Earlier today while out birding at the Magothy Bay Natural Area Preserve (eBird checklist) on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, I spotted a very pale blonde Whimbrel mixed with about 60 typical Whimbrel. The birds were distant but would occasionally fly between foraging locations which allowed me to get a few poor-quality flight shots showing the pale bird. I have never heard of leucism in this species but a quick Google search came up with a few photos of an ‘Eurasian’ Whimbrel with even paler plumage than the bird I found.
Dilute plumaged Whimbrel landing among other Whimbrel (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)
Dilute plumaged Whimbrel flying with typical Whimbrel (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)