This white turkey vulture was spotted at a residence on Peniel Road recently. The resident said he puts out scraps to feed the birds in the trough behind the vulture. This vulture is leucistic, said USC Salkehatchie biologist Eran Kilpatrick. Leucistic is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal which causes white, pale or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but not the eyes. “A true albino would not have any of the dark feathers. About 4-5 years ago, I saw a picture of a similar looking turkey vulture that was seen on Cane Branch Road,” said Kilpatrick.
