S'pore photographer captures rare cream-coloured leucistic myna at Choa Chu Kang

A rare white Javan myna was recently sighted at Choa Chu Kang.

Usually a deep and glossy black, the Javan myna is one of the more common birds in Singapore.

But this one, captured by photographer Kow Hao Rui, had instead an unusual creamy colouration.

Kow shared the photos of the unusual creature in a Nov. 25 post on Facebook group Singapore Wildlife Sightings.

He'd seen the bird at Choa Chu Kang Street 62, he said.

But what makes it white?

Leucistic, not albino

Like the white lions that you might've seen at the Singapore Zoo, this white myna is leucistic, not albino.

This means that it has a genetic mutation that inhibits the production of melanin and other pigments.

But unlike in cases of albinism, leucistic animals are not totally devoid of pigmentation.

Which might be why this particular bird still has regular-coloured eyes, despite its pale plumage.

Albino animals, on the other hand, tend to be entirely pale in colouring — down to their eyes.

A bird with albinism might have pale pink, red, blue, or yellow eyes.

They are, however, "extremely rare in the wild", according to the Bird Study Ecology Group (BSEG).

With their conspicuous all-white plumage and weak eyesight, they're an easy target for predators, and may also have difficulties finding a mate.

Relatable.

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Top image from Kow Hao Rui/Facebook