This week, Anchorage has been graced with the presence of an exceptionally rare and visually striking white raven. The bird’s gleaming white feathers, coupled with piercing blue eyes, have captivated the locals, who’ve been flocking (no pun intended) to catch a glimpse of the rare avian apparition. Specifically, this is a leucistic variation.

Unlike albinism, which is characterized by a complete absence of melanin pigments, leucism only affects some feathers, resulting in a dazzling display of color variations. This rare and magnificent creature has become the talk of the town, and for good reason – it’s simply stunning. According to experts, seeing one of these is even rarer than the sight of a black swan and roughly accounts for 1 in 30,000 birds. With this in mind, whoever managed to snap the picture truly was lucky.

The cause of leucism is not entirely understood, but it is thought to be a genetic mutation that affects the development of pigment-producing cells in the bird’s feathers. These birds are considered a rarity in the birding world and are often sought after by bird enthusiasts and photographers alike. This particular bird was spotted at Midtown Anchorage. However, it is not known how long it will stay around for as many birds are known to be nomadic in nature.