colouring). It can impact many different animal species.<\/p>\n While being albino doesn\u2019t affect its swooping behaviour, the lack of black pigment may actually come at a cost.<\/p>\n Besides looking odd, being albino may affect the bird\u2019s ability to fly and forage, according to Australian National University Associate Professor and Ecologist Damien Farine.<\/p>\n \u201cBlack pigment actually adds a lot of strength to feathers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOver time, they sort of fade. When you have black birds, the feathers fade [over a few years] and they start to get damaged.<\/p>\n \u201cFor this bird, its feathers are going to become damaged much sooner than other birds.\u201d<\/p>\n Being albino also makes Whitie more sensitive to the sun, which can be an issue considering magpies spend a lot of time foraging for food in Australia\u2019s sunny climate.<\/p>\n \u201cA normal magpie can be out in the baking sun. This guy or girl might not be able to do that because it doesn\u2019t have any protection,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe melanin provides a huge amount of protection. That\u2019s exactly the same reason why we become tanned.\u201d<\/p>\n While albinism may affect some species\u2019 ability to hide from predators \u2013 especially if they\u2019re part of large groups \u2013 magpies don\u2019t really have a lot of natural predators or live in large collective groups.<\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/P1010332-1200x900.jpg\")
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