Independent TV

Showing now | News

Unusual puffin that’s almost entirely white spotted on remote Scottish island

00:43

Unusual puffin that’s almost entirely white spotted on remote Scottish island

A rare puffin that is almost entirely white has been spotted on a remote island in the north of Scotland.

The seabird has only a few black feathers and a largely orange bill in contrast with its more colourful companions. Its unusual look is due to a lack of pigmentation caused by the genetic condition leucism.

Scottish Wildlife Trust rangers first spotted the leucistic puffin on Handa Island Wildlife Reserve off the coast of Sutherland in mid-June. They believe it is a young bird.

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in