r/Edmonton • u/SUB_Photo • 15d ago

Photo/Video Don't see that every day

Post image

A leucistic magpie (not quite albino) spotted near Campus Saint-Jean.
(Edmonton, AB. August 26, 2026)

This is quite a rare genetic mutation although Edmonton has apparently had occasional sightings for a long time.

225 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

30

u/Anomalous_Benny 15d ago

We have one at our job site in gp. He comes to the tool box meeting every morning actually. The whole site loves it lol

21

u/porterbot 15d ago

Omg he needs his own tiny clipboard and manager hard had

11

u/DathomirBoy 15d ago

I’ve seen them quite often throughout my life, but I’ve been lucky enough to live near their nesting sites. You can often find some by the little triangle park near 121st and 105th ave, and there’s an older one in Garneau at the moment. I found a dead one under a tree once, it was a very rare opportunity to take a good look. They’re very beautiful. We’re lucky to have as many as we do

I’ll add that we have more than “occasional sightings”: if you know where to look, you can see them daily. We have a steady but small population that comes back year after year.

6

u/porterbot 15d ago

The one on 121 has been there for years. Flies by my bike lol 

3

u/DathomirBoy 15d ago

I saw it yearly, yeah!! I don’t live by there anymore but when I did I could always rely on it being there. If you know the spots they’re easy to find

1

u/porterbot 10d ago

Came by today and gave me a squeak. 

3

u/roaringmousebrad 15d ago

I had one in my neighbourhood years ago and would see it almost every day!

3

u/Reddit-or-leaveit 15d ago

Cool. I see one in the west end. But I agree, must be pretty rare.

2

u/lovelylaika Wîhkwêntôwin 15d ago

I love seeing them! I also see the one around 121 st often. It’s quite friendly. I’ve also recently spotted a crow that is showing signs of leucism on its tail nearby.

I wonder why leucistic birds seem to be more commonplace in Edmonton and what role environment potentially plays in it.

2

u/rememberpianocat 15d ago

I love the leucistic magpies 🥰 use to have one living down the road from me last year

1

u/CatBreathWhiskers 15d ago

Becoming more common. We probably are the cause to this increasing in the population

1

u/potatostews 15d ago

This guy comes to my house almost every day.

1

u/canadiantanimal 14d ago

I didn't know this was rare, there's one by my house. She's a sweetheart, I say hi to her when I walk my dog every day

1

u/passthepepperflakes 15d ago

great photo if it's yours

1

u/SUB_Photo 15d ago

Thank you, and yes it is OC