![This is an incredibly rare sparrow... Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917664.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This is an incredibly rare sparrow… Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Lack of pigmentation gives this special bird white feathers. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917644.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
Lack of pigmentation gives this special bird white feathers. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Here it sits, surveying the capital of Turkey... Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917648.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
Here it sits, surveying the capital of Turkey… Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![This rare sparrow was spotted in Altinpark in Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917649.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This rare sparrow was spotted in Altinpark in Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Leucism isn't quite the same as albinism -in that Leucism is only partial lack of pigmentation. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917651.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
Leucism isn’t quite the same as albinism -in that Leucism is only partial lack of pigmentation. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![This can occur in all animals across the kingdom, including horses, lions and tigers, and other birds. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917652.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This can occur in all animals across the kingdom, including horses, lions and tigers, and other birds. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![This beautiful little sparrow's white feathers are caused by lack of cells to make the normal amount of pigment that would give a sparrow its brown feathers. See the difference between them. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917654.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This beautiful little sparrow’s white feathers are caused by lack of cells to make the normal amount of pigment that would give a sparrow its brown feathers. See the difference between them. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Different from albinism, Leucistic creatures such as this sparrow generally have normal coloured eyes, rather than pink. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917655.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
Different from albinism, Leucistic creatures such as this sparrow generally have normal coloured eyes, rather than pink. Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![See this little chap snacking on some bread in the park! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917657.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
See this little chap snacking on some bread in the park! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![This little fellow sits amongst the vibrant autumn leaves, contemplating life as he poses for the camera! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917658.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This little fellow sits amongst the vibrant autumn leaves, contemplating life as he poses for the camera! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![This Leucistic Sparrow hangs out with his little sparrow friend in the trees! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917663.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
This Leucistic Sparrow hangs out with his little sparrow friend in the trees! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
![Capturing these beautiful birds on film is usually very rare and tricky! So we're all very lucky that this little chappie came out to play! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-10-13_rare-sparrow20181111_2_33362290_38917662.jpg?ssl=1 "Rare Leucistic Sparrow in Ankara")
Capturing these beautiful birds on film is usually very rare and tricky! So we’re all very lucky that this little chappie came out to play! Ankara, 9 November 2018 [Mustafa Kamacı/Anadolu Agency]
[load_disqus_count]
Unless otherwise stated in the article above, this work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. If the image(s) bear our credit, this license also applies to them. What does that mean? For other permissions, please contact us.
Spotted an error on this page? Let us know
- [load_disqus_count2]
