Rare white feather penguins stand out among the herd

The penguin possesses a special coat color due to a genetic mutation that lacks pigmentation.

Meteorologist Barend Becker captures images of an unusual greyish adelie penguin , Story Trender reported on January 16. Although the hair on the back is not as black as the normal ones, it still looks happy and mingles with the whole herd.

The white feathered penguin stands out among the herd.(Photo: Caters News).

A rare genetic mutation makes the animal possess an unusual color.(Photo: Caters News).

"I have heard of this penguin from other explorers. They saw it the previous week. That day was the last day before the icebreaker Aurora Australis arrived, the last and only chance. My best to go to Gardiner Island to observe this rare penguin, " Becker said.

It comes with the herd in October and November every year, during the breeding season. The animal is quite famous for scientists at the Davis research station in eastern Antarctica.

"The penguin returned to a fixed location every year for reproduction and was encountered by many previous expeditions. It carries a rare genetic mutation called leucism that causes a lack of pigmentation. Leucism is different from albinism in the animal's eyes and eyes still have normal pigments , " Becker explained.